A truck weight limit sign is a MUTCD R12-series regulatory sign that posts the maximum weight a vehicle can be to use a road or bridge, shown in tons on a white sign with black text. It keeps trucks that are too heavy off roads or structures that cannot safely carry them.
A gross weight limit sign (R12-1) sets the maximum total weight of the vehicle and its load, while an axle weight limit sign (R12-2) sets the maximum weight allowed on a single axle. Some weight limit signs (R12-4) show both a gross limit and a per-axle limit together, since a load can be legal overall but still too heavy on one axle.
The tons on a weight limit sign are the maximum total (gross) weight a vehicle can be to cross - truck, trailer, and cargo combined. A driver compares that number to their loaded weight or their truck's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) to know whether they can use the road or bridge.
Some weight limit signs use only numbers and the word "tons," while others (R12-5) add a truck silhouette so the limit clearly applies to trucks. "No Trucks Over [weight]" signs pair a weight with a truck graphic, and gross-plus-axle signs stack two numbers for the total and the per-axle limit.
Roads and bridges have weight limits because heavy loads wear out pavement faster and stress a bridge's structure. Posting a weight-limit sign keeps overweight trucks off roads or bridges that were not built for them, protecting the surface and preventing structural damage.
Truck weight limit signs are used at bridges, on local and residential roads, private roads and driveways, and near weigh stations. They are common wherever a lighter-duty road or older bridge needs protection from heavy commercial vehicles.
A bridge weight limit sign posts the maximum weight a bridge can safely carry, based on the bridge's engineered load rating. It's placed ahead of and at the bridge so a truck driver can turn off or reroute before reaching a bridge that can't hold their load.
Yes - custom weight limit signs let you set the exact tonnage for your road, bridge, or private drive as a gross limit, a per-axle limit, or a "No Trucks Over [weight]" message. The sign keeps the standard MUTCD R12 layout while showing your specific number.
Common truck weight limit signs are 24" x 30" and 24" x 36", which read well from a moving truck. Smaller 12" x 18" signs suit low-speed private roads. Larger sizes up to 48" x 60" are used on highways and major bridges where the sign must be seen from farther back.
Weight limit signs are made from rust-free.080" aluminum faced with 3M reflective sheeting that meets ASTM D4956, in Engineer, High Intensity Prismatic, or Diamond Grade. The aluminum won't rust outdoors, and the reflective face keeps the tonnage legible in headlights at night.
We are leading maker of truck weight limit signs. A weight limit sign is the MUTCD R12-series regulatory sign - a white rectangle with black text - that sets the maximum weight, in tons, a vehicle can be to use a road or bridge. Towns, counties, and private-road owners post weight limit signs to keep heavy trucks off roads and bridges that cannot carry them, protecting the pavement and structure from damage. Every weight limit sign is made from rust-free.080" aluminum with reflective sheeting so a trucker can read it day or night.
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