Virginia truck weight limits
On Interstate highways in Virginia, federal weight limits apply. Four checks decide whether your truck is legal — and the one that surprises most drivers is the Federal Bridge Formula, which can fail a truck that passes every other limit.
Federal limits on Virginia Interstates
| Limit | Maximum | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Single axle | 20,000 lb | Any one axle |
| Tandem axle group | 34,000 lb | Axles 40–96 inches apart |
| Tridem axle group | governed by the bridge formula | 3 axles in a group (no flat federal cap) |
| Gross vehicle weight | 80,000 lb | The whole rig |
| Bridge formula | varies by spacing | Every group of 2+ axles |
The bridge formula check
L is the spacing in feet between the outer axles of a group, N the number of axles. A standard 5-axle rig at 51 ft is capped at 79,500 lb by this formula — under the 80,000 lb gross limit. Full explanation with worked examples.
Virginia-specific rules
Virginia is an East-Coast freight artery (I-95, I-81, I-64, I-77 and the Port of Virginia) and its distinctive feature is a buyable 5% overload permit. On the Interstate, federal limits govern: 20,000 lb single axle, 34,000 lb tandem, 80,000 lb gross, plus the Federal Bridge Formula (Va. Code § 46.2-1127). Off the Interstate, an owner can purchase an overload permit that raises the single-axle, tandem and gross limits by up to 5% — but that permit caps gross at 84,000 lb, costs $250 a year, and does not apply on Interstate highways. Virginia also grants further extensions for Virginia-grown farm and forest products.
Virginia exceptions to the federal limits
Virginia's limits (Va. Code Title 46.2, Ch. 10, Art. 17):
| Group | Limit |
|---|---|
| Single axle | 20,000 lb |
| Tandem axle group | 34,000 lb |
| Maximum gross | 80,000 lb |
- 5% overload permit — an owner may buy a permit extending the single-axle, tandem and gross limits by up to 5%, to a maximum gross of 84,000 lb ($250/year). It does not apply on Interstate highways.
- Farm/forest extensions — additional weight is available for vehicles hauling Virginia-grown farm or forest products (Va. Code § 46.2-1129).
- On Interstates, federal limits govern — 20,000 / 34,000 / 80,000 plus the bridge formula; the overload permit does not extend Interstate limits.
Seasonal & designated-route rules in Virginia
Virginia does not run a statewide spring "frost law" program. The binding local constraint is posted-bridge weight limits — VDOT posts structurally limited bridges across the state, and a posting overrides the general road limit and any overload permit. Coalfield and mountain routes in southwest Virginia also carry route-specific restrictions. Check for signed bridge and route limits, especially on secondary roads.
Overweight permits in Virginia
Beyond the 5% overload permit, loads exceeding the legal limits need an oversize/overweight hauling permit from VDOT (single-trip or annual), route-specific by bridge and pavement rating. Special overweight permits exist for coal, gravel, sand, crushed stone and certain well-produced liquids in designated counties (Va. Code § 46.2-1143).
Fines & enforcement in Virginia
Enforced by the Virginia State Police and DMV at fixed weigh stations and with portable/mobile enforcement. Overweight violations carry per-pound civil penalties that escalate with the overage; loads can be held until brought within limits.
What dispatchers should check in Virginia
- The 5% overload permit is non-Interstate only — it lifts single/tandem/gross by up to 5% to a 84,000 lb gross cap, and never applies on the Interstate.
- Interstate — plan to the federal 20,000 / 34,000 / 80,000 plus the bridge formula.
- Farm/forest & mineral hauls — check the § 46.2-1129 and § 46.2-1143 extensions if you qualify.
- Posted bridges & SW Virginia routes — a posting overrides both the road limit and any permit.
Virginia truck weight — frequently asked questions
How much can a truck weigh in Virginia?
On Virginia Interstates the federal gross-weight limit is 80,000 lb, with a 20,000 lb single-axle limit, a 34,000 lb tandem limit and the Federal Bridge Formula. Virginia sets its own limits on non-Interstate roads — see the Virginia-specific rules on this page.
Does Virginia follow federal truck weight limits?
On the Interstate system, yes — federal limits govern in every state. Off the Interstate, Virginia applies its own axle, gross and permit rules, detailed on this page where they have been verified against the official state source.
What is the single-axle weight limit in Virginia?
The federal single-axle limit of 20,000 lb applies on Virginia Interstates. Some states set a different single-axle figure on non-Interstate roads — check the Virginia-specific section above for the governing number.
What is the maximum tandem-axle weight in Virginia?
On Virginia Interstates the federal tandem limit is 34,000 lb. Several states allow a different tandem weight on non-Interstate roads — see the Virginia exceptions above for the figure that governs.
Scaled heavy in Virginia?
If the trailer tandems are over, the fix is usually a computed tandem slide, not unloading — see how sliding tandems shifts weight. And here's what an overweight ticket really costs before you decide to run it.
Run your scale-ticket weights through the federal and bridge-formula calculator in your browser. The full platform predicts axle loads from load placement before you load, computes the exact slide-to-legal fix, and applies Virginia rules on top of the federal baseline.
Open the free calculatorOur calculator runs the federal single, tandem, gross and Bridge Formula checks in seconds. The full platform adds per-state limits, axle-load prediction and the slide-to-legal fix.
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