Arkansas Truck Weight Limits

How much a truck can weigh in Arkansas

Arkansas holds the federal 80,000 gross, 20,000 single, 34,000 tandem, with no variance on the Interstate (Ark. Code 27-35-203). The fine scales with how far over you are and how many times you have done it: over 10,000 pounds heavy runs 8 to 10 cents a pound on a first offense, 13 to 15 cents on a second in the same year, and 18 to 20 cents on a third (27-35-202). Skip a weigh station on purpose and the penalty doubles, and the court has no say in it.

Axles, off-Interstate, and permits

• Off the Interstate: 80,000 lb (no variance on the Interstate; base 80,000 elsewhere)
• Single axle: 20,000 lb
• Tandem axle: 34,000 lb
• With a permit: 85,000 lb for a 5-axle rig hauling unprocessed farm, forest, or soil products on non-Interstate highways, by statute (A.C.A. 27-35-203). Anything heavier moves by oversize/overweight permit.
• The repeat-offender per-pound rates count offenses within a single calendar year. The mandatory-doubling rule for weigh-station evasion is written into the statute.

Posted bridge and road limits

ArDOT posts load-limited bridges and roads on MUTCD R12 signs. WEIGHT LIMIT X TONS is short tons (2,000 lb), so 15 TONS means 30,000 lb. A posted limit overrides the legal max: a legal 80,000-lb truck cannot cross a bridge posted below its weight and must detour. Crossing a posted structure over the limit is a separate offense and can carry liability for damage to the bridge.

What running heavy costs

Graduated per-pound on the excess under Ark. Code 27-35-202: 1,000 lb or less over $10-$20; 1,001-2,000 over 1 to 3 cents per pound; scaling up with weight. Over 10,000 lb over is 8-10 cents per pound on a first offense, 13-15 cents on a second in the same calendar year, and 18-20 cents on a third or later. Willfully bypassing a weigh station doubles the penalty, and the court must impose it.

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