You pick up a load, the shipper says "about 44,000 lbs," and you assume you're good. Two hours later you're sitting at a scale house with a DOT officer writing you a ticket for 4,600 lbs overweight on your tandems.
The fine: $460. Plus the hour you lost. Plus the CSA points. Plus having to explain to the broker why you're late.
Overweight tickets are expensive, preventable, and surprisingly common. Here's everything you need to know about weight limits, fines by state, how to weigh properly, and how to avoid getting caught over.
Federal Truck Weight Limits
The federal weight limit is 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight (GVW) on interstate highways. All 50 states must allow trucks up to 80,000 lbs on designated federal highways if they pass the Federal Bridge Formula test.
Breakdown of 80,000 lbs:
- Steer axle: 12,000 lbs maximum
- Drive axles (tandem): 34,000 lbs maximum
- Trailer axles (tandem): 34,000 lbs maximum
- Total: 80,000 lbs maximum
That's the simple version. The actual legal weight depends on axle spacing, number of axles, and which state you're in.
Federal Bridge Formula
The Federal Bridge Formula determines the maximum weight any set of axles can carry based on the distance between them. The formula protects bridges from stress concentrations.
Why it matters: You could be legal on gross weight (under 80,000 lbs) but illegal on axle weight because your axles are too close together. The formula accounts for weight distribution, not just total weight.
Example: A truck with two axles 4 feet apart can't carry as much weight as two axles 8 feet apart, even if the gross weight is the same.
Most standard five-axle tractor-trailers (steer axle + tandem drives + tandem trailer axles) are configured to carry 80,000 lbs legally. But if you have a spread-axle trailer, a tri-axle setup, or unusual axle spacing, the bridge formula changes what you're allowed to carry.
Online calculators (like Drivewyze's weight calculator) can verify whether your setup passes the bridge formula. Use them before you load if you have a non-standard configuration.
State Weight Limits Vary
While federal law sets the 80,000 lb limit on interstate highways, states can allow higher weights on state roads with permits or specific configurations.
Examples of states with higher limits:
- Michigan allows up to 164,000 lbs with 11 axles on designated routes
- Some western states allow heavier loads with additional axles
- California has higher weight limits on state highways with permits
But here's the catch: Most owner operators operate under federal rules because you're running interstate. Even if a state allows 90,000 lbs on state roads, you're limited to 80,000 lbs federally unless you have a special permit and never cross state lines.
Don't assume state limits apply to you. Stick with federal limits unless you have an overweight permit for a specific route.
What Happens If You're Overweight
Getting Caught
You'll get caught at:
- Weigh stations (where DOT officers run portable scales)
- Roadside inspections
- Fixed scale locations
- Random DOT inspections
What DOT does: They weigh your truck on certified scales. If you're over any weight limit (gross, steer axle, drive axle, trailer axle), you get a ticket.
The Ticket
Overweight tickets are civil violations, not criminal (unless you're egregiously over or refuse to comply). You pay a fine, but you don't get a misdemeanor on your record.
CSA impact: Overweight violations affect your CSA score under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category. Accumulate too many violations and your CSA score increases, which can lead to:
- DOT audits
- Higher insurance rates
- Brokers refusing to work with you
- Increased roadside inspections
Points don't go on your personal driving record in most states for overweight violations (they're not moving violations), but they affect your company's DOT safety score.
Forced Unloading
Some states require you to unload cargo at the scale site to come into compliance before you can leave.
- Florida requires unloading if you're more than 6,000 lbs over
- Other states may force unloading at their discretion
The problem: Where do you put 6,000 lbs of freight? If you don't have another truck to transfer to, you're calling the shipper for help. That costs time, money, and relationships.
Overweight Fines by State
There's no uniform fine structure. Each state sets its own penalties based on how much you're over and which weight limit you violated (gross vs axle).
Common Fine Structures
Sliding scale (most common): Fines increase incrementally with weight. Example: $5 per 100 lbs for the first 2,000 lbs over, then $10 per 100 lbs after that.
Per-pound flat rate: Some states charge a flat rate per pound overweight. Example: $0.10 per lb means 3,000 lbs over costs $300.
Percentage-based: A few states calculate fines as a percentage of the overweight amount. Example: 20% overweight at $10 per 100 lbs of total weight.
State Examples (2026)
California:
- Up to 1,000 lbs over: $20 base fine
- After penalties, assessments, and court costs: $175 total
- 4,000-5,000 lbs over: $175 base fine, $753 total after assessments
California assesses additional fees on top of base fines, so a small fine becomes much larger.
