Rhode Island Truck Weight Limits
Complete guide to commercial vehicle weight regulations in Rhode Island, including axle limits, permit requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Weight Limits
| Axle Type | Rhode Island Limit | Federal Limit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Axle | 22,400 lbs | 20,000 lbs | +2,400 lbs |
| Tandem Axle | 36,000 lbs | 34,000 lbs | +2,000 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) | 22,400 lbs | 20,000 lbs | +2,400 lbs |
Showing interstate route, standard operation.
Enforcement tolerance: 5% on gross weight.
Bridge Formula
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
| Permissible Gross Loads for Vehicles in Rhode Island | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 34,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | 35,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | 36,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | 36,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | 36,000 | 42,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | 39,000 | 42,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | 41,000 | 44,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | 42,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | 43,000 | 45,500 | 50,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | 44,000 | 46,500 | 51,500 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 15 | 44,800 | 47,000 | 52,000 | — | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 16 | 44,800 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 17 | 44,800 | 48,500 | 53,500 | 58,500 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 18 | 44,800 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 19 | 44,800 | 50,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 | — | — | — | 80,000 |
| 20 | 44,800 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 21 | 44,800 | 51,500 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 22 | 44,800 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 23 | 44,800 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 | — | — | 80,000 |
| 24 | 44,800 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | — | 80,000 |
| 25 | 44,800 | 54,500 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 26 | 44,800 | 55,500 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 27 | 44,800 | 56,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 28 | 44,800 | 57,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 29 | 44,800 | 57,500 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 30 | 44,800 | 58,500 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 72,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 31 | 44,800 | 59,000 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 32 | 44,800 | 60,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 33 | 44,800 | 60,500 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 34 | 44,800 | 61,500 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 35 | 44,800 | 62,000 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 36 | 44,800 | 63,000 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 37 | 44,800 | 63,500 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 38 | 44,800 | 64,500 | 67,500 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 39 | 44,800 | 65,000 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 40 | 44,800 | 66,000 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 41 | 44,800 | 66,500 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 42 | 44,800 | 67,500 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 43 | 44,800 | 68,000 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 44 | 44,800 | 69,000 | 71,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 45 | 44,800 | 69,500 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 46 | 44,800 | 70,500 | 72,500 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 47 | 44,800 | 71,000 | 73,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 48 | 44,800 | 72,000 | 74,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 49 | 44,800 | 72,500 | 74,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 50 | 44,800 | 73,500 | 75,500 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 51 | 44,800 | 74,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 52 | 44,800 | 75,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 53 | 44,800 | 75,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 54 | 44,800 | 76,500 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 55 | 44,800 | 77,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 56 | 44,800 | 78,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 57 | 44,800 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 58 | 44,800 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 59 | 44,800 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| 60 | 44,800 | 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.
Rhode Island allows a 5% enforcement tolerance on gross weight.
Always verify current regulations with Rhode Island DOT before making shipping decisions.
Permit Information
Requirements & Costs
- Overweight threshold
- 80,000 lbs
- Single trip permit
- $80
- Annual permit
- $800
- Processing time
- 24 hours
- Divisible loads
- Not permitted
- Online application
- Not available
Required Documents
- Insurance
- Registration
Special Vehicle Provisions
permit Weights
Single axle 22,400 lbs (higher than federal). Tandem 36,000 lbs. Tridem 54,000 lbs. Trucks up to 96,000 lbs can cross bridges with permit.
weigh Stations
Permanent weigh stations on I-95 in Richmond (southbound) and Warwick (northbound). Automated Weigh-In-Motion enforcement on I-95 starting 2025. Overweight fines: $250 per 1,000 lbs over limit.
Contact Information
Permit Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM EST
Official Website
Rhode Island DOT WebsiteCalculate Your Weight Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to check if your truck configuration is compliant with Rhode Island regulations.
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Get Expert ConsultationSource: Rhode Island General Laws Title 31 | Last Updated: 1/15/2025 | Effective: 1/1/2025
Always verify current regulations with official sources before making shipping decisions.