Connecticut Truck Weight Limits

How much a truck can weigh in Connecticut

Connecticut holds at the federal 80,000-pound ceiling, with a single axle up to 22,400 pounds off the Interstate (CGS 14-267a). There is no LCV weight tier here. Anything over 80,000 needs a written permit from the DOT Commissioner. Fines climb by how far over you are, from $3 per 100 pounds under 5% to $15 per 100 pounds past 30% over, and add a flat $125 per 1,000 pounds once you clear 10,000 pounds over.

Axles, off-Interstate, and permits

• Off the Interstate: 80,000 lb; higher only by ConnDOT permit
• Single axle: 22,400 lb on state highways; 20,000 lb on the Interstate
• Tandem axle: 36,000 lb on state highways (closely spaced axles capped at 18,000 lb each); 34,000 lb on the Interstate
• With a permit: No standing tier above 80,000 lb. Over-legal weights are permitted case-by-case by ConnDOT (CGS 14-270); single-trip and weekend superload permits go well above 80,000.
• Interstate follows federal 80,000/20,000/34,000. Off-Interstate single axle is 22,400 lb. Milk and bulk-tanker higher-weight allowances run through permits, not a standing statutory tier. Fine is assessed on the greater of the gross-weight or axle-weight overage.

Posted bridge and road limits

Towns and the state post bridges and local roads with black-on-white 'WEIGHT LIMIT X TONS' signs. Tons here are 2,000-lb short tons, so '10 TONS' means 20,000 lb. A posted number beats your legal weight: if a bridge is posted 15 tons you cannot cross at a fully legal 80,000 lb, you take the detour. Running a posted bridge over its limit is its own violation on top of the weight fine, and you can be billed for inspection and any structural repair if you damage it.

What running heavy costs

CGS 14-267a, graduated by how far over legal weight you are (charged on the greater of the gross or axle violation): under 5% over = $3 per 100 lb; 5-10% = $5 per 100 lb ($50 min); 10-15% = $6 per 100 lb ($100 min); 15-20% = $7 per 100 lb ($200 min); 20-25% = $10 per 100 lb ($300 min); 25-30% = $12 per 100 lb ($500 min); over 30% = $15 per 100 lb ($1,000 min). Once you exceed 10,000 lb over, add a flat $125 for every additional 1,000 lb.

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