1. Except as otherwise provided in this section and NRS 484D.600, 484D.625, 484D.640, 484D.645 and 484D.660, a vehicle may be operated or moved upon any public highway if:

(a) The maximum weight on any single axle does not exceed 20,000 pounds.

(b) The maximum weight on any tandem axle does not exceed 34,000 pounds.

(c) The maximum weight per tire, measured by pounds per inch of tire width, does not exceed 600 pounds per inch for a steering axle and 500 pounds per inch for all other axles.

(d) Except for a steering axle and axles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds, each axle has at least four tires if the tire width of each tire on the axle is less than or equal to 14 inches. If the maximum weight per tire does not exceed 500 pounds per inch of tire width, an axle may be equipped with tires that have a width of more than 14 inches.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the maximum overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles does not exceed the values set forth in the following formula: W=500 [LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36] wherein:

(1) W equals the maximum load in pounds carried on any group of two or more consecutive axles computed to the nearest 500 pounds;

(2) L equals the distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two or more consecutive axles; and

(3) N equals the number of axles in the group under consideration.

2. Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each if the distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of axles is 36 feet or more.

3. To the extent authorized by federal law, a vehicle:

(a) Powered primarily by one or more electric motors or by an engine fueled primarily by natural gas may exceed the limits of this section by not more than 2,000 pounds.

(b) Equipped with idle reduction technology, including, without limitation, an auxiliary power unit, may exceed the limits of this section by not more than 550 pounds.

4. As used in this section:

(a) “Auxiliary power unit” has the meaning ascribed to it in 42 U.S.C. § 16104.

(b) “Idle reduction technology” has the meaning ascribed to it in 42 U.S.C. § 16104.

(c) “Tire width” means the width set by the manufacturer of the tire and inscribed on the sidewall of the tire.

[Part 23:122:1925; A 1929, 349; 1931, 136; 1947, 532; 1951, 263; 1953, 628; 1955, 45] — (NRS A 1975, 291; 1979, 1809; 1981, 219; 1991, 1693; 1993, 1415; 2003, 405, 1413; 2005, 74; 2019, 295) — (Substituted in revision for NRS 484.745)