How often have you been witness to a truck pulling a cargo trailer (or some other trailer) at breakneck speeds? As that truck and trailer near a curve, you would be wise to slow down and stay clear! In that situation, a sudden curve can start a chain reaction. First the trailer starts to swerve, then the trailer goes one way, and the truck goes the other way, and now you have a minor disaster on your hands. Minor, as long as no one dies.
If you tow a trailer, you should know, ahead of time, that speed limits may vary from state to state for vehicles that pull trailers (versus passenger vehicles or vehicles without trailers). For the benefit of cargo trailer pullers, here are state-by-state restrictions (courtesy of AAA).
Puerto Rico
According to the zone, the same as passenger cars. For heavy vehicles, maximum speed is 10 mph under zone permitted speeds.
Wyoming And Wisconsin
Identical to the speeds for passenger cars.
West Virginia
70 mph if so posted, otherwise 55 mph.
Washington
Identical to mph’s posted for trucks.
Virginia
Either what is posted or 70 mph.
Vermont and Utah and Texas
Identical to that posted for passenger cars but in Utah, different if posted.
Tennessee
Unless otherwise posted, 70 mph on rural interstate.
South Dakota
Unless otherwise posted:
- On secondary highways, 65 mph.
- On interstate, 75 mph.
South Carolina
Mobile, modular, and manufactured homes can never exceed 55 mph. Additionally they must travel (if 45 mph or more is the maximum posted speed) 10 miles less than the maximum posted speed.
Rhode Island
Identical miles per hour as passenger cars.
Pennsylvania
As posted but the following maximums apply:
- 35 mph in urban districts
- 25 mph on most local highways and residential districts
- 65 mph on rural interstate highways
- 55 mph in all other locations
Oregon
The following applies to any vehicle with an 8000-pound weight registration or more, any camper, or any trailer towing vehicle: on roadways having, in a single direction, two or more lanes for traffic, they must drive in the right lane.
Oklahoma
No special regulations.
Ohio
For any vehicle combination or vehicle weighing 8000 pounds or more, the maximum speed is 55 mph.
North Dakota
55 mph if not posted. On the rural interstate the following speed limits apply:
- 65 mph on two lane highways
- 75 mph on multilane highways that are non-interstate
- 75 mph on a rural interstates
North Carolina
Unless otherwise posted, 55 mph.
New York
Identical to passenger cars.
New Mexico
As posted or 75 mph.
New Jersey, Nevada, Maine, and Michigan
As posted.
New Hampshire
45 mph for house trailers.
Nebraska
Nothing in excess of 50 mph for mobile home towing.
Montana
No special restrictions.
Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, and Minnesota
Same miles per hour as passenger cars.
Mississippi
Unless otherwise posted, 55 mph.
Louisiana
45 mph for everyone except the following:
House trailers:
- For trailers without brakes less than 15 feet, 50 mph
- For trailers 15 to 32 feet long and brake equipped, 50 mph at night and 55 mph during the day
Utility trailers or boat trailers:
- Same as passenger cars
Kentucky, Idaho, and Colorado
Identical to that for passenger cars.
Kansas
55 mph or less if towing a house trailer.
Iowa
As posted or 70 mph on the interstate.
Indiana, Hawaii, and Georgia
Whatever is posted.
Illinois and the District of Columbia
No special restrictions.
Florida
55 mph at other locations than residential and business districts where it’s 30 mph – unless otherwise posted. 65 mph on other designated highways and Turnpike except when a minimum speed is 50 mph and 70 mph is the posted speed.
Delaware
10 mph or less for vehicles, trailers, or combination gross weight of 4000 pounds or more. The exception to this would be if the towing vehicle had suitable operator-controlled brakes.
Connecticut
Where posted, 65 mph in some areas and 55 mph in others.
California
55 mph for towing vehicles.
Arkansas
Towing a house trailer – 45 mph maximum. Others are as posted except or the following:
- Urban freeways – 55 miles per hour
- Rural interstates – 70 miles per hour
Arizona
Semitrailers or vehicles towing trailers must travel at a rate of speed where lateral sway is avoided.
Alaska
Mobile homes – 45 mph.
Alabama
Speeds must be “proper and reasonable”.
Mickey Genuine Parts carries a number of used trailers for the budget minded individual. Contact us if you’d like more information.