How loud is a lorry?
Heavy lorries are limited to 80 dBA at 50 ft (15 m) in the US, and to between 79 and 82 dB(A) at 7.5 m in EU type approval for the most powerful models. Field measurements of dump trucks on a major US construction project averaged 76 dBA at 50 ft.
- Level
- 76–82 dBA maxA-weighted maximum sound level
- Daily limit
- No daily limitNIOSH, at the loud end
- Versus conversation
- 45× energyabout 3.1× as loud
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Measured: dump trucks averaged 76 dBA Lmax at 50 ft (US FHWA, 31 samples). Limits: US federal 80 dBA at 50 ft for trucks built from 1988; EU type approval for the most powerful lorries (N3, over 250 kW) 82 dB(A) phase 1 to 79 dB(A) phase 3 at 7.5 m.
US rules for medium and heavy trucks set a low-speed limit of 83 dBA for trucks built from 1979 and 80 dBA from 1988. The test microphone stands 50 feet (15.2 m) from the centreline of the truck's path while it accelerates past. EU rules measure 7.5 m from the test track; for lorries above 250 kW the limit falls from 82 dB(A) in phase 1 to 81 and then 79 dB(A) in later phases.
Real lorries measured in the field can sit below the limits. The FHWA's construction noise inventory, built from measurements on Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel project, gives dump trucks an average measured Lmax of 76 dBA at 50 ft across 31 samples, against a specification limit of 84 dBA.
How long is safe?
Below 85 dBA, the level NIOSH allows for a full 8-hour day.
| Level | NIOSH limit (85 dBA, 3 dB rule) | OSHA limit (90 dBA, 5 dB rule) | UK/EU 80 dB(A) action value reached after | UK/EU 85 dB(A) action value reached after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 dBA | No limit | No limit | Not reached in 24 h | Not reached in 24 h |
| 82 dBA | No limit | No limit | 5 h 3 min | Not reached in 24 h |
Times are for a whole day’s exposure, with the rest of the day quiet. The workplace limits were written for adults at work, not for children. Work out a mixed day with the noise dose calculator.
Protecting your hearing
Pedestrians and cyclists are briefly close to these levels when a lorry pulls away at lights; it is short-lived. Drivers spending all day in an older cab should consider whether their exposure needs assessing.
Earplug and earmuff ratings (NRR in the US, SNR in the UK and EU) are lab figures; real-world protection is usually lower. How to read the ratings.
Compared with sounds nearby
Using midpoints of each range. Energy multiplies by 10 every 10 dB; perceived loudness roughly doubles (why).
- City bus (75.3–76 dBA): this has about 2.2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.3× as loud.
- Vacuum cleaner (62–90 dBA): this has about 2× its sound energy and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Electric lawn mower (82 dBA): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Street sweeper (82 dBA max): it has about 2× the sound energy of this and sounds about 1.2× as loud.
- Normal conversation (55–70 dBA): this has about 45× its energy and sounds about 3.1× as loud.
Questions
How loud is a lorry?
US limits are 80 dBA at 50 ft (15 m) for trucks built from 1988; measured dump trucks averaged 76 dBA at that distance.
Are EU lorry limits getting stricter?
Yes. For the most powerful lorries the EU limit at 7.5 m drops from 82 dB(A) in phase 1 to 79 dB(A) in phase 3.
Sources
- 40 CFR § 205.52 - Vehicle noise emission standards., US Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell). Supports: 80 dBA US limit.
(ii) January 1, 1988 80 dBA.
Checked 2026-11-03. - 40 CFR § 205.52 - Vehicle noise emission standards., US Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell). Supports: 83 dBA earlier limit.
(i) January 1, 1979 83 dBA.
Checked 2026-11-03. - 40 CFR § 205.54-1 - Low speed sound emission test procedures, US Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell). Supports: 50 ft test distance.
The microphone shall be located 50 feet ±4 in. (15.2 ±0.1 meter) from the centerline of truck travel
Checked 2026-11-03. - Regulation (EU) No 540/2014, Annex III: Limit values, legislation.gov.uk (UK National Archives). Supports: dB_high 82 dB(A); 81; 79.
N 3 rated engine power > 250 kW 82 81 79
Checked 2026-11-03. - Regulation (EU) No 540/2014, Annex II: Methods and instruments for measuring the noise made by motor vehicles, legislation.gov.uk (UK National Archives). Supports: EU 7.5 m test distance.
The microphone shall be located at a distance of 7,5 m ± 0,05 m from the reference line CC' of the track and 1,2 m ± 0,02 m above the ground.
Checked 2026-11-03. - Construction Noise Handbook, 9.0 Construction Equipment Noise Levels and Ranges, US Federal Highway Administration. Supports: dB_low 76 dBA measured Lmax (spec 84).
Dump Truck No 40 84 76 31
Checked 2026-11-03. - Construction Noise Handbook, 9.0 Construction Equipment Noise Levels and Ranges, US Federal Highway Administration. Supports: column definition, 50 ft.
Actual Measured L max @ 50 feet (dBA, slow)
Checked 2026-11-03.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.