North Carolina Truck Weight Limits
Complete guide to commercial vehicle weight regulations in North Carolina, including axle limits, permit requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Weight Limits
| Axle Type | North Carolina Limit | Federal Limit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Axle | 20,000 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Tandem Axle | 38,000 lbs | 34,000 lbs | +4,000 lbs |
| Gross Vehicle Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Steer Axle (min) | 12,000 lbs | 12,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Steer Axle (max) | 20,000 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
North Carolina has source-verified table, spacing, route, permit, or vehicle-specific rules. The calculator applies verified base limits and implemented contexts, but exact special-case output still needs source-chart fixtures.
Showing interstate route, standard operation.
Enforcement tolerance: 5% on gross weight.
Bridge Formula
North Carolina uses the standard Federal Bridge Formula to calculate maximum weight on groups of consecutive axles.
- W = Maximum weight (lbs)
- L = Distance between outer axles (ft)
- N = Number of axles in the group
Permissible Gross Loads in North Carolina
| Permissible Gross Loads for Vehicles in North Carolina | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Based on FederalBridge Formula: W = 500 × [LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36] | ||||||||
| Showing interstate route, standard operation | ||||||||
Distance (ft) L | 2 AXLES | 3 AXLES | 4 AXLES | 5 AXLES | 6 AXLES | 7 AXLES | 8 AXLES | 9 AXLES |
| 4 | 38,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | 38,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | 38,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | 38,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | 38,000 | 38,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | 39,000 | 43,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | 40,000 | 44,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | 40,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | 40,000 | 46,000 | 50,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | 40,000 | 46,500 | 51,500 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 15 | 40,000 | 47,500 | 52,000 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 16 | 40,000 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 17 | 40,000 | 49,000 | 53,500 | 58,500 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 18 | 40,000 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,500 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 19 | 40,000 | 50,500 | 54,500 | 60,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 20 | 40,000 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 21 | 40,000 | 52,000 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 22 | 40,000 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 62,000 | 67,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 23 | 40,000 | 53,500 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 24 | 40,000 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | — | 80,000 |
| 25 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 26 | 40,000 | 55,500 | 59,500 | 64,500 | 69,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 27 | 40,000 | 56,500 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 28 | 40,000 | 57,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 29 | 40,000 | 58,000 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 30 | 40,000 | 58,500 | 62,000 | 67,000 | 72,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 31 | 40,000 | 59,500 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 32 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 33 | 40,000 | 61,000 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 34 | 40,000 | 61,500 | 64,500 | 69,500 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 35 | 40,000 | 62,500 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 36 | 40,000 | 63,000 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 37 | 40,000 | 64,000 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 38 | 40,000 | 64,500 | 67,500 | 72,000 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 39 | 40,000 | 65,500 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 40 | 40,000 | 66,000 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 41 | 40,000 | 67,000 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 42 | 40,000 | 67,500 | 70,000 | 74,500 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 43 | 40,000 | 68,500 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 44 | 40,000 | 69,000 | 71,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 45 | 40,000 | 70,000 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 46 | 40,000 | 70,500 | 72,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 47 | 40,000 | 71,500 | 73,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 48 | 40,000 | 72,000 | 74,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 49 | 40,000 | 73,000 | 74,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 50 | 40,000 | 73,500 | 75,500 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 51 | 40,000 | 74,500 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 52 | 40,000 | 75,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 53 | 40,000 | 76,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 54 | 40,000 | 76,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 55 | 40,000 | 77,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 56 | 40,000 | 78,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 57 | 40,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 58 | 40,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 59 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 60 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
Values reflect FHWA policy of rounding down when calculated weights fall exactly halfway between 500-pound increments.
North Carolina allows a 5% enforcement tolerance on gross weight.
North Carolina has source-verified table, spacing, route, permit, or vehicle-specific rules. The calculator applies verified base limits and implemented contexts, but exact special-case output still needs source-chart fixtures.
Always verify current regulations with North Carolina DOT before making shipping decisions.
Permit Information
Requirements & Costs
- Overweight threshold
- 80,000 lbs
- Single trip permit
- $60
- Annual permit
- $600
- Max permit weight
- 132,000 lbs
- Processing time
- 24 hours
- Divisible loads
- Not permitted
- Online application
- Available
Required Documents
- Insurance
- Registration
Special Vehicle Provisions
dump Trucks
4+ axle grouping allows up to 68,000 lbs
permit Weights
51-foot wheelbase combinations: 5-axle up to 112,000 lbs, 6-axle up to 120,000 lbs, 7-axle up to 132,000 lbs on single trip permit
Contact Information
Permit Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Official Website
North Carolina DOT WebsiteImportant Notes
- Starting August 1, 2025, faxed permit applications will no longer be accepted
- Annual permits available for 51-foot wheelbase combinations up to 90,000 lbs
Calculate Your Weight Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to check if your truck configuration is compliant with North Carolina regulations.
Open Weight CalculatorNeighboring States
Need Help With North Carolina Compliance?
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Get Expert ConsultationSource: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 20 | Last Updated: 1/15/2025 | Effective: 1/1/2025
Always verify current regulations with official sources before making shipping decisions.