(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 may not exceed 600
pounds per linear inch of tire width based upon the tire manufacturer's rating
of nominal tire width;
(2) repealed
4/12/2013;
(3) repealed
4/12/2013;
(4) except as provided
in (5) of this subsection, for a vehicle or combination of vehicles, including
load and equipment, 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 feet and 1 inch minimum spacing*
|
2-Axle Group
|
38,000
|
3 feet and 6 inches minimum spacing
|
3-Axle Group
|
42,000
|
3 feet and 6 inches minimum spacing
|
4-Axle Group
|
50,000
|
3 feet and 6 inches 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 to determine the legal
allowable vehicle gross weight prescribed by the Bridge Gross Weight Formulas
in (a)(6) of this section.
(5) if the combination is a truck tractor and
single semitrailer combination where the length of the semitrailer is 48 feet
or more, the weight on a three-axle group on the semitrailer may not exceed,
and the distance between the axles may not be less than the following:
Weight (pounds)
|
Distance
|
42,000
|
3 feet and 6 inches minimum spacing
|
43,500
|
5 feet minimum spacing
|
45,000
|
6 feet minimum spacing
|
(6)
the maximum gross vehicle weight for a vehicle or vehicle combination may not
exceed the amount prescribed by the following formulas, referred to as the
Bridge Gross Weight 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:
W = 500 [ LN / N-1 + 12N + 36]
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:
W = 500 [ LN / N-1 + 12N + 36] + 3,000
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.
(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 April 15, shifting of legal axle weights set out in (a)(4) and (5) of this
section is allowed for one, two, and three drive axle groupings on power
vehicles traveling on the Steese, Elliott, Dalton, and Richardson Highways
between North Pole and Prudhoe Bay, or between North Pole and MP 30 of the
Steese Highway. 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 not farther than five miles from the most direct route between North Pole
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.
(g) A vehicle subject to the provisions of
this section that uses an auxiliary power unit or an idle reduction technology
unit in order to promote reduction of fuel use and emissions because of engine
idling, will be allowed up to an additional 550 pounds total in power unit axle
weights, gross vehicle weights, or bridge formula weight limits. Certification
of the weight of the auxiliary power unit must be available to law enforcement
officers if the vehicle is found in violation of applicable weight laws. The
additional weight allowed may not exceed 550 pounds or the weight certified,
whichever is less. To be eligible for this exception, the operator of the
vehicle must be able to prove by
(1) written
certification, the weight of the auxiliary power unit or idle reduction
technology unit; and
(2)
demonstration or certification, that the auxiliary power unit or idle reduction
technology unit is fully functional at all times.
(h) The weight limitations set out in this
section do not apply to a covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle. In this
subsection, "covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle" means a vehicle that
(1) is transporting a disabled vehicle from
the place where that vehicle became disabled to the nearest appropriate repair
facility; and
(2) has a gross
vehicle weight that is equal to or exceeds the gross vehicle weight of the
disabled vehicle being transported.
Notes
17 AAC 25.013
Eff. 8/13/95, Register 135; am 10/7/2001,
Register 160; am 12/31/2006, Register 180; am 4/9/2009, Register 190; am
12/30/2010, Register 196; am 4/12/2013, Register 206; am 11/26/2015,
Register
216, January 2016; am 12/6/2018,
Register
228, January 2019; am 1/11/2024,
Register
249, April 2024
Authority:
AS
19.05.010
AS 19.05.020
AS 19.05.040
AS 19.10.060
AS 44.42.020
AS 44.42.030
AS
45.75.050