A dead axle is a non-powered vehicle axle that does not transmit driving force or torque from the engine to the wheels, serving primarily to support vehicle weight, maintain structural alignment, and provide braking or steering stability. Unlike live axles that spin under power, dead axles simply rotate freely or remain stationary while supporting load distribution across trailers, heavy-duty multi-axle commercial trucks, and specialized transport configurations. They are commonly incorporated into heavy transport setups to comply with bridge weight formulas and legal axle-load distribution limits across public highway systems.