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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Pennsylvania Code



CHAPTER 185. AXLE WEIGHT TABLE

Sec.


185.1.    Purpose; authority; application.
185.2.    Definitions.
185.3.    Groups of consecutive axles.
185.4.    Six-axle combinations.
185.5.    Violations.

Authority

   The provisions of this Chapter 185 issued under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §  6103, unless otherwise noted.

Source

   The provisions of this Chapter 185 adopted January 16, 1981, effective January 17, 1981, 11 Pa.B. 355, unless otherwise noted.

§ 185.1. Purpose; authority; application.

 (a)  Purpose. This chapter is promulgated to provide drivers and owners of vehicles, enforcement personnel and the courts with a table applying the formula in 75 Pa.C.S. §  4943(b)(1) to the various numbers and spacing of axles which are found on combinations.

 (b)  Authority. This chapter is promulgated under authority of 75 Pa.C.S. §  6103.

 (c)  Application. This chapter applies to all combinations registered in this Commonwealth or any other state at a weight in excess of 73,280 pounds and having a gross weight in excess of 73,280 pounds.

§ 185.2. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   External bridge—The distance between the center of the steering axle of the towing vehicle and the center of the last axle of the trailer.

   Internal bridge—The distance between the center of the second axle of the towing vehicle and the center of the last axle of the trailer.

§ 185.3. Groups of consecutive axles.

 Except as provided in §  185.4 (relating to six-axle combinations) no combination registered and having a gross weight in excess of 73,280 pounds shall be driven on a highway with a weight on any group of consecutive axles in excess of the applicable weight shown on the following table:

BRIDGE FORMULA TABLE
For Determining Maximum Axle Weights When Registered
and Gross Weight Exceed 73,280 Pounds


Maximum load in pounds carried on any
Center-to-center distance ingroup of 2 or more consecutive axles
feet between the first and
last axles of any group of 2
or more consecutive axles2 axles3 axles4 axles5 axles6 axles7 axles
4 …34,000
5 …35,000
6 …36,000AXLE GROUPS IN
7 …37,000THESE SPACINGS
8 …38,000…42,000IMPRACTICAL
9 …39,00043,000
10 …40,00043,500
11 …44,500
12 …45,000…50,000
13 …46,00050,500
14 …46,50051,500
15 …47,50052,000
16 …48,000…52,500…58,000
17 …49,00053,50058,500
18 …49,50054,00059,500
19 …50,50054,50060,000
20 …51,000…55,500…60,500…66,000
21 …52,00056,00061,00066,500
22 …52,50056,50062,00067,000
23 …53,50057,50062,50068,000
24 …54,000…58,000…63,000…68,500…74,000
25 …55,00058,50063,50069,00074,500
26 …55,50059,50064,50069,50075,000
27 …56,50060,00065,00070,00076,000
28 …57,000…60,500…65,500…71,000…76,500
29 …58,00061,50066,00071,50077,000
30 …58,50062,00067,00072,00077,500
31 …59,50062,50067,50072,50078,000
32 …60,000…63,500…68,000…73,000…78,500
33 …64,00068,50074,00079,500
34 …64,50069,50074,50080,000

35 …65,50070,00075,000
36 …68,000…70,500…75,500
37 …68,00071,00076,000
38 …68,00072,00077,000
39 …68,00072,50077,500
40 …68,500…73,000…78,000
41 …69,50073,50078,500
42 …70,00074,50079,000
43 …70,50075,00080,000

44 …71,500…75,500
45 …72,00076,000
46 …77,000
47 …77,500
48 …78,000
49 …78,500
50 …79,500



51 and over …80,00080,00080,000
All distances shall be measured longitudinally to the nearest foot.


§ 185.4. Six-axle combinations.

 A combination registered in this Commonwealth or any other state at a weight between 79,001 and 80,000 pounds which has six axles, an external bridge measuring 43 feet or more, and an internal bridge measuring 32 feet or more shall be in compliance with the formula in 75 Pa.C.S. §  4943(b)(1) if the tandem axles of the towing vehicle do not exceed 34,000 pounds and the three axles of the trailer do not exceed 42,500 pounds.

Cross References

   This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §  185.3 (relating to groups of consecutive axles).

§ 185.5. Violations.

 A combination driven on a highway with a weight on any axle or group of axles in excess of the allowable weight in this chapter is in violation of 75 Pa.C.S. §  4943(b)(1). The violator shall be subject to the appropriate penalty prescribed in 75 Pa.C.S. §  4945(b) for exceeding the maximum axle weights allowed by section 4943.



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