Under what condition may you be required to unload your vehicle?

To understand when you may be required to unload your vehicle, it's important to recognize the regulations regarding weight limits for commercial vehicles. In Texas, vehicles have specific weight limits they must adhere to in order to ensure safety on the road and to protect infrastructure like bridges and roads from damage due to excessive weight.

When your vehicle is overloaded by 5%, you are exceeding the permissible weight limit by a margin that is significant enough to warrant action. This threshold indicates that your vehicle can pose increased risks not only to the safety of the driver and cargo but also to other road users. Overloading can impact braking distances, vehicle handling, and overall performance, making it essential to unload excess weight to operate safely and comply with regulations.

In the context of the other options, lower percentages of overload may not immediately trigger a requirement to unload, but a 5% overload is a critical point that ensures compliance with most safety regulations. Therefore, it’s crucial to adhere to weight limits diligently to prevent accidents and legal repercussions.