Axle Load Limit
The maximum weight permitted on a single axle or axle group, independent of the vehicle's total weight.
Axle load limits exist because road and bridge damage depends on the load concentrated at each point of contact, not on the vehicle's total mass. A single axle, a tandem pair and a tridem group each carry different permitted maxima, and the vehicle's overall GVW is effectively the sum of what its axles are allowed to bear.
The consequence is that a vehicle can be within its GVW and still be illegally loaded. Placing dense freight over the front of the body while leaving the rear light will overload the steer or drive axle while the total stays comfortably under the limit. Enforcement at modern weigh stations checks axle by axle.
Beyond fines, axle overloading is a genuine engineering problem. It accelerates tyre wear disproportionately, stresses suspension and bearings, and lengthens braking distance — which is why fleets that fit on-board axle-load sensors usually find the maintenance saving justifies them independently of the compliance benefit.
This entry describes statutory requirements, which change by notification and can differ between states. Treat it as orientation, not legal advice, and confirm the current position for your own operation before relying on it.
Weights & measures
How load is measured, charged and legally limited.
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