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Axle Balance Tandem hole rules by state
Tandem hole rules by state (kingpin to rear axle)
For a standard 53 ft van, reefer or flatbed with a sliding tandem · Checked October 2026
In short: 19 states set a kingpin-to-rear-axle (KPRA) limit for 53 ft trailers, most often 41 ft. The rest have no limit for a standard 53 ft trailer or a special rule. Pick a state below for the rule, how it's measured, and the law it comes from.
Why it matters
The farther back you slide your trailer tandems, the longer your kingpin-to-rear-axle distance gets. In states with a limit, sliding all the way back for weight can earn you a ticket even if every axle is legal. Some states measure to the center of the rear tandem, others to the rearmost axle, which is usually about 2 ft farther.
All states
| State | Status | Rule for a 53 ft trailer |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Special | No limit for a 53 ft trailer. The 41 ft rule (kingpin to rearmost axle or tandem center) only applies to trailers over 53 ft 6 in. |
| Alaska | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Arizona | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Arkansas | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| California | Limit | 40 ft max, kingpin to the rearmost axle |
| Colorado | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Connecticut | Limit | 43 ft max, kingpin to the rearmost axle |
| Delaware | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| District of Columbia | Special | Washington, DC is a 48 ft semitrailer district under federal rules. Check DDOT routes and permits before running a 53 ft trailer. |
| Florida | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Georgia | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Hawaii | Special | Hawaii is the only state that does not generally allow 53 ft trailers (48 ft limit). A permit is needed. |
| Idaho | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Illinois | Limit | 45 ft 6 in max, kingpin to the rearmost axle |
| Indiana | Limit | 43 ft max, kingpin to the rearmost axle |
| Iowa | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Kansas | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Kentucky | Special | No statewide limit in statute. Kentucky uses 41 ft (kingpin to center of rear axle) when it reviews STAA access routes, so 41 ft is a safe setting. |
| Louisiana | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Maine | Limit | 45 ft 6 in max, kingpin to the rearmost axle |
| Maryland | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Massachusetts | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Michigan | Special | No limit in current Michigan law (MCL 257.719). Trailers over 50 ft must stay on designated highways. Some older charts still list 40.5 ft ±0.5 — confirm with MDOT if stopped. |
| Minnesota | Limit | 43 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Mississippi | Special | No limit for a standard 53 ft trailer. The 41 ft rule (to the center of the axle group) applies to 57 ft box van permits. |
| Missouri | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Montana | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Nebraska | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Nevada | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| New Hampshire | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| New Jersey | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| New Mexico | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| New York | Limit | 43 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| North Carolina | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| North Dakota | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Ohio | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Oklahoma | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Oregon | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Pennsylvania | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Rhode Island | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the rearmost axle |
| South Carolina | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| South Dakota | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Tennessee | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Texas | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Utah | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| Vermont | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Virginia | Limit | 41 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Washington | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
| West Virginia | Special | No kingpin rule. Instead, a 53 ft trailer needs 37 ft or less from the tractor’s rear drive axle to the trailer’s front axle, on Interstates and designated routes. |
| Wisconsin | Limit | 43 ft max, kingpin to the center of the rear tandem |
| Wyoming | No limit | No limit for a 53 ft trailer |
Know which way to slide before you get back on the scale. Axle Balance is a free calculator made by a trucker. Enter your scale ticket and it tells you which way to slide your tandems and how many holes, plus your fifth wheel. Works offline in the cab.
Open the free calculatorEstimates and general information only, not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies. Always confirm on a certified scale and with the state before you rely on it. See the Terms of Use.