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To the average person, semitrailers are highway behemoths that you wouldn’t want to find yourself driving next to. To kids, they are a source of awe and entertainment on long drives. To all of us though, commercial trailers are the arteries and veins that keep the country moving. They are the conduit through which your favorite cereal ends up on the supermarket shelf, your Amazon delivery reaches you on time, and gas is available at your local gas station. There’s no question about it—semitrailers are imposing. You may be familiar to some degree with weight restrictions, but less well known are trailer length restrictions. There are semitrailer length laws by state as well as at the federal level. Before we get into that, let’s take a quick look at the typical truck configurations in America. Most Common Commercial Truck ConfigurationsThere are many ways commercial trucks can be classified and defined. The FMCSA defines commercial trucks as road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds designed to carry freight. The FHWA categorizes freight-carrying vehicles into nine classes based on the number of axles, the number of units, and the type of unit combinations. Nevertheless, most commercial truck configurations in America fall into three main categories. 1. Combination TrucksMore widely known as the 18-wheeler, the five-axle tractor semitrailer is the most recognizable commercial truck in the USA. The tractor (i.e. power unit) is either a sleeper cab or a day cab. Sleeper cabs have a sleeping berth or small living area in the tractor. They are typically used for long-haul operations. Day cabs have a shorter wheelbase and are used for short haul operations, such as delivery and pickup. The freight-carrying unit of a tractor semitrailer vehicle usually varies between 40 and 53 feet in length; although, some states allow semitrailer lengths of up to 59′ 6″. 2. Straight or Single-Unit TrucksA straight or single-unit truck is a commercial freight road vehicle where the vehicle chassis and power unit are permanently attached. Straight trucks are most commonly used for beverage delivery, parcel delivery, concrete mixing, construction debris dumping, trash compacting, and snow plowing. 3. Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs)LCVs are a type of combination truck that only operate in states where freight trucks exceeding 80,000 pounds are permitted. They are three- or four-unit combinations that include at least one full trailer (48 feet or less) or three short trailers. Federal Semitrailer Length ProvisionsIn 1982, the US Congress passed the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) that included provisions relating to the length of truck tractor-semitrailer and truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combinations on National Network (NN) highways or in transit between NN highways and service locations or terminals. These provisions included the following:
Semitrailer Length Laws by StateSome states were granted exceptions to the Federal length standards and were thus allowed to enforce higher limits before the STAA standard. These exceptions are referred to as ‘grandfathered rights;’ whereas federal laws require that states cannot legislate trailer length to be under 53 feet on the Interstate and access roads, states are free to allow trailers that are less than 53 feet on roads that aren’t funded by the federal government. The following table is a summary of the semitrailer length laws by state:
Table via U.S Department of Transportation Exceptions to Semitrailer Length Laws by StateThe STAA rules only apply to truck-tractor semitrailer and truck-tractor semitrailer-trailer combinations. Certain specialized commercial motor vehicles (CMV) are subject to a different set of length rules. Notable specialized vehicles include automobile transporters, boat transporters, and truck-tractor semitrailer combinations. The length requirements of these vehicles are as follows. 1. Automobile Transporters
2. Boat Transporters
3. Truck-Tractor Semitrailer
Note that length provisions for automobile transporters and boat transporters exclude the front and rear overhang. No state shall impose a rear overhang of under 4 feet or a front overhang of under 3 feet. Stay Current on Semitrailer Laws by StateSemitrailers are often the most cost-effective means of moving goods from one point to another. However, as you cross state borders, a trailer length that is perfectly legal in one state could be prohibited in another. Familiarizing yourself with semitrailer length laws by state will help you avoid running into any unpleasant legal surprises. At Hale Trailer, our commercial trailer experts are prepared to help you through the whole trailer rental or purchasing process. For any questions about semitrailer length laws, don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. How long is the average 18 wheeler trailer?The wide variety of available cab styles greatly impacts the average length of an 18 wheeler. Even so, the overall length of a tractor-trailer runs from 70-80 feet in length. This is measured from the center of the rear wheel to the center of the steer.
Why is a semi trailer 53 feet long?For a long time, the 48-foot dry van was the de facto standard in shipping due to regulation which limited overall vehicle length to 75 feet. Once those regulations were changed, the industry adopted the 53-foot trailer. These have room for 13 rows of pallets, plus and extra foot so that the door will close.
What is the length of a 53Width: The maximum cargo width capacity of a 53-foot dry van trailer falls between 98 and 100 inches (from 8 feet, 2 inches to 8 feet, 4 inches wide) with 100 inches wide being the most common. Length: The maximum cargo length of a 53-foot dry van trailer is 53 feet long (636 inches).
How long is a standard flatbed semi trailer?A standard flatbed trailer typically runs between 48 to 53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and 5 feet tall. With a standard 5-foot bed height, they can haul items up to 8.5 feet tall.
What is the maximum length of a semi trailer?fhwa.dot.gov, search “length limits.” A semitrailer operated in a truck tractor and semitrailer combination is limited to 59 feet. 59 feet max. A truck and pole trailer combination may not exceed 65 feet in overall length.
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How long is a standard semi trailer
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