Fast, reliable & cost effective Equipment Transport

Look, I’m not going to waste your time with fluff about how important regulations are. If you’re reading this, you already know that running overweight in Louisiana means serious money coming out of your pocket—or worse, your truck sitting at a weigh station while you figure out how to shed 3,000 pounds of cargo with nowhere to put it.

The Louisiana truck weight limit rules aren’t just some bureaucrat’s idea of fun. These limits exist because a fully loaded semi can do catastrophic damage to bridges and roads that weren’t built to handle excessive weights. I’ve watched operators learn this the hard way, with fines that make their profit margin disappear faster than free coffee at a truck stop.

The Numbers That Actually Matter

Louisiana’s highways, like those in many other states, are subject to specific legal axle weight limits. Here’s what you need to know without digging through 50 pages of regulatory documents.

Interstate Highway Limits:

• Single axle: 20,000 pounds (legal max)
• Tandem axle: 34,000 pounds
• Tridem axle: 42,000 pounds
• Quadrem axle: 50,000 pounds

Non-Interstate Roads (Permitted Weights):

• Single axle: Up to 22,000 pounds
• Tandem axle: Up to 37,000 pounds
• Tridem axle: Up to 45,000 pounds
• Quadrem axle: Up to 53,000 pounds

Notice the difference? Louisiana actually lets you run heavier on state highways compared to the Interstate system. That’s because the infrastructure on many state routes was built to handle heavier agricultural and industrial loads. Smart route planning means understanding which roads let you maximize your payload legally.

Axle Type	Interstate Legal	Non-Interstate Permitted	Maximum with Special Permit
Single Axle	20,000 lbs	22,000 lbs	30,000 lbs
Tandem Axle	34,000 lbs	37,000 lbs	60,000 lbs
Tridem Axle	42,000 lbs	45,000 lbs	66,000 lbs
Quadrem Axle	50,000 lbs	53,000 lbs	Contact DOTD
Gross Vehicle Weight	80,000 lbs	88,000 lbs	Varies by permit

Getting Permits Without Losing Your Mind

If your load exceeds the legal Louisiana truck weight limits, you’re going to need permits. The good news? Louisiana’s permit system is actually functional once you understand how it works.

Single-Trip Permits are your go-to for one-off heavy hauls. You pay based on weight and distance, and you can get them processed within a couple hours if you know what you’re doing. As of 2026, the state requires you to use their LaGeaux Permit System—no more faxing or emailing applications. You either call the Truck Permit Office at 800-654-1433 or set up an online account.

Annual Permits make sense if you’re consistently running heavy. Since September 2025, Louisiana requires pre-registered routes for all annual oversize/overweight heavy equipment permits. That means you can’t just wing it—you need route approval before each move. The system auto-approves routes with no restrictions, but if there’s a bridge or road issue on your planned path, you’ll find out before you’re halfway there with a 90,000-pound load.

Industry-Specific Permits acknowledge that not every cargo is the same:

• Harvest Season/Natural Forest Products: Up to 86,600 lbs GVW (83,400 lbs on Interstates)
• Bagged Rice (non-Interstate): 95,000 lbs GVW with specific axle limits
• Liquid Bulk: 95,000 lbs GVW
• Containerized Special Cargo: 90,000 lbs GVW
• Timber Harvest Season: 92,000 lbs GVW (83,400 lbs on Interstates)

These specialized permits recognize that Louisiana’s economy depends on moving agricultural and industrial products efficiently. Working with an experienced heavy haul trucking company that understands these permit categories saves you time and compliance headaches.

Weight Distribution Rules That Catch People Off Guard

Here’s where operators get into trouble: Louisiana doesn’t just care about total weight. The state requires “reasonable distribution” of weight across axle groups. This isn’t a suggestion.

On Interstate highways, if you’re running a tandem axle setup, neither individual axle can carry more than 20,000 pounds—even if your total tandem weight is under the 34,000-pound limit. On non-Interstate highways, this bumps up to 21,500 pounds per axle.

