← All States
Trailer Length No. IN 53 ft on a kingpin limit

Indiana Semitrailer Length Limit

Indiana is listed at 48'6" in Appendix B, and a 53-foot semitrailer runs without a permit as long as the kingpin-to-rearmost-axle distance stays at 40'6" or less.

Appendix B length48'6"
Federal floor48'0" (all states)
Kingpin condition40'6"
Tractor + 2 units106' 127.4K
Tractor + 3 units104.5' 127.4K
The kingpin rule is the real limit here. Semitrailers up to 53 feet in length may operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-rearmost axle distance of 40 feet 6 inches. Semitrailers that are consistent with 23 CFR 658.13(g) may operate without a permit provided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.
This is a floor, not your length limit. Appendix B lists what a state was grandfathered to keep under the STAA of 1982 and must go on allowing on the National Network. It is not the state's own limit, and it is not permission to run that length on any road you like. Most states allow 53-foot semitrailers under their own law — that permission comes from state statute, not from this table — and every state can still restrict length on specific routes, in cities, and off the National Network. Use this to know the federal baseline, then check the state limit and the route.
01 The rule

What Indiana has to allow

The footnote is the operative rule in Indiana, not the table entry. A 53-foot semitrailer needs its kingpin within 40'6" of the rearmost axle, or 46 feet to the centre of the rear axle for a trailer consistent with 23 CFR 658.13(g). Measure the setting, not the trailer.

The number comes from 23 CFR Part 658 Appendix B, the STAA grandfather list. It binds Indiana on the National Network and cannot be lowered. It says nothing about what Indiana allows beyond it, which is where state law takes over.

02 The details

Length, kingpin and combinations

Indiana Trailer Length FAQ

What is the legal trailer length in Indiana without a permit?
Appendix B lists Indiana at 48'6", but that is not the practical answer. A 53-foot semitrailer is legal without a permit if the kingpin-to-rearmost-axle distance is 40'6" or less, or 46 feet to the centre of the rear axle for a trailer consistent with 23 CFR 658.13(g).
Can I run a 53-foot trailer in Indiana?
Yes, without a permit, provided the kingpin-to-rearmost-axle distance meets the 40'6" limit in the Appendix B footnote. Miss it and a standard 53-foot van is illegal in Indiana, not merely long. Measure the setting before you plan the run.
Are doubles or triples allowed in Indiana?
Indiana holds grandfathered longer-combination-vehicle rights under Appendix C. Tractor plus two trailing units: 106 feet at up to 127,400 lb. Tractor plus three: 104.5 feet at up to 127,400 lb.
Does this length apply on every road in Indiana?
No. Appendix B binds the National Network — the Interstates plus the designated primary routes. Off the network, and inside cities, Indiana can and does restrict length, and posted route restrictions still apply. Check the route as well as the number.

Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: eCFR, 23 CFR 658 Appendix B and C (title 23 as of 2026-07-23). See our Terms & Disclaimer.

03 Related

More for Indiana

Indiana Weight Limits

The legal GVW and axle limits in Indiana, and the overweight fine.

Open →

Indiana Oversize Permits

What it takes once you are past the legal length, width or height.

Open →

Indiana 511

Live road conditions, closures, and weather alerts for Indiana.

Open →

All States

Compare semitrailer length limits across all 50 states and DC.

Open →

Check Indiana before you roll

Live weather, closures, and hazards on one map. Free, no account.

Open Live Map →