Connecticut:
- Under 5% overweight: $3 per pound
- 20% overweight: $10 per 100 lbs
Connecticut uses percentage calculations, so the same overweight amount costs more on a heavier truck.
New York:
- $0.06 per pound overweight
- 5,000 lbs over: $300 fine
New York has relatively low per-pound fines compared to other states.
Massachusetts:
- Under 10,000 lbs over: $40 per 1,000 lbs
- Over 10,000 lbs: $80 per 1,000 lbs
- Example: 5,000 lbs over = $200
Massachusetts has a tiered system that punishes heavy overweight more severely.
General penalty range across states:
- 1,000 lbs over: $100-$200
- 3,000 lbs over: $300-$600
- 5,000 lbs over: $500-$1,200
- 10,000 lbs over: $2,000-$5,000+
Federal minimum: $12 per pound overweight if federally cited (rare; usually states enforce weight laws).
Repeat Offenses
First offense: Standard fine Second offense (same year): 2x first offense Third+ offense: 3x first offense, potential license suspension, possible jail time
Some states track repeat violations statewide. Get three overweight tickets in one year and you're facing serious penalties, including:
- CDL suspension
- Vehicle registration suspension
- Criminal charges (in extreme cases)
True Cost of an Overweight Ticket
The fine is just the start. Here's what an overweight violation actually costs:
Direct costs:
- Fine: $300-$1,500 (typical for 3,000-5,000 lbs over)
- Unloading fee: $200-$500 (if forced to offload)
- Court costs: $50-$150 (some states)
- Total direct: $550-$2,150
Indirect costs:
- Missed delivery appointment: Late fee or canceled load
- Detention time: 2-4 hours at scale = $100-$200 lost earnings
- CSA point impact: Higher insurance premiums (could add $500-$1,500 annually)
- Broker relationships: May stop booking you if violations pile up
- Total indirect: $600-$2,000+ long-term
Grand total for one ticket: $1,150-$4,150+
And that's assuming you don't lose the load entirely or face additional penalties.
How to Avoid Overweight Tickets
1. Never Trust Shipper Weight Estimates
Shippers lie. Not always intentionally, but their numbers are often wrong.
Why shippers get it wrong:
- They weigh before packaging/palletizing (missing 500-1,000 lbs)
- They estimate based on product count, not actual weight
- They "round down" to make loads more attractive
- They don't account for pallet weight (40-50 lbs each)
The rule: If a shipper says "about 44,000 lbs," assume it's 46,000 lbs. If they say "should be legal," assume it's overweight until you verify.
2. Weigh Every Load Before You Leave
If you're not weighing after pickup, you're gambling.
Where to weigh:
- CAT Scale locations (2,200+ locations nationwide)
- Certified truck stops with scales
- Portable scales (if you have your own)
CAT Scale cost (2026):
- First weigh: $13.50
- Reweigh (within 24 hours at same location): $4.00
- Maximum cost per day (same location): $25.50
Time cost: 10-20 minutes (5 minutes if you use the Weigh My Truck app).
Value: Avoiding a $500-$2,000 ticket.
Math: Spend $13.50 per load to avoid a potential $1,500 violation. That's a 110x return on investment if it saves you once.
3. Use the Weigh My Truck App
CAT Scale's mobile app ("Weigh My Truck") lets you:
- Pay electronically (no need to go inside)
- Get PDF weight tickets emailed instantly
- Find nearby CAT Scale locations
- Save 10-20 minutes per weigh
Cost: Free app, same scale pricing ($13.50 first weigh, $4.00 reweigh).
California exception: App-generated tickets are not certified in California. You must get a printed ticket from the scale house.
4. Weigh Right After Loading, Not Miles Down the Road
Don't drive 50 miles hoping you're legal. Weigh immediately after leaving the shipper (within 5-10 miles).
Why this matters: If you're overweight, you can return to the shipper and have them remove freight while you're still nearby. Drive 100 miles before weighing and you're stuck either running illegal or paying to unload somewhere.
5. Know How to Position on the Scale
Correct positioning:
- Platform 1: Steer axle (front wheels of tractor)
- Platform 2: Drive axles (rear wheels of tractor)
- Platform 3: Trailer axles
Your entire truck and trailer must fit on the scale platforms. Don't hang off the edge or straddle platforms, or the weight readings will be inaccurate.
