How Much Does a 26-Foot Box Truck Weigh?

26-foot box trucks are great, multi-use vehicles. Their medium size makes them manageable to more casual drivers, while they’re spacious enough to carry large quantities of cargo. The trucks work great for moving; you can fit many furniture and personal possessions into the vehicles.

A 26-foot-long truck, capable of holding up to eight rooms worth of furniture, inevitably intensely tips the scales. There are rules and regulations for the weights of trucks, so it is worth knowing: just how much does a 26-foot box truck weigh?

An empty 26-foot box truck weighs 16,000 pounds, while one, filled to capacity, weighs 26,000 pounds.

Several considerations weigh into a truck’s mass; this article examines the dimensions and capacities of the 26-foot box truck while discussing the many variables that contribute to truck weights.

How Big Is a 26-Foot Box Truck?

26-foot box trucks fall right in the middle of the truck-size spectrum. As the name suggests, the vehicle is 26 feet long, with a 1,682 cubic foot volume capacity. The total dimensions of this kind of box truck are 26 feet long by 102 inches (eight and a half feet) wide by 102 inches high. The vehicle seats three passengers and can hold up to 10,000 pounds of cargo.

1,682 cubic feet and 10,000-pound capacities are a bit abstract, so more tangibly, that hard data translates to:

• 12 pallets
• 500 medium-sized boxes
• Roughly eight rooms of furniture

With space for eight rooms worth of furniture, it’s unsurprising that these vehicles are the moving trucks of choice for many. They’re also great for parcel and perishable food delivery. Some adventurous cooks have even turned 26-foot box trucks into mobile restaurants.

How Heavy Is a 26-Foot Box Truck?

The 26-foot box truck is, expectedly, a heavy piece of machinery. The precise weight varies depending on whether the truck is empty or loaded. Empty, the vehicle weighs 16,000 pounds, but it can hold 10,000 pounds of cargo. The maximum weight of the truck, filled, is 26,000 pounds or 13 tons. That figure is called Gross Vehicle Weight or GVW, one of several terms applied to trucks and their weights.

Truck Weight Terminologies

Trucks have multiple measurements to take into account-the vehicle loaded, empty, and the maximum amount of weight the truck can hold. Each of these measures has a specific notation and definition. Let’s examine some essential pieces of truck vocabulary:

• GVWR (Gross Vehicular Weight Rating): This represents the maximum possible weight of a truck. The measurement totals the truck’s unloaded weight with the full volume it can carry.
• Curb weight: Your truck’s curb weight is however much it weighs empty, except for a full tank of gas and fully equipped. The added mass of passengers, cargo, or any alterations does not factor into curb weight.
• Payload capacity: Payload capacity is the amount your truck can carry, including passengers. Mathematically, the payload capacity equals gross vehicle weight minus curb weight.
• Cargo Weight: Cargo weight is the measure of everything placed in the truck, including passengers.

Understanding how your truck’s weight is measured is essential because there are laws pertaining to the maximum weight a truck can carry. While there is some variation to these rules from state to state, generally, the top weight measures are:

• Gross weight: 80,000 pounds
• Gross weight on a single axle: 20,000 pounds
• Gross weight on tandem axles: 34,000 pounds

Different Models of 26-Foot Box Trucks

While most brands and varieties of 26-foot box trucks have the same dimensions, there are some variations. The chart below compares some of the critical components of popular brands.

Brand	Internal Height	Outside Dimensions	Height Clearance	Weight (in pounds)	GVWR	Key Features
Hino	103 inches	26’X102”X156”	13’6”	15,000	26,000	VNT Turbochargers, 5 year warranty
Penske	92 inches	26’X7’8”X8’1”	12’7”	16,000	26,000	Automatic transmission, Air conditioning, towing compatible
Freightliner	97 inches	26’X97”X91”	14’-16’	16,820	26,000	Low step in height, tinted windshield

What Class Is a 26-Foot Box Truck?

There are nine classes of trucks, the first three all indicative of smaller vehicles. The 26-foot box truck is a class four. The chart below explains the weight breakdown of classes four through nine.

