How axle weight limits are determined

How axle weight limits are determined

Manufacturers Axle Rating
You can’t carry more than your equipment can handle. Both your truck and your trailer should have a manufacturer’s rating posted on them. Make sure to keep the weight under those limits. Mind that just because your equipment can handle the weight does not mean the states will allow you to carry it.

Manufacturers Tire Rating
Same as above, do not carry more than your tire manufacturer's rating allows.

Axle Weight Limits
There are two limits you have to consider, max legal and max permitted.

Maximum Legal Axle Weight is the weight under which you can move without purchasing permit, e.g. anything under the federal bridge formula or the state legal axle limit (state limits are often higher than the federal ones).

Max Permitted Axle Weight is the weight above which the state will not allow you to move even with a permit.

Always make sure to know both of those limits for the states you are going through.