603 KAR 5:066. Weight (mass)

limits for trucks.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 189.222(10), 23 C.F.R.

658

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 174.080,

189.222, 23 C.F.R. 658

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS

189.222(10) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish reasonable

weight (mass) limits for trucks using the state maintained highway system. This

administrative regulation prescribes the maximum weight (mass) limits for each

classification of roads in accordance with state and federal laws. These weights

may only be exceeded if an overweight permit has been issued for the operation

of a motor vehicle by the Transportation Cabinet.

 

      Section 1. Highway Classifications and

Truck Types. (1) Trucking highways. All state maintained roads are assigned a

classification in 603 KAR 5:301. Unless the motor vehicle being operated has

been issued an overdimensional permit by the Transportation Cabinet, the

maximum allowable gross weight (mass) for each classification shall be as

follows:

      (a) Class "AAA" shall have a maximum

allowable gross weight (mass) of 80,000 pounds (36,287.36 kilograms).

      (b) Class "AA" shall have a

maximum allowable gross weight (mass) of 62,000 pounds (28,122.70 kilograms).

      (c) Class "A" shall have a

maximum allowable gross weight (mass) of 44,000 pounds (20,090.05 kilograms).

      (2) Truck types. For the purpose of

posting bridges at the site and for listing bridge weight (mass) restrictions

in this administrative regulation, the following truck types shall be used:

      (a) Type 1. This shall be a single unit

truck consisting of two (2) single axles.

      (b) Type 2. This shall be a single unit

truck consisting of one (1) steering axle and two (2) axles in tandem

arrangement.

      (c) Type 3. This shall be a truck

consisting of one (1) steering axle and three (3) axles in tridem arrangement.

      (d) Type 4. This shall be a

tractor-semitrailer combination truck consisting of five (5) or more axles.

      (3) Trucks with an axle combination not

covered in subsection (2) of this section may be restricted by weight (mass)

based on their axle spacing and weight (mass) distribution per axle in

accordance with state and federal law. Information on those restrictions shall

be available from the Division of Motor Carriers, Overweight and Overdimensional

Permit Section.

 

      Section 2. "AAA" Highways

Except Interstates. The maximum weight (mass) limits for trucks using Class

"AAA" highways, except the Interstate System, shall be as follows:

      (1) Gross weight (mass), including load,

shall not exceed 80,000 pounds (36,287.36 kilograms);

      (2) Tire weight (force). The weight

(force) transmitted to the pavement shall not exceed the product of 700 pounds

(317.51 kilograms) times the aggregate width in inches (meters) established

from the manufacturer's stamped tire measurement for all tires;

      (3) On Class "AAA" highways if

a structure or bridge has a posted load limit of less than 80,000 pounds

(36,287.36 kilograms), the posted limit shall not be exceeded.

 

      Section 3. Interstate Highways. The

maximum weight (mass) limits for trucks using Class "AAA" highways

which are a part of the Interstate System shall be as established in this

section:

      (1) Gross weight (mass), including load,

shall not exceed 80,000 pounds (36,287.36 kilograms).

      (2) Gross axle weight (mass) for a single

axle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds (9071.84 kilograms) (with axles less than

forty-two (42) inches (1.07 meters) apart to be considered as a single axle).

      (3) Gross weight (mass) shall not exceed

34,000 pounds (15,422.13 kilograms) on two (2) axles in tandem arrangement

which are spaced forty-two (42) inches (1.07 meters) or more apart and

ninety-six (96) inches (2.44 meters) or less apart.

      (4) Gross weight (mass) shall not exceed

34,000 pounds (15,422.13 kilograms) on three (3) axles in tridem arrangement if

the distance between the centers of one (1) and three (3) is ninety-six (96)

inches (2.44 meters) or less.

      (5) Gross weight (mass) shall not exceed

48,000 pounds (21,772.42 kilograms) on three (3) axles in tridem arrangement if

the distance between the centers of axles one (1) and three (3) is more than

ninety-six (96) inches (2.44 meters) but less than 120 inches (3.05 meters),

and the distance between any two (2) adjacent axles of the tridem is forty-two

(42) inches (1.07 meters) or more, and the gross weight (mass) of the vehicle

is less than or equal to 73,280 pounds (33,239.22 kilograms).

      (6) The maximum gross weight (mass)

allowed on two (2) consecutive sets of tandem axles shall be 34,000 pounds

(15,422.13 kilograms) each, if the distance between the first and last axles of

the consecutive sets of axles is thirty-six (36) feet (10.98 meters) or more.

      (7) The maximum gross weight (mass)

allowed on a vehicle with any other axle configuration shall be established by

the bridge weight formula:

W = 500 (LN/N-1 + 12N +

36)

      Where W equals gross weight, L equals

distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group of consecutive axles

under consideration and N equals the number of axles in the group. The load on

any single axle in any arrangement shall not exceed 20,000 pounds (9071.84

kilograms) and the gross weight (mass) shall not exceed 80,000 pounds

(36,287.36 kilograms). Any axle which is not included in one (1) of the

combinations set forth in this subsection shall be steerable.

      (8) Tire weight (force). The weight

(force) transmitted to the pavement shall not exceed the product of 700 pounds

(317.51 kilograms) times the aggregate width in inches (meters) established

from the manufacturer's stamped tire measurement of all tires.

      (9) On Class "AAA" highways

which are part of the interstate system if a structure or bridge has a posted

load limit of less than 80,000 pounds (36,287.36 kilograms), the posted limit

shall not be exceeded.

