Weight Limits on Bridges

It's up to the governing authority of the road that the bridge is on to make sure it's properly marked to indicate its weight limits. For example, if that was a rural state highway, then the state would be responsible. If it was a county or township road, then that government agency would be responsible for it. If there truly were no signs, I'd let the appropriate agency know about it.

 

A Motor Carrier Atlas has lists of restricted routes in a state-by-state format. Also included are low clearance points for trucks.

As far as I know, only common sense can tell a driver whether or not to cross an unmarked bridge that not on a restricted route.

 

Legally, if there is no restriction signage on a bridge, then it is the same rated weight as the roqadway approaching it. If it is a state owned street and there are no restrictions posted on the street, then it is up to the full legal weight of 80k. If the street is restricted, then the bridge is part of the roadway and falls under the same restrictions.

But, whenever you encounter an old bridge, it's always a moment for a gut check, and wondering if this is finally going to be the time that exceeds the limits of the bridges design.

A couple of years ago, I was crossing a bridge on a highway in Kentucky, right on the northern border. No weight limit signs at all as i approached the bridge. Suddenly, I spotted a sign, with weight limits of some kind on it, and jammed the brakes because the numbers I saw were lower than my weight. I stopped right there, hit the flashers and tried to figure out how I was going to back down the approach from the bridge and find another route to my delivery. Another truck came up behind me, and I talked to him on the CB. Turned out that the sign I had just gotten a glimpse of was restrictions for coal trucks only. Everyone else was fully legal to cross it. Peroblem was that there was so much info on the sign, I didn't have a chance to read it, merely catch the pertinent numbers.

Better safe that sorry, and wet!!!

 

what it doesn't tell you is the weight limit. i have crossed bridges designated as a truck route but with weight limits less than 40 tons. the only way to know is when you get right up to the dang thing.

 

Always remember that the 80k limit only applies to interstate roads. Once you leave the interstate, or go past what is considered "reasonable access" you can find yourself dealing with state limits. I make one run into Carol Stream Il where I am at 80k for the entire trip, and the last 1/4 mile to the customer is a road listed as a truck route, but the weight limit is the states limit of 72,380. I still drive there since there is a very limited chance of them catching me, but the weight limit is there and real, it's just not enforced very well.

The local cops probably have much higher priorities, so I hope they don't ever have a slow day.t

 

That's what I understood, at least up to 80,000 pounds.

 

Arkansas is worse then that. They found trucks had a quick route through the backroads and dropped weight limit on the bridges down from 40tons to 37tons.

they also restricted some bridges on a county road by some farms to 12tons, while everyday trucks 60K lbs plus rolls over it every hour.
Some of this is just a scam meant to take money from drivers.