"The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities may prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any highway or may impose restrictions on any aspect of vehicle operation on any highway whenever the highway, in the judgment of the commissioner, may be seriously damaged or destroyed by such operation."
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Unknown Source is a standing policy bulletin (17 AAC 25.100), not a current activation or lift notice. No active, pending, or inactive restriction event can be confirmed. Check the live DOT&PF portal for current status. |
| Status Timestamp | 2026-04-01 at 00:00 UTC |
| Coverage | State highways only (ADOT&PF authority under 17 AAC 25.100). Local roads not covered. |
| Effective Dates | Not specified no start or end date present in source document. |
| Weight Limits | Restrictions are applied at 85%, 75%, or 50% of maximum allowable axle/axle group weight. No specific reduction tier is currently designated as active. See weight limits table below for pound values. |
| Key Roads | Not specified no specific highways or mileposts identified in source document. |
| Exemptions | School and municipal buses transporting people (100% legal load, no permit required); vehicles en-route within 7 days of restriction effective date (100% legal axle load, bill of lading required); interstate sealed/charged produce vans charged prior to effective date (100% legal axle load, bill of lading required); intermodal portable tanks/compartments >7,500 L (1,980 U.S. gal) per 49 CFR 173.32(f)(5) (100% legal axle load); health and safety permits available for vehicles or loads exceeding restriction limits. |
| Penalties | Not specified |
| Contact | Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Compliance, Director's Office 11900 Industry Way, Building M Unit 2, Anchorage, AK 99515 | Phone: 907.365.1210 | dot.alaska.gov/mscve/pages/weightrestrictions.shtml |
| Primary Status Source URL | https://dot.alaska.gov/mscve/permits/forms/Weight_Restriction_Bulletin.pdf |
Why Status Is Unknown
The document retrieved is Alaska DOT&PF's standing Weight Restriction Bulletin a permanent reference document codifying restriction calculation rules under 17 AAC 25.100. It is not a seasonal activation notice, a lift notice, or any document that announces a current operational restriction event. No specific highway, milepost, effective date, or active restriction tier is stated. As a result, real-time restriction status cannot be determined from this source alone.
To confirm whether restrictions are currently active on any Alaska state highway, check the live notification portal directly: dot.alaska.gov/mscve/pages/weightrestrictions.shtml.
Alaska Weight Restriction Tiers Reference Table
When restrictions are in effect, they apply at one of three percentage tiers. The table below shows the axle-group pound limits at each tier, plus the unrestricted (100%) baseline. These values are sourced from the standing bulletin and apply to all posted restriction events statewide. "Restrictions are based on 85%, 75%, or 50% of the maximum allowable axle/axle group weight."
| Restriction Level | Single Axle (lbs) | Two-Axle Group (lbs) | Three-Axle Group (lbs) | Four-Axle Group (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% (unrestricted) | 20,000 | 38,000 | 42,000 | 50,000 |
| 85% restriction | 17,000 | 32,300 | 35,700 | 42,500 |
| 75% restriction | 15,000 | 28,500 | 31,500 | 37,500 |
| 50% restriction | 10,000 | 19,000 | 21,000 | 25,000 |
Special Axle and Tire Conditions
- Minimum axle spacing: 8'1" is the minimum spacing between axle groups. Axles spaced less than 8'1" apart are treated as a single axle group for weight calculation purposes.
- Lift axles: Lift axle(s) in the drive group of the power unit are not counted when determining the legal maximum allowable weight.
- Tire tread limit: Maximum allowable weight for all axle(s) is determined by number of tires tire tread width 600 lbs per inch of tread width. This calculation is unchanged at 85%, 75%, and 50% restriction levels.
- Steering axles: Excluded from percentage-based weight restriction calculations per 17 AAC 25.100(b).
Exemptions Detail
- School and municipal buses transporting people: allowed 100% of legal load. No permit required. "School and municipal buses engaged in transporting people are allowed 100% of legal load. No permit is required."
- Vehicles en-route within 7 days of the restriction effective date: allowed 100% of legal axle load. Bill of lading required as proof of en-route status.
- Interstate sealed and charged produce vans charged prior to restriction effective date: allowed 100% of legal axle load. Bill of lading required.
- Intermodal (IM) portable tanks or compartments with volume greater than 7,500 liters (1,980 U.S. gallons) per 49 CFR Part 173.32(f)(5): allowed 100% of legal axle load.
- Health and safety permits: Vehicles or loads that exceed weight restriction limits may be issued permits for health and safety concerns.
Dispatch Checklist
- Current restriction status is unknown. The source document does not confirm whether restrictions are active, pending, or lifted as of 2026-04-01 00:00 UTC. Do not assume clearance.
- Check the live portal before every dispatch to Alaska state highways: dot.alaska.gov/mscve/pages/weightrestrictions.shtml.
- If restrictions are active, confirm the posted tier (85%, 75%, or 50%) and use the weight limits table above to determine your legal axle loads.
- Verify exemption eligibility. En-route and produce van exemptions require a bill of lading. Bus exemptions require no permit. Health/safety permits must be obtained in advance.
- State highways only. These notices do not cover local roads.
- Contact DOT&PF directly with questions: 907.365.1210 or visit the weight restrictions portal.
Data retrieved from the Alaska DOT&PF Measurement Standards & Commercial Vehicle Compliance standing Weight Restriction Bulletin (17 AAC 25.100). Source is a policy/reference bulletin no active restriction event announced. Status observed: 2026-04-01 at 00:00 UTC. Parse (insufficient current restriction data). Axle limit table, exemption rules, and special conditions: confidence high. Verify real-time status against the live portal before dispatch.
https://dot.alaska.gov/mscve/permits/forms/Weight_Restriction_Bulletin.pdf (primary status source)
https://dot.alaska.gov/mscve/pages/weightrestrictions.shtml (live status portal)