      (10) Tolerances shall not be allowed on

gross weight (mass), axle weight (mass), or combinations of axle weights (mass)

on vehicles operating over a Class "AAA" highway which is a part of

the Interstate System.

 

      Section 4. "AA" Highways. The

maximum weight (mass) for trucks using Class "AA" highways shall be

as established in this section:

      (1) Gross weight (mass), including load,

shall not exceed 62,000 pounds (28,122.7 kilograms).

      (2) Gross axle weight (mass) for a single

axle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds (9071.84 kilograms) (with axles less than

forty-two (42) inches (1.07 meters) apart to be considered as a single axle).

      (3) Gross weight (mass) shall not exceed

34,000 pounds (15,422.13 kilograms) on two (2) axles in tandem arrangement

which are spaced forty-two (42) inches (1.07 meters) or more apart and

ninety-six (96) inches (2.44 meters) or less apart.

      (4) Gross weight (mass) shall not exceed

34,000 pounds (15,422.13 kilograms) on three (3) axles in tridem arrangement if

the distance between the centers of axles one (1) and three (3) is ninety-six

(96) inches (2.44 meters) or less.

      (5) Gross weight (mass) shall not exceed

48,000 pounds (21,772.42 kilometers) on three (3) axles in tridem arrangement

if the distance between axles one (1) and three (3) is more than ninety-six

(96) inches (2.44 meters) but less than 120 inches (3.05 meters) apart and the

distance between any two (2) adjacent axles of the tridem is forty-two (42)

inches (1.07 meters) or more.

      (6) Tire weight (force). The weight

(force) transmitted to the pavement shall not exceed 700 pounds (317.51

kilograms) times the aggregate width in inches (meters) established from the

manufacturer's stamped tire measurement of all tires.

      (7) On Class "AA" highways if a

structure or bridge has a posted load limit of less than 62,000 pounds

(28,122.7 kilograms), the posted limit shall not be exceeded.

      (8) The maximum gross weight (mass)

allowed on a vehicle with any other axle configuration shall be established by

the bridge weight formula:

W = 500 (LN/N-1 + 12N +

36)

      Where W equals gross weight, L equals

distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group of consecutive axles

under consideration and N equals the number of axles in the group. The load on

any single axle in any arrangement shall not exceed 20,000 pounds (9071.84

kilograms) and the gross weight (mass) shall not exceed 62,000 pounds (28,122.7

kilograms). Any axle which is not included in one (1) of the combinations set

forth in this subsection shall be steerable.

 

      Section 5. "A" Highways. The

maximum weight (mass) limit for trucks using Class "A" highways shall

be as established in this section:

      (1) Gross weight (mass), including load,

shall not exceed 44,000 pounds (20,090.05 kilograms).

      (2) Gross axle weight (mass) for a single

axle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds (9071.84 kilograms) (with axles less than

forty-two (42) inches (1.07 meters) apart to be considered as a single axle).

      (3) Gross weight shall not exceed 34,000

pounds (15,422.13 kilograms) on two (2) axles in tandem arrangement which are

spaced forty-two (42) inches (1.07 meters) or more apart and ninety-six (96)

inches (2.44 meters) or less apart.

      (4) Tire weight (force). The weight

(force) transmitted to the pavement shall not exceed the product of 700 pounds

(317.51 kilograms) times the aggregate width in inches (meters) established from

the manufacturer's stamped tire measurement of all tires.

      (5) On Class "A" highways if a

structure or bridge has a posted load limit of less than 44,000 pounds

(20,090.05 kilograms), the posted limit shall not be exceeded.

      (6) The maximum gross weight (mass)

allowed on a vehicle with any other axle configuration shall be established by

the bridge weight formula:

W = 500 (LN/N-1 + 12N +

36)

      Where W equals gross weight, L equals

distance in feet between the extreme axles of the group of consecutive axles

under consideration and N equals the number of axles in the group. The load on

any single axle in any arrangement shall not exceed 20,000 pounds (9071.84

kilograms) and the gross weight (mass) shall not exceed 44,000 pounds

(20,090.05 kilograms). Any axle which is not included in one (1) of the

combinations set forth in this subsection shall be steerable.

 

      Section 6. Tolerance. There shall not be

a tolerance allowed on gross weight (mass), however, a tolerance of not more

than five (5) percent shall be allowed on axle weight (mass) on all

state-maintained highways which are not a part of the interstate system.

 

      Section 7. (1) As long as a highway

remains a part of the state-maintained system, as established in 603 KAR 3:030,

the classification of that highway in 603 KAR 5:301 shall constitute a

designation by the Secretary of Transportation as contemplated by KRS 189.280.

      (2) City ordinances which impose less

stringent limits than this administrative regulation shall not apply to the

state-maintained highways, including bridges, unless specific relinquishment of

this responsibility to a city is made by the Secretary of Transportation. (2

Ky.R. 312; Am. 3 Ky.R. 3; eff. 7-7-76; 7 Ky.R. 915; eff. 7-1-81; 14 Ky.R. 272;

eff. 9-10-87; 2061; eff. 7-1-88; 17 Ky.R. 2835; eff. 6-4-91; 18 Ky.R. 2370;

eff. 3-7-92; 23 Ky.R. 183; eff. 9-3-96; 30 Ky.R. 1359; 2151; eff. 4-12-2004.)