Class	Weight in pounds
4	14,000-16,000
5	16,001-19,500
6	19,501-26,000
7	26,001-33,000
8	Over 33,001
9	Over 60,000

Commercial truck weight limits vary from state to state. Mostly the maximum heft is 80,000 pounds. However, the maximum gross weight applicable to a single axle and double axle differs more. The chart below lists the values dictated by each state:

State	Single Axle	Double Axle	Gross Weight
Alabama	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Alaska	20,000 lb	38,000 lb	80,000 lb
Arizona	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Arkansas	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
California	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Colorado	20,000 lb	36,000 lb	80,000 lb
Connecticut	22,000 lb	36,000 lb	80,000 lb
Delaware	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
District of Columbia	21,000 lb	37,000 lb	79,000 lb
Florida	20,000 lb	40,000 lb	80,000 lb
Georgia	20,340 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Hawaii	22,500 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Idaho	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Illinois	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Indiana	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Iowa	20,000 lb	35,000 lb	80,000 lb
Kansas	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Kentucky	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Louisiana	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Maine	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Maryland	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Massachusetts	18,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Michigan	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Minnesota	10,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Mississippi	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Missouri	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Montana	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Nebraska	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Nevada	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
New Hampshire	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
New Jersey	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
New Mexico	21,600 lb	34,200 lb	80,000 lb
New York	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
North Carolina	20,000 lb	38,000 lb	80,000 lb
North Dakota	20,000 lb	17,000 lb	80,000 lb
Ohio	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Oklahoma	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Oregon	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Pennsylvania	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Rhode Island	22,400 lb	36,000 lb	80,000 lb
South Carolina	10,000 lb	35,200 lb	80,000 lb
South Dakota	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Tennessee	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Texas	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Utah	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Vermont	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Virginia	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Washington	20,000 lb	———-	80,000 lb
West Virginia	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Wisconsin	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb
Wyoming	20,000 lb	34,000 lb	80,000 lb

Do Box Trucks Have to Stop at Weigh Stations?

The answer varies from state to state. Each region has its own weigh station rules. Weigh stations exist to ensure your truck’s GVWR does not exceed prescribed guidelines. Some states, like Alabama and Connecticut, don’t require trucks to stop at weigh stations. On the flip side, California requires every truck to weigh in.

Many states, like Georgia and Indiana, require trucks with GVWs exceeding 10,000 pounds to stop at a weigh station. Wyoming picks trucks at random for weigh station inspections, and Florida requires trucks transporting agricultural products to stop.

Is It Hard to Drive a 26-Foot Box Truck?

Anyone with a driver’s license can operate a 26-foot-box truck. Commercial Driver’s Licenses, or CDLs, are only required for trucks with a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds. The GVWR of a 26-foot box truck is 26,000, so the vehicles squeak under the wire.

There is a learning curve to driving a box truck. Generally speaking, you should be wary of the following:

• Speed
• Turns
• Clearance

Box trucks require spacial awareness; the most significant difference you will feel driving one versus a regular car simply compensates for the additional bulk and greater size. Driving a 26-foot box truck isn’t difficult for anyone who can drive a car but should be eased into and approached with care. Drive slowly and allow ample room for turns.  

FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding 26-foot box trucks and their weight management.

How do you know how much a truck can carry?

You can determine your truck’s payload capacity by subtracting its curb weight from its GVWR.

What is the difference between curb weight vs. gross weight?

A truck’s curb weight is its heft when empty. The curb weight is included in the gross weight; the gross weight is the summation of the weight of the truck plus the maximum weight your vehicle can carry.

What is the difference between dry weight vs. cargo weight?

Dry weight is the measure of your vehicle without any additives; no liquids, including fuel or coolant, and no cargo. Cargo weight is every additional pound added to the curb weight, including passengers and whatever you may be hauling.

Do small box trucks have to stop at weigh stations?

Weight station rules vary from state to state. Pennsylvania requires all trucks to stop, but most states only mandate trucks weighing 10,000 pounds and up to go through weigh stations.

What is the gas mileage of a 26-foot box truck?

26-foot box trucks generally get eight to ten miles per gallon of diesel gas. The vehicles’ fuel tanks have a sixty-gallon capacity, so trucks travel 600 miles on a full tank.

How much does a 26-foot box truck cost?

The cost of a 26-foot box truck depends on the seller and whether you are buying one new or used one. Factors impacting the cost of the truck include:

• Seller
• Truck brand
• Truck condition

Considering these variables, a 26-foot box truck ranges between 26,000 and 60,000 dollars.