Loads, Dimensions, Weights and Towing Rules
Core concepts
Bulgarian limits follow EU rules. General maximum dimensions: width 2.55 m (2.60 m for refrigerated bodies), height 4.00 m, and length 12 m for a rigid truck, 16.5 m for an articulated vehicle, and 18.75 m for a road train. Maximum authorised mass for a standard combination is 40 tonnes, rising to 44 tonnes for certain intermodal transport. Axle loads are limited (commonly 10 tonnes for a drive axle, 11.5 tonnes for a single axle in some configurations). Loads must be secured against shifting, must not obscure lights or plates, must not exceed the vehicle's permitted mass, and must be covered if they could fall or blow off. Overhangs beyond defined limits require marking. Towing rules cover trailer braking, coupling security, and speed limits for combinations.
Traps in questions
Questions often mix gross vehicle mass, gross combination mass and payload. Another trap is the height limit: 4.00 m is the general maximum, but bridges may be lower, so posted limits always win. Loads projecting to the rear must be marked; projecting to the front is generally prohibited beyond a small margin. Do not assume 44 tonnes applies to every combination - it requires specific conditions.
Worked example / rule of thumb
Rule of thumb: "The lowest limit always applies." Example: your combination is 4.10 m high, legal on the general 4.00 m rule only if within permitted dimensions, but a bridge marked 3.80 m means you must divert regardless of your legal entitlement.