What are the Legal Size and Weight Limits for Tractor-Trailers in Georgia?

By Grant Law Office on September 16, 2011

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a large truck weighs more than 10,000 pounds and may either be a single-unit vehicle or a combination vehicle of a single-unit pulling one or more trailers. Although any truck weighing more than 10,000 pounds may be categorized as a large truck, most large trucks on the road tend to weigh much more than that. A large truck’s size and weight limitations are governed by both federal and state laws as there are both interstate and intrastate highway systems in Georgia.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) limits commercial trucks to a gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds on the interstate highway system. However, the gross vehicle weight is not the only limit. The weight distribution over the axles and wheels are also specified to prevent overloading and improper loading, which can cause the truck and trailer to rollover. Additional interstate size restrictions include a width of 102 inches and a maximum length of 780 inches (65 feet) or 900 inches (75 feet) as determined by the trailer connection. Although there is no federally imposed height restriction, most large trucks follow the 13.6 or 14.6 foot standard.

Georgia truck size and weight limitations generally coincide with the federal regulations. In Georgia, however, a large truck with a width of 102 inches may only travel on roads with 12 foot travel lanes. The standard trailer length in Georgia is 636 inches (53 feet) and the maximum vehicle length, if including an extendable trailer, may not exceed 100 feet. Absolutely no overhang is allowed beyond 65 feet. There are also state routes with designated semi truck length restrictions.

Big rigs and other large trucks have weight and size restrictions to ensure the safety of other motorists on the road, not to mention the truck driver and cargo. If you have been injured in a Georgia overloaded truck accident caused by a truck driver or trucking company negligence, contact the experienced overloaded truck accident attorneys in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. at 404-995-3955 for a consultation. We may be able to help.