Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4941 (2026)

Maximum gross weight of vehicles.

✓ current as of May 2026

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SUBCHAPTER C

MAXIMUM WEIGHTS OF VEHICLES

Sec.

4941. Maximum gross weight of vehicles.

4942. Registered gross weight.

4943. Maximum axle weight of vehicles.

4944. Maximum wheel load.

4945. Penalties for exceeding maximum weights.

4946. Impoundment of vehicles for nonpayment of overweight fines (Repealed).

4947. Disposition of impounded vehicles and loads (Repealed).

4948. Maximum weight and seating capacity of buses.

4949. Application to tow trucks.

Cross References. Subchapter C is referred to in sections 4961, 4968, 4974, 4976, 4976.1, 4976.2, 4978, 4979, 4979.1, 4979.2, 4979.3, 4979.4, 4979.5, 4979.6, 4982, 6506 of this title.

§ 4941. Maximum gross weight of vehicles.

(a) General rule.--Except as provided for in subsection (d), no vehicle shall, when operated upon a highway, have a gross weight exceeding 80,000 pounds, and no combination driven upon a highway shall have a gross weight exceeding 80,000 pounds, or the applicable weight set as forth in subsection (b) or (c), whichever is less.

(b) Combination of vehicles.--No combination shall, when operated upon a highway, have a gross weight exceeding the following:

Combination of Vehicles	Maximum Gross Weight In Pounds
Two-axle truck tractor & single-axle semitrailer	58,400
Two-axle truck tractor & two-axle semitrailer	73,280
Three-axle truck tractor & single-axle semitrailer	73,280
Two-axle truck & two-axle trailer	73,280

(c) Motor vehicles.--No motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall have a gross weight exceeding the following specified maximum gross weight for the following described motor vehicles:

	Maximum Gross Weight In Pounds
Two-axle motor vehicle	38,000
Three-axle motor vehicle	58,400
Four-axle motor vehicle	73,280
Five-axle motor vehicle	73,280
Six-axle motor vehicle	77,000
Seven-axle motor vehicle	80,000

(d) Natural gas and electric vehicles.--

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle that is operated by an engine fueled primarily by compressed or liquefied natural gas or powered primarily by means of electric battery power may exceed the gross vehicle weight limits imposed under this section by an amount, not to exceed a maximum of 2,000 pounds, that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system or the battery or battery pack carried by the vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.

(2) The weight exemption provided for under this subsection shall apply to all State highways and interstate highways as provided by the exemption permitted under 23 U.S.C. § 127 (relating to vehicle weight limitations-Interstate System).

(June 18, 1980, P.L.229, No.68, eff. 60 days; Oct. 10, 1980, P.L.791, No.147, eff. imd.; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2001, P.L.559, No.37, eff. 60 days; July 20, 2017, P.L.342, No.31, eff. 60 days; Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.2067, No.145, eff. 60 days)

2022 Amendment. Act 145 amended subsec. (d)(1).

2017 Amendment. Act 31 amended subsec. (a) and added subsec. (d).

2001 Amendment. Act 37 amended subsecs. (a) and (c).

Cross References. Section 4941 is referred to in sections 4921, 4945, 4961 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 16 cases, 1979–1998 · leading case: Am. Tr. Associations v. Scheiner, 509 A.2d 838 (Pa. 1986).

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Am. Tr. Associations v. Scheiner, 509 A.2d 838 (Pa. 1986). · cites it 4× “There are many Pennsylvania registered motor carrier vehicles, indeed some who are members of ATA, who do most of their interstate traveling outside of Pennsylvania, and the converse is also frequently the case.”

Commonwealth v. Slovikosky, 543 A.2d 553 (Pa. 1988). · cites it 2× “After Slovikosky had been found guilty of violating 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a) before a district justice, he appealed to the court of common pleas.”

Commonwealth v. Tirpak, 413 A.2d 705 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1979). · cites it 2× “The court seems to indicate that if appellant had been permitted to prove "hardship or serious inconvenience" resulting from the weighing of his vehicle this might establish a defense to a conviction under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a) (1977). Section 4981 of the…”

Commonwealth v. Hennemuth, 439 A.2d 1241 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1982). “75 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4941 (Purdon 1977).”

Commonwealth v. Nugent, 435 A.2d 1298 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1981). “75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a). The district justice fined appellant $29,500 under the statutory formula.”

Forest Hills Transfer & Storage Co. v. Beaver Valley Builders Supply, Inc., 414 A.2d 628 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1979). “75 Pa.C.S. § 4941 (1977). 2 . The holding of this case is not inconsistent with our decision in Bethlehem Apparatus Co.”

Commonwealth v. Dalbon, 442 A.2d 326 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1982). “PER CURIAM: This is a consolidated appeal from the judgment of sentence 1 of the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County imposing a fine upon appellants for violation of the Motor Vehicle Code relating to the maximum gross weight of vehicles, 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a). Appellants were…”

Commonwealth v. J.F. Lomma, Inc., 590 A.2d 342 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). “It held that the defendant’s violation had been of a PennDOT safety regulation and did not trigger the penalties applicable to an overweight vehicle which had no permit.”

Am. Trucking Associations, Inc. v. Bloom, 487 A.2d 465 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1985). “See 75 Pa. C. S. §4941 (c). Vehicles registered with maximum gross or combina *382 tion weights of 26,001-40,000 pounds, 40,001-60,000 pounds, 60,001-73,280 pounds and 73,281-80,000 pounds, sustained registration fee reductions in amounts of $72.”

Cullenen v. Commonwealth, 588 A.2d 988 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1991). “75 Pa.C.S. § 4941. 4 . The material dumped along Route 44 contained crushed drums, non-hazardous waste sludge, wood, rags, automobile filters, rubber gloves, boots, tyvek suits and hydraulic filters.”

Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp. v. Wasko, 704 A.2d 1104 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 4907(b) 1 , relating to general non-compliance with the conditions of the permit, and 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a) 2 , relating to operating an overweight vehicle.”

Commonwealth v. Liver, 520 A.2d 56 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1987). “The section of the Vehicle Code which provides the maximum gross weight of vehicles is 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a). The section referred to in the citation issued to appellant was 75 Pa.”

Show all 16 citing cases →

— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4941(a) — 8 cases

Commonwealth v. Slovikosky, 543 A.2d 553 (Pa. 1988). “After Slovikosky had been found guilty of violating 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a) before a district justice, he appealed to the court of common pleas.”

Commonwealth v. Tirpak, 413 A.2d 705 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1979). “The court seems to indicate that if appellant had been permitted to prove "hardship or serious inconvenience" resulting from the weighing of his vehicle this might establish a defense to a conviction under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a) (1977). Section 4981 of the…”

Commonwealth v. Nugent, 435 A.2d 1298 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1981). “75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a). The district justice fined appellant $29,500 under the statutory formula.”

— 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4941(c) — 1 case

Am. Tr. Associations v. Scheiner, 509 A.2d 838 (Pa. 1986). “There are many Pennsylvania registered motor carrier vehicles, indeed some who are members of ATA, who do most of their interstate traveling outside of Pennsylvania, and the converse is also frequently the case.”

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