Weight Limitations29. Every truck shall have its own registered gross weight based on the gross vehicle weight rating assigned by the manufacturer and an equivalent weight rating determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation based on axle and wheel strength, horsepower, braking power and other factors affecting the ability of the vehicle to handle heavier loads. No truck can be operated with a gross weight in excess of its registered gross weight. For a truck-trailer combination with a trailer having a registered gross weight over 10,000 pounds at full loading capacity, the pulling truck must be registered at a weight equal to the weight of the combination of the truck and trailer at full trailer load capacity. The owner of a trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 lbs. has the option to reduce the registered gross weight of the trailer to 10,000 without the obligation to increase the registered gross weight of the pulling truck. The actual weight of the trailer however, may not exceed the registered gross weight of the trailer. Trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings fall within the weight ranges of Classes 1 through 4 may be registered at the highest gross or combination weight assigned for the class in which the truck falls.30 Therefore a truck: - with a gross vehicle weight rating of 5,000 lbs. or less (Class 1) can be registered at 5,000 lbs. - with a gross vehicle weight rating of 5,001- 7,000 lbs (Class 2) can be registered at 7,000 lbs. - with a gross vehicle weight rating of 7,001-9,000 lbs. (Class 3) can be registered at 9,000 lbs. - with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,001-11,000 lbs. (Class 4) can be registered at 11,000 lbs. The gross maximum weight of any individual vehicle, including farm vehicles, is 80,000 pounds. The gross maximum weight of any combination is 80,000 pounds. These limits are subject to the registered gross weight of the vehicle, requirements regarding axle weight, and requirements regarding wheel load. Vehicles are also subject to any weight restrictions applied to 29 75 Pa.C.S §§ 4941-4949.