Multiple weighs for accuracy: If you want detailed axle weights, do three separate weighs:
- Full combination (all axles)
- Tractor only (unhook trailer)
- Trailer only (hook back up, drive tractor off scale)
Most drivers do one weigh (full combination) unless they're troubleshooting weight distribution.
6. Learn How to Distribute Weight
If your gross weight is legal but your tandems are overweight, you need to slide your fifth wheel or trailer tandems to shift weight.
Axle weight distribution basics:
If drive axles are overweight:
- Slide fifth wheel forward (moves weight from drives to steer axle)
- Slide trailer tandems rearward (moves weight from drives to trailer axles)
If trailer axles are overweight:
- Slide trailer tandems forward (moves weight from trailer axles to drive axles)
If steer axle is overweight:
- Slide fifth wheel rearward (moves weight from steer to drives)
- Remove weight from front of truck (don't store tools in cab area)
General rule: Every hole you move the tandems shifts roughly 250-400 lbs of weight (varies by trailer).
Target distribution for 80,000 lbs:
- Steer axle: 11,500-12,000 lbs (under 12,000 lb limit)
- Drive axles: 33,000-34,000 lbs (under 34,000 lb limit)
- Trailer axles: 33,000-34,000 lbs (under 34,000 lb limit)
Leave yourself a 500-1,000 lb buffer on each axle so you're not riding the limit.
7. Watch for Fuel Weight
A full 150-gallon tank adds 1,050 lbs (diesel weighs 7 lbs per gallon). A full 300-gallon tank adds 2,100 lbs.
If you're running at 79,500 lbs and you fuel up with 150 gallons, you're now at 80,550 lbs—over the limit.
Strategy:
- Weigh after fueling, not before
- If you're close to 80,000 lbs, don't fill both tanks
- Plan fuel stops so you're not carrying a full load + full fuel tanks
8. Account for Pallet Weight
Standard wood pallets weigh 30-50 lbs each. If you have 26 pallets, that's 780-1,300 lbs of dead weight before the freight even counts.
Shippers often "forget" to include pallet weight in their estimates. Add it yourself.
9. Know Bridge Law Restrictions
Just because your gross is under 80,000 lbs doesn't mean you're legal. If your axles are too close together, you can violate bridge formula limits.
Use an online bridge formula calculator before you load if you have:
- Spread-axle trailers
- Tri-axle setups
- Short wheelbases
- Non-standard axle spacing
Drivewyze and other services offer free bridge formula calculators.
10. Refuse Loads That Won't Scale Legal
If a shipper insists on loading you to 46,000 lbs in a 53' dry van and you know your truck can't legally carry that, refuse the load.
Better to:
- Turn down an overweight load
- Lose one load
- Keep your safety score clean
Than to:
- Get an overweight ticket
- Pay $1,500 in fines and penalties
- Damage your CSA score
- Risk losing future freight from brokers
What to Do If You Get an Overweight Ticket
Don't Argue at the Scale
The DOT officer has certified scales and federal/state authority. You're not winning the argument on-site.
Do:
- Be polite and cooperative
- Accept the ticket
- Ask what weight limit you violated and by how much
- Request documentation of the scale reading
Don't:
- Argue with the officer
- Refuse to comply
- Claim the scale is wrong (it's certified)
- Drive away (that's a criminal offense)
Verify the Ticket Is Correct
After you leave, check the ticket for:
- Correct weight readings (gross, steer, drives, trailer)
- Correct weight limits for your axle configuration
- Correct calculation of overweight amount
Mistakes happen. If the officer calculated wrong or cited the wrong weight limit, you can challenge it in court.
Decide Whether to Pay or Fight
Pay the fine if:
- You were clearly overweight (no dispute on facts)
- The amount is under $500
- You don't have time to contest it
Fight the ticket if:
- The scale readings seem incorrect
- The officer miscalculated weight limits
- You have documentation showing legal weight (recent CAT scale ticket)
- The fine is over $1,000
Most drivers pay. Fighting tickets requires court appearances, and unless the fine is large or the facts are clearly wrong, it's usually not worth the time.
Fix the Problem Before You Continue
If you're overweight, you must come into compliance before you can legally drive. Options:
- Unload freight at the scale site (arrange with shipper)
- Transfer freight to another truck
- Return to shipper and refuse the overweight portion
- Get an overweight permit (if available in that state)
Don't just pay the fine and keep driving. You can get another ticket at the next scale, and repeat violations carry much higher penalties.
