As far as I understand it, DoT regulates heavy trucks on U.S. roads. But I've searched and inquired and I can't find any specific performance requirements that a truck must satisfy to be road legal. I suspect I'm just missing something. Examples I would assume would be regulated, but for which I can't find any indication they are:
Is minimum braking performance specified? E.g., at gross weight, must a truck be able to stop from a certain speed in a certain distance on a specified surface?
Is there a minimum acceleration requirement? E.g., can I pull an otherwise legal 80,000 pound trailer with a 100ft-lb tractor?
Is there a maximum weight per tire contact patch?
Is there a minimum turning radius?
Is there a minimum turning speed? I.e., a limit on how top-heavy a load can be?
Any indications as to how (and which) performance requirements are specified, tested, and enforced would be interesting!