Maximum overall length allowed on highway???

[Greg1959]

What is the maximum overall length allowed on highway for
a truck pulling a trailer?

I find some state regs but not a one regulation fits all
type of rule. I figure some of you truckers or campers may
know this answer.

Thanks

 

[TGP]

2.04.1 Single unit maximum length: 45 feet. 2.04.2 Truck-trailer combination maximum length: 75 feet. 2.04.3 Truck tractor-semitrailer combination maximum length: 65 feet when operated on highways not on the National Network. 2.04.4 Semitrailer maximum length: at least 53 feet on the National Network.
Tom

 

[showcrop]

I can't really call myself a trucker or a camper, but I do know that this is one part of the FMCSA rules that vary from one area to another. Most of the interstate highway system allows double 53 foot trailers, which would be about 125 feet total. Most states restrict these doubles in the metro areas to just a few most direct routes to certain areas where the trucking company terminals are. Here and there you will see doubles terminals by the highway where they break them down and take one at a time through a restricted stretch. Two or three years ago I saw a motor home pulling a box trailer with a boat behind the trailer in a neighboring state. That made me curious so I looked up rules to that and found that it varies quite a bit by state, and like the double truck rules they can. be restricted in parts of a given state. If you were to go to the Rand McNally web site I expect that you would find the state to state particulars.

 

[Russ from MN]

Recently I saw a very long train, a big pickup with a long 5th wheel camper, and then a cargo trailer that looked 24 ft behind that. If it wouldn't of been in a locked up storage yard I would of stepped it off! There used to be a law that restricted the overall length, you could pull a short 5th wheel and a short boat.

 

[mmfan55]

With semi tractor trailer combinations there is no overall limit. Limit is on trailer length of 53ft. That is the minimum. There are some states that allow long doubles, 1 long trailer and 1 short, triples, and 58ft trailers are allowed in places. I am sure that there are exceptions. That is the federal standard. No overall limit. Just trailer length limit. That will not apply to all state and secondary roads. I have seen busses pulling long trailers. 75ft or more long

 

[casenut1]

Not a trucker but a self-employed contractor. Have hauled gutter on top of my pickup truck. Have run past the Ohio State Patrol with 75 feet of gutter with red flags on both ends. Never got a second look . If I remember right the longest was either 90 or 95 feet.

 

[john in la]

Each state sets trailer length; overall truck trailer length; width; weight; height; if doubles or triple trailers are allowed.
It was a very complicated system because while you were legal in this state you go across the line into another state and now you are over sized and over weight.

So maybe 20 or 30 years ago the federal government stepped in and set standards all states must follow.
Some states went to squawking sighting safety concerns because not all state roads were big enough to handle this size truck.
So the feds; rather than back down limited the new rules to federally funded national highway system.
They allowed you to go 1.5 miles off the system to reach a truck stop; loading/unloading site or trucking terminal.

The feds set the standards at 53 foot single trailers; doubles allowed with trailer length of 28 feet; 80,000 lbs gross weight; 102 inches wide; 13 feet 6 inches tall; and no maximum overall length.
When these rules went into effect is when you seen the demise of the cab over truck because of the overall length being done away with.

Non commercial trucks and Rv's still have to follow the state laws as they are not exempt under the federal law.
As the years go past we are seeing a lax of the state laws to reflect the federal law.
Such as I do not know of any state that still has the 45 foot long 96 inch wide rule. They have all moved to 53 feet long and 102 inches wide except maybe Hawaii.
But states still have overall length laws. My state (La.) is 70 feet long. Many states are 65 feet long for non commercial units.

 

[olgentdc]

me too ,.,. i hauled 72ft.

