Rhode Island Trucking Laws and Regulations

The federal government restricts the size and weight of trucks that can travel on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Trucks are limited to:

• 80,000 pounds for the gross weight of a vehicle,

• 20,000 pounds for a single axle, or

• 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle.

However, states have the option to issue permits allowing overweight or oversized vehicles to travel on these highways or any other roads.

In Rhode Island, the state does not issue any routine permits. Rather, all trucks that exceed the legal limits – 80,000 pounds in weight, 8 feet 6 inches in height, and 53 feet in length – must submit an application and the Department of Transportation will make a decision on each vehicle. For vehicles up to 201,000 pounds, whether or not to issue a permit depends on the spacing of the wheels, the weight of the vehicle and the routing. Vehicles that exceed standard dimensions in height, weight and length will be considered by their routes and dimensions.

Rhode Island does participate in the New England Transportation Consortium Overload Permit Program, which allows one state to issue permits for movement of overload vehicles through two or more member states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) as long as the trucks meet the following limitations: less than 90 feet long, less than 13 feet 9 inches high, less than 14 feet wide and less than 120,000 pounds. However, if a truck exceeds these limits they must apply for a permit from each state individually.

Permits in Rhode Island are good for five days, during daylight hours only, and travel is prohibited on weekends. Divisible load permits are available only for overweight vehicles, not oversize ones. In this case, the manufacturer must certify that the vehicle is capable of pulling the weight. Bulldozers are considered nondivisible in Rhode Island, and do not have to remove their blades, buckets or counterweights.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires all oversize trucks to carry $750,000 in liability insurance, $500,000 in cargo insurance, and a $10,000 bond. In Rhode Island, certain vehicles are required to furnish a surety bond to the Department of Transportation in lieu of adequate liability insurance. In cases where a move may possibly damage highway facilities, the applicant will be required to deposit a certified check in a pre-determined amount.

Has a Trucking Accident Occurred?

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