Overweight Movement

  1. Introduction

The State Highway Commission, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, may in their discretion and as provided in this section, issue a permit to transport vehicles that cannot readily be reduced in weight.

  1. Application

Refer to Section II, "B" (GENERAL INFORMATION) herein.

  • Front End (Steering) Permits:  A description of the vehicle, to include the make, license and/or VIN number, state in which licensed, and a clear photograph of the vehicle, shall accompany the application for permit.

  1. Bond/Fee Information

Refer to Section II, "C" (GENERAL INFORMATION) herein.

  • Front End (Steering) Permits:  There shall be no fee imposed for subject permit.

  1. Definitions

  1. Front and/or Steering Axle(s):  A front or steering axle shall be defined as one attached to the front of the vehicle and which is used to steer the vehicle on a given path or direction.  Two front/steering axles no less than forty inches (40”) apart and no farther than ninety-six inches (96”) apart shall be considered a tandem front/steering axle configuration.  Any two axles which are spaced less that forty inches (40”) apart or more than ninety-six inches (96”) apart may not be considered a tandem front/steering axle configuration.  Measurements shall be made from the center of axle to center of axle to the nearest inch.
  2. SINGLE LOAD CARRYING AXLE(S):  A load carrying axle shall be defined as an axle, other that a front/steering axle, which is permanently attached to a vehicle or dolly, and is designed to carry a portion of the gross weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles.  A group of two (2) or more axles in which the outer two (2) axles measure less than forty inches (40”) from the centers of the axles, shall be considered a single load carrying axle for all purposes.  A load carrying axle shall have a minimum capacity rating of eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds.  Measurements shall be made from the center of axle to center of axle to the nearest inch.  (Illustration:  see Appendix 6).
  3. TANDEM AXLES:  Tandem axles shall be defined as two (2) or more consecutive axles whose centers may be included between parallel transverse vertical planes spaced more that forty inches (40”) and not more than ninety-six (96”) apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.  (Illustration:  See Appendix 6).  Definition reference Act 1231, l991.
  4. TRIDEM AXLES:  Tridem axles shall be defined as a group of three consecutive load carrying axles which are permanently attached to a vehicle or dolly, and two of which are in tandem, in which the outer axles are no less than ninety-seven inches (97”) and no farther than two hundred and four inches (204”) apart, when measured from the center of axle to the center of axle to the nearest inch.  (Illustration:  See Appendix 6)
  5. QUADRUM AXLE:  Any four consecutive axles whose extreme centers are not more than 192 inches apart and are individually attached to or articulated from, or both, a common attachment to the vehicle including a connecting mechanism designed to equalize the load between axles.  (Illustration:  See Appendix 6)
  6. LIFT AXLE:  Any load carrying axle permanently attached to a vehicle or dolly so as to make possible the raising or lowering of the axle and which can affect the amount of weight carried by that axle or other axles.
  7. DOLLY:  A device, other than a trailer or semi-trailer, attached to one or more axles which, when connected to a vehicle or combination of vehicles, carries a portion of the gross weight of the  vehicle or combination of vehicles.
  8. TRUNNION WHEEL COMBINATIONS:   Independent wheel assemblies designed with hydraulic suspension cylinders and located transversely across from each other to form an axle combination.
  9. TRUNNION DOLLY ASSEMBLIES:   Any dolly unit consisting of trunnion wheel combinations that may be connected by steel beams or be used to support loads at extreme ends.
  10. GROSS WEIGHT:  The combined weight of a vehicle and/or vehicle combination without load and the weight of any load thereon.
  11. FEDERAL BRIDGE FORMULA: The Federal Bridge Formula is defined as the following mathematical formula:

W = 500 x [ Ln/ (n-1) + 12N + 36 ]

W   is the maximum weight in pounds that can be carried on a group of two or more axles to the nearest five hundred (500) pounds.
 
L  is the distance in feet, measured from center of axle to center of axle to the nearest foot, between the extremes/outer axles of any group of two (2) or more consecutive axles.
 
N is the total number of axles in the group under consideration.

The number in the above formula (500; -1; 12; and 36) shall be constant numbers.

  1. Maximum Weight on Front/Steering Axle

The maximum weight imposed on the highway by the front steering axle of a vehicle shall not exceed twelve  thousand (12,000) pounds.  Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-203 (c) (1).

The Director may issue permits for a maximum single front/steering axle weight not to exceed eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds and a maximum tandem front/steering axle weight not to exceed thirty-two thousand (32,000) pounds for vehicles of special design, equipment, or construction, engaged in occasional or specialized heavy hauling such as, but not limited to, hauling of heavy machinery, commodities which require specialized equipment, oil or gas field equipment, or similar equipment for a period of not more than twelve (12) consecutive months, upon written application containing satisfactory proof that such vehicle(s) are used solely for the above purposes.

  1. Single/Tandem/Tridem/Quadrum Axle Load Limits

  1. Single Axle Load permitted:  No permit shall be issued for the movement of a vehicle, except off-the-road vehicle and/or equipment, if the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels of any one (1) single axle exceeds twenty thousand (20,000) pounds.

  2. Tandem Axle Load Permitted:  The total gross load that shall be permitted upon the highways on a tandem configuration shall not exceed forty thousand (40,000) pounds, and no one (1) axle of any such group shall exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds.

  3. Tridem Axle Load permitted:  The total gross weight permitted in a tridem configuration shall not exceed sixty thousand (60,000) pounds, and no one (1) axle of any such group shall exceed twenty thousand (20,000) pounds.

  4. Quadrum Axle Load Permitted:  The total gross weight permitted on the highways by a quadrum configuration shall not exceed sixty-eight thousand (68,000) pounds, an any one (1) axle of any such group shall exceed seventeen thousand (17,000) pounds.

  1. Movement of Overweight Vehicles

Permits may be issued for the movement of overweight vehicles that are not overdimensional on Arkansas highways on Saturday, Sundays, holidays and nighttime.  These overweight permits must be obtained in advance.

  1. Movement Requirements

  1. Signs:  No oversize load signs are required on vehicles traveling under an overweight permit if their dimensions are otherwise legal.

  2. Escorts:  No escorts are required on vehicles traveling under an overweight permit if their dimensions are otherwise legal, unless deemed necessary by the Permit Section.

  1. Factors Considered in the Issuance of Permits

Factors  used to determine whether a permit is issued  may include traffic volume and type, dimensions of highways, type(s) and condition(s) of road surfaces(s); type of transporting vehicle, federal bridge formula, condition of the bridges and other structures, public safety and needs.

  1. Vehicles Transporting Cross-Ties

Arkansas Code Annotated 27-35-210 provides that special overweight permits may be issued to certain five-axle vehicles transporting cross-ties from their first point of processing to the point at which they shall undergo creosote processing.

  1. The five-axle vehicle must be licensed with an Arkansas "K" (Class 7) license.

  2. The permitted vehicle may have a loaded weight not to exceed thirty-six thousand five hundred (36,500) pounds on each of the two tandem axle configurations.

  3. The one-way mileage of the loaded trip shall not exceed one hundred (100) miles.

  4. No more than five (5) of these special permits may be issued to the same person during the same calendar year.

  5. Provided no portion of such trip is on any part of the Federal Interstate Highways.

  6. The fee for each one (1) year permit shall be one hundred dollars ($100).

(Back to Permit Regulations)