Motor Carriers
Texas Size and Weight Limits
Texas has established size and weight limits for vehicles and loads moving with or without an oversize and/or overweight permit on Texas roadways and bridges.
- Width is measured from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices.
- Height is measured from the roadbed to the highest point of the load.
- Length is measured from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further.
- Weight includes the weight of the vehicle or combination, plus the weight of the load being transported.
Legal Size and
Weight Limits
The following maximum dimensions may be operated on Texas’ highways without a permit:
- Width – 8’6”
- Height – 14’
- Length (includes any front/rear overhang):
| Vehicle Type | Overhang Limit |
| Single motor vehicle | 45 feet |
| Truck-tractor | Unlimited |
| Semitrailer, of two-vehicle combination | 59 feet |
| Two- or Three-Vehicle combination other than truck-tractor & semitrailer1 | 65 feet |
| Each trailer or semitrailer of a twin-trailer combination | 28.5 feet |
| Traditional boat/auto transporter combination1 | 65 feet |
| Commercial truck & stinger-steered semitrailer transporting autos/boats1 | 75 feet |
| Front overhang | 3 feet |
| Rear overhang | 4 feet |
- Weight:
- Gross - 80,000 pounds maximum
- Single axle - 20,000 pounds
- Tandem axle group - 34,000 pounds
- Triple axle group - 42,000 pounds
- Quad axle group - 50,000 pounds
1Length limit may not be increased with a permit
2The basis for maximum legal weight is the number of axles. This information, in conjunction with the Permissable Weight Table, is used to determine maximum legal weight for a vehicle.
Size Limits for
Movement with a Texas Permit
The following maximum dimensions may be operated on Texas highways with a permit:
| Width Limits | |
| Maximum width permitted on holidays | 14 feet, except for manufactured housing |
| Maximum width permitted on controlled access highways (Interstate Highway System) | 16 feet, except for manufactured housing |
| Maximum width permitted without a route inspection certification by applicant on file | 20 feet |
| Maximum width permitted for new houses | 34 feet |
| Maximum width permitted for existing houses | 40 feet |
| Maximum width permitted for new tanks | 34 feet |
| Maximum width permitted for existing tanks | 40 feet |
| Height Limits | |
| Maximum height permitted on holidays | 16 feet |
| Maximum height permitted without a route inspection certification by applicant on file | 18 feet, 11 inches |
| Length Limits | |
| Truck or single vehicle | 75 feet |
| Front overhang | 25 feet |
| Rear overhang | 30 feet |
| Maximum length permitted without a route inspection certification by applicant on file | 125 feet |
Weight Limits for
Movement with a Texas Permit
The maximum permit weight for an axle or axle group is based on 650 pounds per inch of tire width or the following axle or axle group weight, whichever is the lesser limit.
| Axle Group | Maximum |
| Single | 25,000 pounds |
| Tandem (two axle) | 46,000 pounds |
| Tridem (three axle) | 60,000 pounds |
| Quadrem (four axle) | 70,000 pounds |
| Quint (five axle) | 81,400 pounds |
| Six or more axles | Determined by MCD based on engineering study of the equipment and measurements. |
- An axle group must have a minimum spacing of four feet between axles within the group.
- Weight may not exceed the manufacturer’s rated tire carrying capacity.
- The weight of two or more consecutive axle groups with an axle spacing of less than 12 feet between groups, will be reduced by 2.5% for each foot less than 12 feet.
- The weight for an axle group should be distributed equally between axles in the group to not allow more than a 10% weight difference between any two axles in the group.
Trunnion axles may have up to 30,000 pounds per axle if the trunnion configuration has two axles, eight tires per axle, the axles are at least 10-feet wide and there is at least five feet of spacing between the axles, but not more than six feet.
Travel on load-restricted roads requires that the axle and axle group weights be load-zoned. Load-zoned weight is 10% less than the maximum permitted. For example, load-zoned weight on a tandem is 41,400 pounds.
Vehicles and loads with axle, axle group and gross weight that exceed these limits may qualify for a Super Heavy permit.
* Some crane and oil well servicing unit related permit types allow weight in excess of 650 pounds per inch on the steer axle(s).
