Vehicle Code section 35551

(a)

Except as otherwise provided in this section or Section 35551.5, the total gross weight in pounds imposed on the highway by any group of two or more consecutive axles shall not exceed that given for the respective distance in the following table:
Distance in feet betweenthe extremes of any group of 2 or more consecutive
axles
2 axles
3 axles
4 axles
5 axles
6 axles
4
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
5
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
6
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
7
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
8
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
34,000
9
39,000
42,500
42,500
42,500
42,500
10
40,000
43,500
43,500
43,500
43,500
11
40,000
44,000
44,000
44,000
44,000
12
40,000
45,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
13
40,000
45,500
50,500
50,500
50,500
14
40,000
46,500
51,500
51,500
51,500
15
40,000
47,000
52,000
52,000
52,000
16
40,000
48,000
52,500
52,500
52,500
17
40,000
48,500
53,500
53,500
53,500
18
40,000
49,500
54,000
54,000
54,000
19
40,000
50,000
54,500
54,500
54,500
20
40,000
51,000
55,500
55,500
55,500
21
40,000
51,500
56,000
56,000
56,000
22
40,000
52,500
56,500
56,500
56,500
23
40,000
53,000
57,500
57,500
57,500
24
40,000
54,000
58,000
58,000
58,000
25
40,000
54,500
58,500
58,500
58,500
26
40,000
55,500
59,500
59,500
59,500
27
40,000
56,000
60,000
60,000
60,000
28
40,000
57,000
60,500
60,500
60,500
29
40,000
57,500
61,500
61,500
61,500
30
40,000
58,500
62,000
62,000
62,000
31
40,000
59,000
62,500
62,500
62,500
32
40,000
60,000
63,500
63,500
63,500
33
40,000
60,000
64,000
64,000
64,000
34
40,000
60,000
64,500
64,500
64,500
35
40,000
60,000
65,500
65,500
65,500
36
40,000
60,000
66,000
66,000
66,000
37
40,000
60,000
66,500
66,500
66,500
38
40,000
60,000
67,500
67,500
67,500
39
40,000
60,000
68,000
68,000
68,000
40
40,000
60,000
68,500
70,000
70,000
41
40,000
60,000
69,500
72,000
72,000
42
40,000
60,000
70,000
73,280
73,280
43
40,000
60,000
70,500
73,280
73,280
44
40,000
60,000
71,500
73,280
73,280
45
40,000
60,000
72,000
76,000
80,000
46
40,000
60,000
72,500
76,500
80,000
47
40,000
60,000
73,500
77,500
80,000
48
40,000
60,000
74,000
78,000
80,000
49
40,000
60,000
74,500
78,500
80,000
50
40,000
60,000
75,500
79,000
80,000
51
40,000
60,000
76,000
80,000
80,000
52
40,000
60,000
76,500
80,000
80,000
53
40,000
60,000
77,500
80,000
80,000
54
40,000
60,000
78,000
80,000
80,000
55
40,000
60,000
78,500
80,000
80,000
56
40,000
60,000
79,500
80,000
80,000
57
40,000
60,000
80,000
80,000
80,000
58
40,000
60,000
80,000
80,000
80,000
59
40,000
60,000
80,000
80,000
80,000
60
40,000
60,000
80,000
80,000
80,000

(b)

In addition to the weights specified in subdivision (a), two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more. The gross weight of each set of tandem axles shall not exceed 34,000 pounds and the gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem axles shall not exceed 68,000 pounds.

(c)

The distance between axles shall be measured to the nearest whole foot. When a fraction is exactly six inches, the next larger whole foot shall be used.

(d)

This section does not affect the right to prohibit the use of any highway or any bridge or other structure thereon in the manner and to the extent specified in Article 4 (commencing with Section 35700) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 35750) of this chapter.

(e)

The gross weight limits expressed by this section and Section 35550 shall include all enforcement tolerances.

Source: Section 35551, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=35551.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2025; accessed Jul. 13, 2026).

Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Jul. 13, 2026

§ 35551's source at ca​.gov