North Dakota commercial vehicle weight limits follow the federal Interstate standard of 105,500 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. North Dakota imposes some of the most severe spring weight restrictions in the US, typically beginning in February and running through April or into May depending on frost depth. Many secondary and county roads close entirely to heavy vehicles during spring breakup. Roads in the oil patch (Williams, McKenzie, Mountrail counties) can remain restricted significantly longer. Check NDDOT's road conditions and restrictions system at dot.nd.gov for current status and road opening dates. Oversize and overweight permits are available from ND DOT for loads exceeding standard limits. Verify current road-specific postings with the North Dakota DOT before routing heavy loads.
North Dakota imposes some of the most severe spring weight restrictions in the US, typically beginning in February and running through April or into May depending on frost depth. Many secondary and county roads close entirely to heavy vehicles during spring breakup. Roads in the oil patch (Williams, McKenzie, Mountrail counties) can remain restricted significantly longer. Check NDDOT's road conditions and restrictions system at dot.nd.gov for current status and road opening dates.
Check current restrictions at ND 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 North Dakota on all routes where federal standards apply.
W = maximum weight in lbs · L = axle spacing in feet · N = number of axles
North Dakota oversize/overweight permits issued by NDDOT at dot.nd.gov/divisions/maintenance/permits.htm. Single-trip permits for most oversize/overweight loads. Annual permits for qualifying routine operations including oil field service vehicles. Superload permits require engineering review. Spring restrictions can override permits on restricted routes — always verify road opening dates before dispatching permitted loads on county or secondary roads.
Apply for North Dakota OS/OW Permit →On designated North Dakota state routes, the maximum gross vehicle weight is 105,500 lbs — significantly above the federal 80,000 lb Interstate standard. Interstate highways remain at 80,000 lbs. The higher state limit is critical for Bakken oil field operations and grain hauling. Verify which routes qualify at NDDOT before operating above 80,000 lbs.
Yes — and they are among the most severe in the US. North Dakota spring weight restrictions typically begin in February and can run through April or May. Many county roads close entirely to heavy vehicles during spring breakup. Roads in the oil patch counties can remain restricted well into spring. Check NDDOT's road restrictions and opening date announcements at dot.nd.gov before routing any heavy vehicle off the Interstate in late winter or spring.
North Dakota oversize/overweight permits are issued by NDDOT at dot.nd.gov/divisions/maintenance/permits.htm. Single-trip and annual permits are available. Annual permits are commonly used by oil field service operators who run routine heavy loads. Spring restrictions can override permits on restricted routes — verify road status before dispatching. Superloads require engineering review.
The tandem axle weight limit in North Dakota is 34,000 lbs on Interstate highways — the federal standard. State routes observe the same standard tandem limit. Tridem axle configurations are allowed up to 42,000 lbs. North Dakota's higher GVW on state routes (105,500 lbs) allows greater total payload distributed across multiple axles rather than higher per-axle limits.
The Bakken Williston Basin in western North Dakota generates enormous truck traffic for crude oil transport, produced water hauling, frac sand delivery, and oilfield chemical transport. These operations rely heavily on North Dakota's 105,500 lb GVW allowance on state routes. During spring breakup, even oilfield routes face severe restrictions — the oil patch counties' road damage from heavy oilfield trucks is a long-standing infrastructure challenge. Check NDDOT and county road conditions before routing in the oil patch from February through May.
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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: North Dakota ND Department of TransportationLast reviewed: 2026-04