New York Bridge Law: 43-Foot Kingpin Rule and VTL 385 Axle Limits
New York's Vehicle and Traffic Law 385 has its own axle math — 22,400 on a single, 36,000 on two close axles, 34,000 plus 1,000 lb per foot for longer groups — but the federal 20,000 / 34,000 / bridge-formula limits govern on the Interstate. A 53-foot trailer is legal on qualifying highways when the kingpin-to-rear-axle distance is 43 feet or less.
By Avery Schwartz · Former CDL-A driver, 3 years OTR · Updated 2026-09-15
The numbers at a glance
| Limit | NY | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb (82,000 natural-gas engines) | VTL 385(10) |
| Single axle | 22,400 lb state; 20,000 lb federal on the Interstate | VTL 385(8) |
| Tandem axle | 36,000 lb state for two closely spaced axles; 34,000 lb on the Interstate | VTL 385(9); verify the spacing threshold with NYSDOT |
| KPRA / wheelbase | 43 ft, kingpin to centerline of rear axle | VTL 385(3)(e); 48–53 ft semitrailers on qualifying/access highways |
| Bridge formula applies? | Federal formula on the Interstate; state formula (34,000 + 1,000/ft) elsewhere | VTL 385(10) |
Legal limits change and enforcement varies by road. Confirm anything you're betting a ticket on with NYSDOT / NYS Police.
How New York applies the bridge law
New York does its own arithmetic. Under VTL 385, a single axle may carry 22,400 lb, two consecutive closely spaced axles may total 36,000 lb, and a vehicle or combination with three or more axles may gross 34,000 lb plus 1,000 lb for each foot (and major fraction) between the first and last axles — up to 80,000 lb, or 82,000 for a natural-gas-powered truck. That state formula is friendlier than the federal one on long combinations, but the federal limits still apply on the Interstate system, and most of New York's enforcement happens on or next to it. Plan on 20,000 single and 34,000 tandem anywhere you can see an I-shield.
The kingpin rule is 43 feet: VTL 385(3)(e) allows a semitrailer over 48 feet and up to 53 feet on any qualifying highway or designated access highway if the distance from the kingpin to the centerline of the rear axle does not exceed 43 feet. That is two feet more generous than Pennsylvania and New Jersey's 41. The catch is where you can go: off the qualifying/access network, 53-foot trailers are restricted, and New York City has its own 55-foot combination limit and route rules for trailers over 48 feet. Verify NYC routing with NYCDOT before you take a 53 into the boroughs.
New York also runs a large divisible-load overweight permit program administered by NYSDOT, which is why you see six-axle dumps and tankers well over 80,000 on state routes. Those weights are permit weights, not legal limits.
How to slide your tandems for New York
Keep the kingpin-to-rear-axle distance at 43 feet or under (measured to the centerline of the rear axle), then slide for weight using the federal 34,000 tandem figure if your route touches the Interstate. If your trip continues into Pennsylvania or New Jersey, set the tandems for 41 feet instead.
Worked example. You scale at the first CAT after the shipper: steer 11,800, drives 35,300, trailer tandems 31,900, gross 79,000. Gross is legal; the drives are 1,300 over. Sliding the tandems forward (toward the cab) moves weight from the drives to the trailer axles. On a trailer with 4-inch hole spacing, a hole is worth roughly 250 lb, so 1,300 lb needs six holes: drives about 33,800, tandems about 33,400. Both groups are under 34,000 with a few hundred pounds of margin, and the gross hasn't changed. Now check the geometry for New York using the row in the table above — and if you'll cross into a stricter state, set for that one instead. The Tandem Slide Calculator does the hole math for your trailer's actual rail spacing and tells you which direction to move.
Common tickets in New York
Based on the statutes above and what drivers commonly report; citation practice varies by officer and county, so treat this as a watch list, not a fine schedule.
- Tandem over 34,000 on the Interstate — often a driver relying on New York's state figures. NYS Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and NYSDOT run fixed and portable scales on I-87, I-90, I-81, and I-84.
- 53-foot trailer off the qualifying/access highway network, including NYC routes not approved for trailers over 48 feet; verify with NYCDOT.
- Posted-bridge violations — many state and local bridges in New York are posted below legal weight, and parkways prohibit trucks entirely.
New York bridge law FAQ
What is New York's kingpin-to-rear-axle limit?
43 feet from the kingpin to the centerline of the rear axle, for semitrailers longer than 48 feet up to 53 feet, on qualifying highways and designated access highways (VTL 385(3)(e)).
Is the New York tandem limit 36,000 or 34,000?
Both, depending on the road. VTL 385(9) allows 36,000 on two closely spaced axles under state law, but federal law limits a tandem to 34,000 on the Interstate. Plan on 34,000 unless you are certain you are off the Interstate system.
Does New York use the federal bridge formula?
On the Interstate, yes. Elsewhere, VTL 385(10) uses New York's own formula: 34,000 lb plus 1,000 lb per foot between the first and last axles, capped at 80,000 lb.
Can I take a 53-foot trailer into New York City?
Only on approved routes. NYC restricts trailers over 48 feet and combinations over 55 feet on most streets. Check NYCDOT's truck route rules before you commit to a delivery in the five boroughs.
Related
Sources
- New York VTL 385 — Dimensions and weights of vehicles (FindLaw text)
- NYSDOT — Divisible Load Overweight Permits (general information PDF)
- J.J. Keller — U.S. KPRA allowances (New York 43 ft)
This page is a driver's summary, not legal advice. Statutes are quoted or paraphrased from the sources listed; where we couldn't verify a figure from an official source we've said so.