Full question:
Where can I find information regarding requirements for your truck to be street legal?
- Category: Automobiles
- Date:
- State: Indiana
Answer:
The following is from the IN driver's manual:
General Size Limitations for Commercial Vehicles without Special
Permit:
Maximum Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….8 feet, 6 inches
Maximum Height of Any Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….13 feet, 6 inches
Maximum Length of Any Single Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……36 feet
Maximum Length
(2-vehicle combination) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 feet
(3-vehicle combination) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 feet
Maximum Length of Semi-Trailer Combination . . . . . . . . . ……..28 feet, 6 inches
Maximum Length of Any Unit of
Tractor-Trailer Semi-Trailer Combination . . . . . . . . . . . . ……….28 feet, 6 inches
Maximum Distance Allowed Between
Coupled or Towed Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ………15 feet
Maximum Weight Limitations
You may not move any vehicle or combination with a gross weight over 80,000 pounds
on any highway without a special permit. Vehicle weight must be distributed within the following
limits:
Maximum single axle weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …… . .20,000 lbs.
Maximum wheel weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . ………800 lbs. per inch width of tire rim
Maximum tandem axle weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . ……. .17,000 lbs. per axle
The Federal bridge formula may restrict gross weight on shorter wheel based vehicles.
Overweight trucks may be impounded by law enforcement.
• Special Permits: Before moving loads on public highways that exceed the size and weight
limits described above, you must secure a special permit from the Indiana Department of
Revenue for state-maintained routes, and from local authorities for routes that are not
maintained by the state.
56?• Local Limitations: It is illegal to operate any vehicle that has a gross weight greater than that
posted by the local road authority on any road, bridge, or structure, having jurisdiction in that
area. This includes locally established “frost” laws.
Following too Close
A truck or tractor-trailer combination may not follow another tractor or tractor-trailer
combination closer than 300 feet, except when overtaking to pass, or when traveling on a non-
interstate roadway within a business or residence district.
Required Lighting Equipment
Every truck and bus must have two headlamps, 1 rear white license plate lamp, two red
tail lamps, and at least one red stop lamp. To show vehicle width at night, every truck or bus that
is 80 inches in width or wider must have four clearance lamps: 1 amber lamp at each side of the
front, and 1 red lamp at each side of the rear.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
