North Dakota Truck Weight Limits

How much a truck can weigh in North Dakota

Off the Interstate, North Dakota lets you run up to 105,500 pounds if you carry enough axles (NDCC 39-12-05.3). On the Interstate you are back to the federal 80,000, with 20,000 on a single axle and 34,000 on a tandem. Off-Interstate axle groups run heavier: two axles up to 40,000, three or more up to 48,000. A 10 percent harvest or divisible-load permit gets you to 105,500 for $50 per 30 days.

Axles, off-Interstate, and permits

• Off the Interstate: Up to 105,500 lb with enough axles; 80,000 lb without a permit
• Single axle: 20,000 lb
• Tandem axle: 34,000 lb on the Interstate; off-Interstate two axles up to 40,000 lb and three or more up to 48,000 lb by formula
• With a permit: 105,500 lb on 7+ axles under the 10% divisible-load or harvest permit (NDCC 39-12-05.3); superloads higher case-by-case
• Interstate holds the federal 80,000/20,000/34,000. Off-Interstate axle groups are heavier and 105,500 gross is reachable with the 10% permit. The 39-12-17 fine schedule was reworked in 2023 and caps at $6,000 (30,000 lb over), then adds $200 per additional 1,000 lb.

Posted bridge and road limits

Local road authorities post road and bridge limits under NDCC 39-12-02 and 39-12-03 as 'WEIGHT LIMIT __ TONS' (short tons; 10 tons = 20,000 lb). The posted number beats your legal weight, so a fully legal truck cannot cross a bridge posted below it. Crossing over is charged as an extraordinary-use violation (39-12-17), a misdemeanor, and you can be billed for any bridge damage.

What running heavy costs

Graduated 'extraordinary road use' charge by pounds over (NDCC 39-12-17): 1-1,000 = $20; 1,001-2,000 = $40; 2,001-3,000 = $60; 3,001-4,000 = $140; 4,001-5,000 = $220; 9,001-10,000 = $655; then it jumps at 10,001-11,000 to $1,100 and climbs to a $6,000 cap at 30,000 over, plus $200 for every additional 1,000 lb beyond 30,000. Schedule updated 2023.

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