North Carolina State Permit Resource

Staying current with state permits is crucial for truckers to ensure legal compliance and avoid costly fines or delays. These permits help streamline operations, ensuring that truckers can transport goods smoothly across state lines without regulatory issues.

North Carolina Truck Weight and Size Limitations

Legal Maximums:

    • Single Axle: 20,000 lbs.
    • Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs.
    • Gross Vehicle Weight: 80,000 lbs.

Single Trip Permit

The maximum allowable permit weight depends on the number of load-supporting axles and is constrained by bridge structure limits.

    • Steer Axle: 20,000 lbs.
    • Single Axle: 25,000 lbs.
    • Tandem Axles: 50,000 lbs.
    • Tridem Axles: 60,000 lbs.
    • 4+ Axle Grouping: 68,000 lbs.

    Gross Weights by Axle Count:

      • 5 axles: 94,500 lbs. (112,000 lbs. with 51-ft minimum wheelbase)
      • 6 axles: 108,000 lbs. (120,000 lbs. with 51-ft minimum wheelbase)
      • 7 axles: 122,000 lbs. (132,000 lbs. with 51-ft minimum wheelbase)

    Permit Fees

      • Fee: $12–$48
      • Valid: 10 calendar days for one single trip

    Maximum Dimensions:

      • Width: 15 feet maximum (16 feet for mobile homes)
      • Length: 105 feet maximum (mobile/modular homes)
      • Height: Determined by vertical clearances on the route

    Annual Permit

      • Minimum 51-foot wheelbase required for non-divisible single-item loads. Permits valid for up to 90,000 lbs. on unrestricted roads.
      • Gross weights higher than 90,000 lbs. are route-specific and must include exact origin and destination.

    Permit Fees

      • General Commodities: $100 per vehicle
      • Mobile/Modular Homes: $200 per vehicle
      • Valid: 1 year

    Maximum Dimensions:

      • Width: 12 feet (14 feet for farm equipment with escort)
      • Length: 75 feet (single item commodity)
      • Height: 13 feet 6 inches (legal)

    Temporary Trip and Fuel Permits

      • Trip Permit: Required if a vehicle is not proportionally registered under IRP. Fee: $15 for 10 days. Limited to interstate travel, except in Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota.
      • Fuel Permit: Required if a vehicle lacks an IFTA license. Valid for 3 days. Must be obtained before entering North Carolina.

    Contact Us

    Please note that DOT Compliance Group does not provide State Permit Registration. However, we offer a variety of essential compliance services to keep your business running smoothly, including Clearinghouse Registration, Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), Biennial Updates, and much more. If you have any questions about our services or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us at 972-232-2218. We’re here to help with all your compliance needs.