For permitted loads exceeding legal axle weights, the rules get more specific:

• Tandem axle groups: No single axle can carry more than 60% or less than 40% of the total weight
• You can’t just throw all your weight on one axle and hope nobody notices

I’ve seen drivers get flagged at weigh stations not for being overweight overall, but for having one axle carrying 23,000 pounds while the other has 11,000. That’s a violation, and it’ll cost you.

What Violations Actually Cost You

Louisiana doesn’t mess around with enforcement. As of 2026, here’s what you’re looking at:

Base penalties:

• General weight violations: $100 minimum
• Failure to stop at a weigh station (vehicle under 26,000 lbs GVWR): $100
• Failure to stop at a weigh station (vehicle 26,000+ lbs GVWR): $500
• Bridge formula violations: $50
• Traveling without required escort when permitted: $100 plus vehicle impoundment

Overweight violations get expensive fast. The penalty structure is progressive—the more overweight you are, the harder it hits your wallet. For context, some louisiana semi truck weight limit tickets have run into thousands of dollars when you factor in the base fine, weight-based penalties, and potential court costs.

And if you think you can just ignore a weigh station? That $500 fine is just the start. You’ll get hit with additional penalties for any other violations they find when they eventually catch you.

Posted bridge violations carry a minimum $100 fine, calculated on the difference between your actual weight and the bridge’s posted limit. Cross a 40,000-pound bridge at 55,000 pounds? You’re paying based on that 15,000-pound overage.

The Squatted Truck Question Everyone Keeps Asking

Since you’re researching truck weight limits in Louisiana, you might also be wondering: are squatted trucks illegal in Louisiana?

Yes. Absolutely yes.

As of August 1, 2022, Louisiana law explicitly prohibits the “Carolina Squat” modification. If your vehicle’s front fender height is six inches or more higher than the rear fender height (measured from the ground through the center of the wheel, with no payload attached), you’re in violation.

Recent enforcement in January 2025 showed Louisiana sheriffs aren’t playing around. The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office seized squatted trucks during a winter storm safety crackdown, and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office has been vocal on social media about the dangers:

• Misaligned headlights that blind oncoming drivers
• Increased “drive-over” accident risk with smaller vehicles
• Obstructed driver visibility
• Aerodynamic imbalances causing instability at speed

While this isn’t directly related to commercial truck weight limits, it shows Louisiana’s serious approach to vehicle modifications that compromise safety. The same enforcement philosophy applies to overweight violations.

Technology Making Compliance Easier

The trucking industry has gotten smarter about weight management. GPS-integrated load monitoring systems now give real-time alerts when you’re approaching weight limits. Some advanced setups even calculate optimal weight distribution across axle groups automatically.

Modern weigh stations in Louisiana use Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) technology—they can pre-screen trucks at highway speed. If you’re legal, you might get a green light to bypass without stopping. If something looks off, you’re getting pulled in for a detailed inspection.

Load management software has evolved too. You can input your route, payload type, and vehicle configuration, and it’ll tell you which permits you need and flag potential bridge restrictions before you ever leave the yard.

How Louisiana Compares to Neighboring States

When compared to other states, Louisiana’s truck weight limits are in line with national standards, providing a framework for efficient heavy haul transport throughout the region. But there are regional differences that matter for interstate haulers.

Texas, for example, allows higher weights on many farm-to-market roads. Mississippi has different permit fee structures. Arkansas has its own set of specialized agricultural permits. If you’re running cross-border loads, you need to plan for the most restrictive state’s requirements on your route.

The Federal Bridge Formula applies on all Interstate highways nationwide, so that’s consistent. But state highways? That’s where rules diverge. A heavy haul trucking company with multi-state experience knows these variations cold and can route accordingly.

What’s Changing (And What Might Change Soon)

Louisiana, like other states, may adjust its weight limits and enforcement strategies in response to these changes. The trucking industry is watching several potential developments:

Infrastructure Investment: Federal infrastructure funding could lead to higher weight allowances on upgraded roads and bridges. Louisiana is already planning significant bridge improvements that might support heavier configurations in specific corridors.

