17 AAC 25.013. Legal vehicle weight

(a) Except as provided in 17 AAC 25.335, the weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load and equipment, operated or moved on the state highway system may not exceed a limit set out in this section. If more than one weight limit applies, the most restrictive limitation will be used to determine the maximum allowable weight, as follows:

(1) the weight on a tire located on a steering axle of a power vehicle may not exceed 600 pounds per inch of tire width based upon the tire manufacturer's rating of nominal tire width; the weight on any other tire may not exceed 550 pounds per inch of tire tread width based upon the tire manufacturer's rating of nominal tire width;

(2) the weight on axles or axle groups may not exceed, and the distance between axles may not be less than, the following:

Weight (pounds) Distance Single Axle 20,000 8'1" minimum spacing* 2-Axle Group 38,000 3'6" minimum spacing 3-Axle Group 42,000 3'6" minimum spacing 4-Axle Group 50,000 3'6" minimum spacing

* Any axle spaced less than 8 feet and 1 inch from any other axle, measured between the centers of the nearest axles, is considered as part of an axle group. In multi-axle groups, all axles must carry at least 6,000 pounds if the axle group weight is more than 50 percent of the legal group weight. Lift axles or variable suspension axles are allowed in the drive axle group of the power vehicle, but may not be used for calculation of legal allowable vehicle weight.

(3) the maximum gross vehicle weight for a vehicle or vehicle combination may not exceed that weight determined from the following formulas:

(A) maximum gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with lift axles in the drive axle group may not be greater than the weight determined under the following formula:

LN W = 500 [ -- + 12N + 36] N - 1

where

W = The maximum gross vehicle weight to the nearest 500 pounds;

L = The distance in whole feet, measured between the centers of the extreme axles for the vehicle or the vehicle combination; a measurement including a fractional portion of a foot is stated as the next higher whole number; and

N = The number of axles on the vehicle or vehicle combination and does not include lift axles in the drive axle group of a power vehicle;

(B) the maximum gross vehicle weight for a vehicle with no lift axles in the drive axle groups may not be greater than the weight determined under the following formula:

LN W = 500 [ -- + 12N + 36] + 3,000 N - 1

where

W = The maximum gross vehicle weight to the nearest 500 pounds;

L = The distance in whole feet, measured between the centers of extreme axles for the vehicle or vehicle combination; a measurement including a fractional portion of a foot is stated as the next higher whole number; and

N = The number of axles on the vehicle or vehicle combination.

(b) In a combination of a power vehicle and two or more cargo-carrying vehicles consisting of trailers or semitrailers, the heavier cargo-carrying vehicle must be placed immediately behind the power vehicle when one cargo-carrying vehicle is more than 5,000 pounds heavier than any other cargo-carrying vehicle in the combination. The weight of the power vehicle and the first cargo-carrying vehicle in a combination with two or more cargo-carrying vehicles may not exceed the weight allowable in this section for a power vehicle and single cargo-carrying vehicle with the same axle configuration and of equal length, calculated without regard to the weight of the following cargo-carrying vehicles in the combination.

(c) The weight carried by individual axle groups before or after pintle hooks or other connecting devices in vehicle combinations may not exceed the standards for axle group weights set out in this section.

(d) Between October 1 and March 31, shifting of legal axle weights set out in (a)(2) of this section is allowed for one, two, and three drive axle groupings on power vehicles traveling on the Steese, Elliott, and Dalton Highways between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay. The shifted weight on these drive axle groupings may not exceed 2,000 pounds per axle. The legal allowable gross weight on a vehicle or combination of vehicles may not exceed the maximum weight as determined by methods set out in this section. An overweight permit is not required for shifting additional weight to the drive axle group during the period defined. Traction weight shifting is not allowed for a power vehicle traveling under an overweight permit. Vehicle combinations operating with traction-weight shifting on the power vehicle will be allowed reasonable right of access to and from the Steese, Elliott, and Dalton Highways, when traveling between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, to reach or return from terminals and facilities for food, fuel, and rest, if the vehicle uses the most direct truck route whenever possible and moves no farther than five miles from the most direct route between Fairbanks and Fox. All movement within organized municipalities and boroughs is subject to local ordinances in addition to the requirements of this chapter.

(e) Except when an emergency requires immediate action, if the department determines that a highway may be damaged by a vehicle's weight, weight restrictions may be imposed after appropriate notice has been given to the public. When weight restrictions are imposed, they will be stated as a percentage of the legal allowable axle weights and applied to the maximum axle loading specified in this section. The weight on steering axles may not be restricted below 100 percent of the legal allowable axle weight. Unless approved by the department, a permit issued under 17 AAC 25.320 allowing overweight vehicles does not satisfy the requirements of this chapter in order to travel on weight-restricted highways during the period when weight restrictions are imposed.

(f) For purposes of this section, "pounds per inch of tire width" is determined by dividing the sum of the tire width in inches for tires mounted on an axle group into the weight carried on that axle group in pounds.

History: Eff. 8/13/95, Register 135; am 10/7/2001, Register 160

Authority: AS 19.05.010

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