Nebraska commercial vehicle weight limits follow the federal Interstate standard of 80,000 lbs gross, 20,000 lbs per single axle, and 34,000 lbs per tandem axle group. The federal bridge formula (23 U.S.C. 127) applies on all routes. Nebraska imposes seasonal weight restrictions on secondary roads during spring thaw, typically February through April. Secondary routes in the Platte River valley and eastern Nebraska can remain restricted into May. Check NDOT for current restricted routes and lifting dates before routing off Interstate highways in spring. Oversize and overweight permits are available from NE DOT for loads exceeding standard limits. Verify current road-specific postings with the Nebraska DOT before routing heavy loads.
Nebraska imposes seasonal weight restrictions on secondary roads during spring thaw, typically February through April. Secondary routes in the Platte River valley and eastern Nebraska can remain restricted into May. Check NDOT for current restricted routes and lifting dates before routing off Interstate highways in spring.
Check current restrictions at NE DOT →The federal bridge formula limits the weight on any group of axles based on the distance between the outermost axles in the group. It applies in Nebraska on all routes where federal standards apply.
W = maximum weight in lbs · L = axle spacing in feet · N = number of axles
Nebraska oversize/overweight permits issued by NDOT at dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/permits/. Single-trip permits available for most oversize/overweight loads. Annual permits available for qualifying routine operations such as oil field equipment and wind energy component transport. Superload permits require engineering review and NDOT route approval. Nebraska's permit portal handles online applications.
Apply for Nebraska OS/OW Permit →On Nebraska Interstate highways, the maximum gross vehicle weight is 80,000 lbs — the federal standard. On designated state routes, 8-axle combination vehicles may operate at up to 96,000 lbs gross. This higher limit is available for agricultural operations during harvest. Verify which routes qualify at NDOT before operating above 80,000 lbs.
Yes. Nebraska imposes seasonal spring weight restrictions on secondary roads typically February through April during the spring thaw. Secondary and county routes can be restricted or closed to heavy vehicles. Check NDOT road condition and restriction information at dot.nebraska.gov before routing off the Interstate system in late winter and spring.
Nebraska oversize/overweight permits are issued by NDOT at dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/permits/. Apply online through the NDOT permit portal for single-trip permits. Annual permits are available for qualifying routine heavy-haul operations such as wind energy transport. Superloads require engineering review and route pre-approval.
The tandem axle weight limit in Nebraska is 34,000 lbs on Interstate highways — matching the federal standard. State routes allow 42,000 lbs on tridem configurations. Nebraska's 8-axle provision for state routes allows total gross weights up to 96,000 lbs, distributing weight across multiple axles. Verify route-specific limits with NDOT before routing heavy loads.
Yes. Nebraska's 96,000 lb GVW allowance for 8-axle combinations on designated state routes directly benefits grain haulers during corn and soybean harvest (September–November). Additionally, Nebraska law provides specific agricultural vehicle exemptions for certain intrastate operations. Contact NDOT for current agricultural weight exemption provisions applicable to your specific operation and route.
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The information on this page is compiled from publicly available government sources and is provided for general informational purposes only. TruckRadar is an independent search engine — we are not affiliated with any government agency and this content does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Regulations change frequently; always verify current requirements directly with the official source before making compliance decisions.
Official source: Nebraska NE Department of TransportationLast reviewed: 2026-04