Electric Truck Considerations: Battery-electric Class 8 trucks weigh significantly more than diesel equivalents due to battery mass. Industry groups are lobbying for weight limit increases to account for this, and Louisiana will likely follow federal guidance if such changes occur.

Automated Enforcement Expansion: More WIM systems and automated citation technology are coming. This means less chance of slipping through without compliance.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) updates regulations periodically. Following their official channels and industry associations keeps you ahead of changes.

Insurance Requirements You Can’t Skip

As of December 4, 2019, Louisiana requires oversize/overweight truck loads to show proof of minimum $100,000 insurance covering state property damage. This isn’t optional—no insurance certificate on file means no permit issued.

Escort vehicles need even more coverage:

• General liability insurance: $500,000 minimum
• Motor vehicle liability insurance: $500,000 minimum
• Workers’ compensation: $500,000 minimum (though enforcement on this specific requirement has been relaxed pending further notice)

The insurance certificates must show your Louisiana Customer Account Number, effective dates, coverage amounts, and insurer contact information. Getting this documentation sorted before you need a permit saves scrambling at the last minute.

Practical Tips From the Field

Plan routes around peak restriction times. Loads wider than 12 feet can’t travel on Interstate highways through major cities (Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, New Orleans) between 7:00-9:00 AM and 3:30-5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Plan accordingly or eat the delay.

Know your bridge restrictions. The Mississippi River bridges in the New Orleans area have specific time-based restrictions for permit loads. Within 2 miles of these bridges, you’re prohibited during morning (6:30-9:00 AM) and afternoon (3:30-6:00 PM) rush hours on weekdays.

Keep physical permits in the vehicle. Digital copies might work elsewhere, but Louisiana wants the original embossed permit in your cab for annual permits. For C-forms and A-forms, legible copies work, but why risk an argument with an enforcement officer?

Use load shifting strategically. Louisiana lets you shift your load after weighing to fix axle weight distribution issues, as long as you don’t remove cargo. Sometimes just sliding your payload 18 inches makes the difference between legal and illegal.

Build relationships with permit services. Companies specializing in Louisiana permitting know which routes have current restrictions, which bridges are under repair, and which inspectors are sticklers for specific details. Their service fees often pay for themselves in saved time and avoided violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum truck weight limit in Louisiana?

On Interstate highways, the gross vehicle weight limit is 80,000 pounds. On non-Interstate state highways with proper permits, you can run up to 88,000 pounds, with certain specialized permits allowing even higher weights for specific cargo types.

How much is a ticket for being overweight in Louisiana?

Base fines start at $100, but the total cost depends on how overweight you are. Serious violations can run into thousands of dollars when you add weight-based penalties and court costs. Skipping a weigh station costs $500 for commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds GVWR.

Are squatted trucks illegal in Louisiana?

Yes. Since August 2022, Louisiana banned the Carolina Squat modification. If your front fender is 6+ inches higher than the rear, you’re violating state law. Enforcement has been active, with recent seizures in 2025.

Do I need a permit for overweight loads in Louisiana?

If you exceed legal axle limits (20,000 lbs single axle, 34,000 lbs tandem on Interstates), you need an overweight permit. Get them through the LaGeaux Permit System online or by calling 800-654-1433.

What happens if I get caught overweight at a Louisiana weigh station?

You’ll receive a citation with fines based on your overage amount. Your truck may be held until you offload excess weight or arrange proper permits. Repeat violations lead to escalating penalties and potential vehicle impoundment.

The Bottom Line

Understanding Louisiana truck weight limits comes down to three things: knowing the numbers, getting the right permits, and distributing your load correctly. Violations hurt your wallet and your reputation. Compliance keeps you moving.

The state’s enforcement is real and consistent. Weigh stations aren’t suggestions. Posted bridge limits aren’t negotiable. And yes, are squatted trucks illegal in Louisiana—along with any other modification that compromises safety.

If you’re running heavy haul regularly, partnering with professionals who live and breathe these regulations makes sense. The truck weight limits in Louisiana aren’t going away, and they’re only getting more strictly enforced with better technology.

Stay legal, stay profitable, stay on the road.