Overweight Permits: When They Make Sense
Some states issue overweight permits for loads that exceed standard limits. These are typically used for:
- Heavy equipment hauling
- Construction loads
- Oversize/overweight freight that can't be broken down
Permit costs: $50-$500 depending on state and weight.
When it makes sense: If you're hauling heavy equipment that legitimately exceeds 80,000 lbs and can't be split across multiple loads, get a permit.
When it doesn't make sense: If you're hauling regular freight (dry van, reefer) and you're overweight because the shipper overloaded you, fix the load. Don't get a permit to cover a shipper's mistake.
Liability: Who Pays the Fine?
If you're an owner operator under your own authority: You pay. The ticket is yours.
If you're leased to a carrier: Depends on your lease agreement. Some carriers pay overweight fines, others deduct them from your settlement.
If the shipper lied about weight: You can try to recover the fine from the shipper, but good luck. Most bills of lading say "shipper load and count" which puts liability on the carrier (you). Unless you have written documentation that the shipper guaranteed a specific weight, you're stuck with the fine.
Best practice: Get a scale ticket immediately after loading. If you're overweight, return to the shipper before you leave their area and refuse to haul the overweight portion. Document everything.
Real Owner Operator Experiences
From TruckersReport forums:
Maryland ticket: "Got a $694 ticket in Maryland after picking up a trailer the shipper said was about 40K lbs. Maryland is one of the states where if found guilty of a weight violation, the judge by statute cannot reduce the fine."
Oregon overweight: "Got a ticket in Klamath Falls, Oregon for 6,000 lbs overweight on tandems and 1,800 lbs overweight overall."
Washington state $2,400 ticket: "Dirt haul with dump truck and pup received a $2,400 ticket when no scales were available."
California: "Overweight tickets don't carry points assigned to the company's CSA or driver's MVR - they just cost money." (Note: This is incorrect; they do affect CSA scores.)
The consensus: Scale every load, don't trust shippers, and pay the $13.50 to avoid the $1,500 ticket.
How FF Dispatch Helps Owner Operators Avoid Problems
We don't weigh your loads, but we work with brokers and shippers who provide accurate weight information so you're not getting blindsided by "estimated" loads.
How we help:
- We confirm load weights with brokers before booking
- We alert you to shippers with known weight issues
- We negotiate detention pay if you're forced to wait for reweigh/offload
- No surprises: 6% of gross revenue, no hidden fees
We handle freight negotiations so you can focus on running safe, legal, and profitable loads.
Contact: (302) 608-0609 or gia@dispatchff.com No long-term contracts - month-to-month service Average rates: $2.40-$2.80/mile
If you're tired of dealing with shippers who "forget" to mention their 44,000 lb load is actually 48,000 lbs, we're here.
Bottom Line
Overweight tickets cost $500-$2,000+ when you factor in fines, time lost, and CSA impact. They're avoidable.
How to avoid them:
- Weigh every load immediately after pickup ($13.50 at CAT Scale)
- Never trust shipper weight estimates
- Learn how to distribute weight across axles
- Refuse loads that won't scale legal
- Account for fuel weight and pallet weight
- Use online bridge formula calculators for non-standard configurations
Federal limits:
- 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight
- 12,000 lbs steer axle
- 34,000 lbs drive axles (tandem)
- 34,000 lbs trailer axles (tandem)
Fine structures vary by state:
- California: $175-$753 for 1,000-5,000 lbs over
- New York: $0.06 per lb ($300 for 5,000 lbs over)
- Massachusetts: $40-$80 per 1,000 lbs depending on overage
Spend $13.50 per load to weigh. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Sources:
- Federal Truck Weight Limits - Oversize.io
- Truck Axle Weight Limits by State 2026 - World Population Review
- Overweight Fines and Penalties by State - Oversize.io
- US Trucking Weight Limits by State - Shapiro
- DOT Truck Weight Limits by State - ICE Transport
- Breaking Down Overweight Fines and Violations - Freedom Heavy Haul
- Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula - Wikipedia
- CAT Scale Locations and Pricing
- Weigh My Truck App Guide - Help/FAQ
- How to Weigh Your Truck on a CAT Scale - Mortons on the Move
- Calculating Commercial Vehicle Weight Distribution - Work Truck Online
- How to Load Trailers and Distribute Weight - Truck News
- Truck Axle Weight Calculator - Drivewyze
- Overweight Fines for New O/O - TruckersReport Forum
- Need Advice for Overweight Ticket - TruckersReport Forum