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Why Are Overloaded Trucks So Dangerous on Missouri’s Roads?

July 28, 2025

Missouri’s highways keep goods moving, but when trucking companies push limits to haul more, overloaded trucks turn these roads into danger zones. These shortcuts may save money, but they put lives at risk.

Discover how truck weight limits work, why some drivers break the rules, and how overloaded trucks contribute to severe crashes, injuries, and legal liability.

Federal and Missouri Commercial Truck Weight Limits

Commercial trucks are subject to strict weight limits to protect roadways and ensure public safety. At the federal level, trucks operating on the Interstate Highway System must comply with the following limits, as outlined in 23 CFR § 658.17:

  • Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): 80,000 pounds
  • Single Axle Weight: 20,000 pounds
  • Tandem Axle Weight: 34,000 pounds

In addition to these federal standards, the Federal Bridge Formula sets rules for how weight is distributed across a truck’s axles.

It’s not just about a truck’s total weight, but how it’s spread out. If too much weight sits on just a few axles that are too close together, it puts extreme stress on bridges, increasing the risk of structural damage or collapse.

Missouri’s commercial truck limits align with federal guidelines on interstate highways. However, Missouri allows slightly higher axle weights on non-interstate roads:

  • GVW: 80,000 pounds
  • Single Axle: 20,000 pounds on interstate; 22,000 pounds on non-interstate highways
  • Tandem Axle: 34,000 pounds on interstate; 36,000 pounds on non-interstate highways

Missouri’s adjusted axle limits aim to balance local transportation needs with the protection of roads and public safety.

Why These Weight Limits Matter

These weight limits exist for several reasons:

  • Road Safety: Heavier trucks are more difficult to stop and control.
  • Infrastructure Protection: Overloaded trucks can damage highways and bridges.
  • Mechanical Safety: Excess weight strains brakes, tires, and suspension systems.

Despite these rules, weight limits are frequently exceeded. Some companies overload trucks to reduce the trips required or to meet tight delivery deadlines. Others fail to monitor or weigh their cargo properly. Sometimes, drivers may be unaware that their loads exceed the legal limit.

How Excess Weight Makes Trucks More Dangerous

Overloaded trucks aren’t just more difficult to handle; they’re more hazardous, too. These dangers explain why overweight truck accidents are more likely to result in catastrophic injuries and multi-vehicle pileups:

Longer Braking Distance

A fully loaded truck already needs 20–40% more space to stop than a passenger car. Add even more weight, and that braking distance increases. This can mean the difference between a close call and a deadly rear-end collision in emergencies.

Poor Steering and Control

Trucks are designed to perform within a specific weight range. When they’re overloaded, steering becomes less responsive, especially during sharp turns or evasive maneuvers. This can cause the driver to veer into other lanes or lose control.

Increased Risk of Tire Blowouts

Truck tires are only rated for specific weight limits. Too much weight can cause them to overheat or rupture, especially at high speeds or in hot weather. A tire blowout on a fully loaded semi-truck can trigger catastrophic crashes involving multiple vehicles.

Rollover Accidents

Extra weight raises a truck’s center of gravity, increasing the risk of rollovers on curves, off-ramps, or during sudden swerves. Rollovers are among the most destructive truck crashes, often spilling cargo and blocking highways.

Common Injuries in Overloaded Truck Accidents

Because overloaded trucks cause more severe crashes, the injuries involved are often devastating. Victims may suffer:

Many injuries require emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and long-term care. Victims may face months or years out of work, or may never return to their previous jobs. The emotional and financial toll is overwhelming.

The Cost of an Overloaded Truck Crash

In addition to physical injuries, the financial impact of a truck crash can be life-changing. Victims may incur:

  • Medical Expenses: ER visits, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation
  • Lost Wages: Missed work during recovery or permanent disability
  • Property Damage: Repair or replacement of a totaled vehicle
  • Pain and Suffering: Emotional distress, trauma, and reduced quality of life

When the crash was caused by an overloaded commercial truck, victims deserve to hold the responsible parties accountable.

You Have the Right to Pursue Compensation

If you were injured in an overloaded truck crash, don’t let a trucking company shift the blame or deny liability. In many cases, trucking company liability plays a role, especially if the company encouraged or ignored truck safety violations to meet deadlines.

With the help of our experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Cofman Townsley, you can pursue a personal injury claim that seeks full compensation for your injuries and losses. Our legal team will investigate the crash, gather evidence, and hold negligent trucking companies accountable.

Injured by an Overloaded Truck in Missouri? Contact Cofman Townsley

At Cofman Townley, we know how trucking companies operate, and we don’t let them off the hook. If you or a loved one were injured in a commercial truck crash in Missouri, we’ll fight for the maximum compensation.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.