Maryland Truck Weight Limits

How much a truck can weigh in Maryland

Maryland runs the federal 80,000 pounds, and that ceiling already includes any enforcement or statutory tolerance (Md. Transp. 24-109). A single axle goes to 22,400 pounds only if the truck is registered for 73,000 pounds or less; register above that and you drop to 20,000, on state roads and the Interstate alike (Md. Transp. 24-108). Fines climb by bracket, from 1 cent a pound on the first 1,000 over to 40 cents a pound past 20,000 over, and they double on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (Md. Transp. 24-401). Anything over 100,000 pounds needs a permit.

Axles, off-Interstate, and permits

• Off the Interstate: 80,000 lb, and that ceiling includes any enforcement or statutory tolerance (Md. Transp. 24-109). Off the Interstate, farm and forest loads get 5% to 15% axle allowances, and an auxiliary power unit is worth 550 lb.
• Single axle: 22,400 lb if the vehicle is registered for 73,000 lb or less; 20,000 lb once the registered gross weight tops 73,000 lb, on state highways and the Interstate alike (Md. Transp. 24-108)
• Tandem axle: 34,000 lb
• With a permit: Over 100,000 lb by superload/overweight permit; no standing divisible-load weight above 80,000 lb
• Fine brackets confirmed via air-weigh.com Maryland schedule, consistent with the Transp. Article 24 civil-penalty structure. Single-axle 22,400 lb is the state-highway figure; the Interstate reverts to the federal 20,000/34,000.

Posted bridge and road limits

Maryland posts bridges and roads with MUTCD weight-limit signs in short tons (10 TONS = 20,000 lb). The posted number overrides your legal 80,000 - you cannot cross a bridge rated below your weight and must detour. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge carries its own restrictions and roughly doubled penalties. Crossing a posted structure overweight is a separate charge, and the driver is liable for any damage plus the cost of weighing.

What running heavy costs

Graduated per pound of excess: 1 cent/lb on the first 1,000 lb over; 5 cents/lb from 1,001-5,000; 12 cents/lb from 5,001-10,000; 20 cents/lb from 10,001-20,000; 40 cents/lb past 20,000 over. Penalties roughly double on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Courts cannot waive or reduce the fine; out-of-state trucks are held until paid or bonded.

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