Axle Weight: Axle weight is the weight carried by an axle or axle group. Legal limits apply to each group in addition to the total gross weight. On interstates the common federal limits are 20,000 pounds on a single axle, 34,000 on a tandem group and 80,000 pounds gross.
Why it matters to owner operators
A truck can be under its total weight limit and still be illegal if the weight sits wrongly. Load placement and tandem position matter, and scales help you check. States can have different rules on other roads.
Example
A driver weighs at a truck stop scale, finds the drive axles heavy, and slides the trailer tandems to move weight.
Related terms
Equipment & Trailers: Looking for freight that fits your equipment? See the equipment types we dispatch. Talk to our dispatch team or browse the full trucking glossary.
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