Guide · Road
Truck axle weights and limits in Spain.
In Spain, the maximum weights and dimensions of trucks are set by Annex IX of the Spanish General Vehicle Regulations (RGV), which applies Directive 96/53/EC. Since 23 October 2025, an articulated vehicle with 5 or more axles can reach 44 tonnes, the drive axle 12 tonnes and euromodular combinations 72 tonnes and 32 metres.
What it is
Annex IX (“Masses and dimensions”) of the Spanish General Vehicle Regulations (Royal Decree 2822/1998) sets the maximum authorised weight (MMA in Spanish) of each type of vehicle, the axle loads and the maximum dimensions, load included. Its latest wording is that of Order PJC/780/2025: the new weights have been in force since 23 October 2025 (since 23 January 2026 for tankers).
Who it applies to
Vehicles travelling on Spanish public roads. Directive 96/53/EC harmonises these limits across the EU: in national traffic, Member States may exceed the weights and the height, but not the lengths or the widths. The EU-wide limits are explained in the EU truck weight and dimension limits guide.
Maximum authorised weights
The most common ones for freight, according to table 2 of Annex IX:
| Vehicle | Maximum authorised weight |
|---|---|
| 2-axle rigid truck | 18 t |
| 3-axle rigid truck | 25 t (26 t with twin tyres and air suspension or equivalent, or 9.5 t per drive axle) |
| 4-axle rigid truck with two steering axles | 32 t (under the same conditions); other 4-axle trucks, 31 t |
| 2-axle / 3-axle trailer | 18 t / 24 t |
| 4-axle articulated vehicle | 36 t (38 t in the case set out in the table, with twin wheels and air suspension) |
| Articulated vehicle with 5 or more axles | 44 t |
| 4-axle road train | 36 t |
| 2 + 3-axle road train | 42 t |
| 3 + 2 or 3 + 3-axle road train | 44 t |
| Euromodular combination | 72 t |
Alternative-fuel vehicles may add up to 1 t, and zero-emission vehicles up to 2 t. Combinations may add up to 2 t in intermodal transport. Round timber has its own limits on specific routes.
Maximum axle loads
| Axle | Maximum load |
|---|---|
| Single drive axle | 12 t |
| Single non-drive axle | 10 t |
| Tandem axle of a motor vehicle | 12 t (d < 1.00 m) · 16 t (1.00–1.30 m) · 18 t (1.30–1.80 m); 19 t with twin tyres and air suspension, or 9.5 t per axle |
| Tandem axle of a trailer or semi-trailer | 11 t (d < 1.00 m) · 16 t (1.00–1.30 m) · 18 t (1.30–1.80 m) · 20 t (1.80 m or more) |
| Tridem axle of a trailer or semi-trailer | 21 t (d ≤ 1.30 m) · 27 t (1.30–1.40 m) |
“d” is the spacing between axles. The drive axle or axles must carry at least 25% of the total weight, with some exceptions: for a combination at 44 t, that is 44 × 0.25 = 11 t on the drive axle as a minimum.
Example: each axle and the total at once
Adding up the maximum of each axle is not enough: the combination also has its own maximum authorised weight, which is usually lower. Take a 5-axle articulated vehicle (a tractor unit with a non-drive front axle and a drive axle, and a semi-trailer with a tridem spaced 1.30 to 1.40 m apart):
- Sum of the axle maximums: 10 t + 12 t + 27 t = 49 t.
- Maximum authorised weight of an articulated vehicle with 5 or more axles: 44 t.
- The limit that applies: 44 t, even though the axles “allow” 49 t.
The payload of that combination is the maximum authorised weight minus the tare of the tractor unit and that of the semi-trailer. The curtainsider trailer sheet gives its typical tare.
How to distribute the load across the axles
The distribution depends on where the load’s centre of gravity sits. On a semi-trailer, heavy cargo placed too far forward overloads the tractor unit; too far back, it leaves the drive axle below 25% and overloads the semi-trailer’s axle group.
- Spread heavy cargo along the deck, without concentrating it at one end.
- If the load is partial, do not put it all against the headboard or all against the doors.
- After loading or unloading en route, check the distribution again: when part of the load comes off, the centre of gravity moves.
- Secure the load so that it cannot shift: load securing on the road follows standard EN 12195-1 (see the CTU Code guide).
The real weight on each axle is only known on a weighbridge; any calculation beforehand is an estimate based on the data you have.
Maximum dimensions and clearance
| Dimension | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Height, load included | 4.00 m (4.50 m in specified cases, such as car transporters or closed intermodal containers) |
| Width | 2.55 m (2.60 m for temperature-controlled vehicles) |
| Length, motor vehicle / trailer | 12.00 m |
| Length, articulated vehicle | 16.50 m |
| Length, road train | 18.75 m |
| Length, euromodular combination | 32 m |
The maximum turning radii are 12.50 m outer and 5.30 m inner (14.50 m and 6.5 m for euromodular combinations). See also clearance gauge and maximum authorised weight in the glossary.
Euromodular combinations (duo-trailers)
A euromodular combination has more than 6 axle lines or at least 3 modules, each one within its own limits. Since Order PJC/780/2025 they no longer need an individual permit, but they may only run on the routes published in the BOE (Spain’s Official State Gazette), under the requirements set by the Jefatura Central de Tráfico (Spain’s central traffic authority). The load may not overhang their footprint, and they may not carry dangerous goods that require orange plates.
Common mistakes
- Applying the legal weight without looking at the technical one: the combination’s weight may not exceed the technically permissible maximum mass declared by the manufacturer, and the ITV card (the Spanish vehicle inspection card) may only record the new weights if they do not exceed it.
- Staying within the maximum authorised weight but distributing the load badly: each axle must respect its own maximum and minimum load.
Sources
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