 

[jimg.allentown]

I don't know where you are seeing 53 foot doubles. They are not allowed at all in PA. Not in New Jersey either as far as I know. Farther north, long doubles are allowed on the New York State thruway, but I don't know if they are allowing double 53s. There was talk, and at the time, maximum was double 48s.
I have seen triples through some of the Midwest states like Ohio and Indiana, but only on the toll roads.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 20:04:44 09/23/17) I don't know where you are seeing 53 foot doubles. They are not allowed at all in PA. Not in New Jersey either as far as I know. Farther north, long doubles are allowed on the New York State thruway, but I don't know if they are allowing double 53s. There was talk, and at the time, maximum was double 48s.
I have seen triples through some of the Midwest states like Ohio and Indiana, but only on the toll roads.

I have seen 53 ft. doubles plenty of times on NYS thruway. Near the Mass line is a place where they break them down.

 

[Bret4207]

There are limits in length for the vehicles (truck and trailer/trailers) but the length of the load could in theory be unlimited. Of course then you're into special load permits, etc. Your state should have information on max length of combination (truck/trailer/trailers) for which road type and if any special licensing is required, ie- you need an endorsement to haul doubles.

 

[Hay hay hay]

I'm glad the feds stepped in on this one. 48 different truck laws on interstates was stupid and a good example of why America is often uncompetitive in world markets. You would not see such foolishness in Japan. We fight over meaningless rules in every state that don't make a hill of beans difference in the lives of the citizens but gives some local yokel politician something to make a big deal of.

We all hate the giant federal bureaucracy, but lots of us don't think having 50 state bureaucracies is any more efficient.

 

[mjbrown]

23cfr for Federal regs on interstate system. Different regs for different loads. Stinger steer, boat transporters, car carriers are special equipment and have special rules.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Most States have a length limit of 53 foot load and trailer meaning the length can only be 53 feet long with both the load and the trailer. There are exceptions for like some of the western states with the 40-20 trailer set ups, then the twin 48 trailers along the NY thruway. some of the states are allowing triples on the interstate only as well for the twin 48's and such.
There are also some shorter restrictions for some of the federal US highways for mountain routes like along US-12 from Lewiston ID into MT due to some of the curves along the river there. Also down US- 95 south from Spokane or Pullman to Lewiston ID There are also other locations I can't think of right now too.
This was the reason I liked my 48 foot trailer as I was under the 72 foot rule for those routes and could still legally have as much as 4 feet hang off the back if need be. Still had to a bid by the 53 foot length law for load and trailer though.
Once you get permits for over size loads all bets are off as that changes the overhangs and other dimensions for things. I think once you got the permits you were allowed up to 15 feet over hang in the rear with signage before you had to get pilot cars.
The one that is up for grabs is height. Most states west of the Mississippi are 14 foot except MN,OK,. Ne is 14'6" Most states will allow up to 14'4" before highpoles and pilot cars are required for height. These are on Interstates as well as US- highways. And now you are totally confused right?

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 12:54:37 09/24/17) Most States have a length limit of 53 foot load and trailer meaning the length can only be 53 feet long with both the load and the trailer. There are exceptions for like some of the western states with the 40-20 trailer set ups, then the twin 48 trailers along the NY thruway. some of the states are allowing triples on the interstate only as well for the twin 48's and such.
There are also some shorter restrictions for some of the federal US highways for mountain routes like along US-12 from Lewiston ID into MT due to some of the curves along the river there. Also down US- 95 south from Spokane or Pullman to Lewiston ID There are also other locations I can't think of right now too.
This was the reason I liked my 48 foot trailer as I was under the 72 foot rule for those routes and could still legally have as much as 4 feet hang off the back if need be. Still had to a bid by the 53 foot length law for load and trailer though.
Once you get permits for over size loads all bets are off as that changes the overhangs and other dimensions for things. I think once you got the permits you were allowed up to 15 feet over hang in the rear with signage before you had to get pilot cars.
The one that is up for grabs is height. Most states west of the Mississippi are 14 foot except MN,OK,. Ne is 14'6" Most states will allow up to 14'4" before highpoles and pilot cars are required for height. These are on Interstates as well as US- highways. And now you are totally confused right?

Height in the Northeast is 13' 6"