2011 Missouri Revised Statutes
TITLE XIX MOTOR VEHICLES, WATERCRAFT AND AVIATION
Chapter 304 Traffic Regulations
Section 304.180. Regulations as to weight--axle load, tandem axle defined--idle reduction technology, increase in maximum gross weight permitted, amount--hauling livestock, total gross weight permitted.

304.180. 1. No vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be moved or operated on any highway in this state having a greater weight than twenty thousand pounds on one axle, no combination of vehicles operated by transporters of general freight over regular routes as defined in section 390.020 shall be moved or operated on any highway of this state having a greater weight than the vehicle manufacturer's rating on a steering axle with the maximum weight not to exceed twelve thousand pounds on a steering axle, and no vehicle shall be moved or operated on any state highway of this state having a greater weight than thirty-four thousand pounds on any tandem axle; the term "tandem axle" shall mean a group of two or more axles, arranged one behind another, the distance between the extremes of which is more than forty inches and not more than ninety-six inches apart.

2. An "axle load" is defined as the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers are included between two parallel transverse vertical planes forty inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle.

3. Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon a highway of this state through any one axle or on any tandem axle, the total gross weight with load imposed by any group of two or more consecutive axles of any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the maximum load in pounds as set forth in the following table:

Distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two or more consecutive axles, measured to the nearest foot, except where indicated otherwise Maximum load in pounds

feet 2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles

4 34,000 5 34,000 6 34,000 7 34,000 8 34,000 34,000 More than 8 38,000 42,000 9 39,000 42,500 10 40,000 43,500 11 40,000 44,000 12 40,000 45,000 50,000 13 40,000 45,500 50,500 14 40,000 46,500 51,500 15 40,000 47,000 52,000 16 40,000 48,000 52,500 58,000 17 40,000 48,500 53,500 58,500 18 40,000 49,500 54,000 59,000 19 40,000 50,000 54,500 60,000 20 40,000 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000 21 40,000 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500 22 40,000 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000 23 40,000 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000 24 40,000 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500 25 40,000 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000 26 40,000 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500 27 40,000 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 28 40,000 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000 29 40,000 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500 30 40,000 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000 31 40,000 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500 32 40,000 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000 33 40,000 60,000 64,000 68,500 74,000 34 40,000 60,000 64,500 69,000 74,500 35 40,000 60,000 65,500 70,000 75,000 36 60,000 66,000 70,500 75,500 37 60,000 66,500 71,000 76,000 38 60,000 67,500 72,000 77,000 39 60,000 68,000 72,500 77,500 40 60,000 68,500 73,000 78,000 41 60,000 69,500 73,500 78,500 42 60,000 70,000 74,000 79,000 43 60,000 70,500 75,000 80,000 44 60,000 71,500 75,500 80,000 45 60,000 72,000 76,000 80,000 46 60,000 72,500 76,500 80,000 47 60,000 73,500 77,500 80,000 48 60,000 74,000 78,000 80,000 49 60,000 74,500 78,500 80,000 50 60,000 75,500 79,000 80,000 51 60,000 76,000 80,000 80,000 52 60,000 76,500 80,000 80,000 53 60,000 77,500 80,000 80,000 54 60,000 78,000 80,000 80,000 55 60,000 78,500 80,000 80,000 56 60,000 79,500 80,000 80,000 57 60,000 80,000 80,000 80,000

Notwithstanding the above table, two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of thirty-four thousand pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is thirty-six feet or more.

4. Whenever the state highways and transportation commission finds that any state highway bridge in the state is in such a condition that use of such bridge by vehicles of the weights specified in subsection 3 of this section will endanger the bridge, or the users of the bridge, the commission may establish maximum weight limits and speed limits for vehicles using such bridge. The governing body of any city or county may grant authority by act or ordinance to the state highways and transportation commission to enact the limitations established in this section on those roadways within the purview of such city or county. Notice of the weight limits and speed limits established by the commission shall be given by posting signs at a conspicuous place at each end of any such bridge.

5. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting lawful axle loads, tandem axle loads or gross loads in excess of those permitted under the provisions of Section 127 of Title 23 of the United States Code.

6. Notwithstanding the weight limitations contained in this section, any vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on highways other than the interstate highway system may exceed single axle, tandem axle and gross weight limitations in an amount not to exceed two thousand pounds. However, total gross weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds, except as provided in subsection 9 of this section.

7. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the department of transportation shall issue a single-use special permit, or upon request of the owner of the truck or equipment, shall issue an annual permit, for the transporting of any concrete pump truck or well-drillers' equipment. The department of transportation shall set fees for the issuance of permits pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.133, concrete pump trucks or well-drillers' equipment may be operated on state-maintained roads and highways at any time on any day.

8. Notwithstanding the provision of this section to the contrary, the maximum gross vehicle limit and axle weight limit for any vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with an idle reduction technology may be increased by a quantity necessary to compensate for the additional weight of the idle reduction system as provided for in 23 U.S.C. Section 127, as amended. In no case shall the additional weight increase allowed by this subsection be greater than four hundred pounds. Upon request by an appropriate law enforcement officer, the vehicle operator shall provide proof that the idle reduction technology is fully functional at all times and that the gross weight increase is not used for any purpose other than for the use of idle reduction technology.

9. Notwithstanding subsection 3 of this section or any other provision of law to the contrary, the total gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling livestock may be as much as, but shall not exceed, eighty-five thousand five hundred pounds while operating on U.S. Highway 36 from St. Joseph to U.S. Highway 65, and on U.S. Highway 65 from the Iowa state line to U.S. Highway 36.

(RSMo 1939 8406, A.L. 1943 p. 663, A. 1949 S.B. 1113, A.L. 1951 p. 695, A.L. 1957 p. 624, A.L. 1963 p. 417, A.L. 1965 p. 489, A.L. 1967 p. 412, A.L. 1983 H.B. 539, A.L. 1985 H.B. 157 merged with H.B. 330, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1948, A.L. 2001 S.B. 244, A.L. 2008 S.B. 930 & 947)

Prior revision: 1929 7787

Annotation Copyright Missouri Joint Committee on Legislative Research