Oversize and Overweight Load Permit Information
The following are the Federally mandated maximum weights for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and reasonable access thereto (23 CFR Part 658.17):
- 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
- 20,000 pound single axle weight
- 34,000 pound tandem axle weight
Axle spacing is another consideration that must be taken into account when looking at Federal weight compliance. To protect bridges, the number and spacing of axles carrying the vehicle load must be calculated. Thus, a bridge weight formula is also applied to commercial vehicles in determining their compliance with Federal weight limits. The Federal bridge formula applies when the gross weight on two or more consecutive axles exceeds the limitations of the formula, except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axle is 36 feet or more.
W=500(LN/N-1 + 12N + 36); where W=overall gross weight on any group of 2 or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds. L=distance in feet between the extreme of any group of 2 or more consecutive axles, and N=number of axles in the group under consideration
Permits
The Federal government does not issue permits for oversize or overweight vehicles. This is a State option.
Nondivisible Loads:
Permits may be issued by the States without regard to the axle, gross, or Federal bridge formula requirements for nondivisible vehicles or loads. Nondivisible is defined as any load or vehicle exceeding applicable length or weight limits which, if separated into smaller loads or vehicles, would:
- Compromise the intended use of the vehicle, i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended;
- Destroy the value of the load or vehicle, i.e., make it unusable for its intended purpose; or
- Require more than 8 work hours to dismantle using appropriate equipment. The applicant for a nondivisible load permit has the burden of proof as to the number of workhours required to dismantle the load.
Divisible Loads:
Designated divisible load permits may be issued by the State based upon historic State "grandfather" rights or Congressional authorization for a State-specific commodity or route movement at a greater size or weight.
State grandfathered rights regarding longer combination vehicles can be found in Appendix C to 23 CFR Part 658-Trucks Over 80,000 Pounds on the Interstate System and Trucks Over STAA Lengths on the National Network.
Overwidth Permits:
States may grant special use permits to motor vehicles, including manufactured housing, that exceed the Federal 102 inch width limitation.
Obtaining an Oversize or Overweight Permit:
To attain State permits, you will need to contact the State(s) in which you wish to travel. See below for the State permitting web site, or contact the State permitting office by telephone.
- Alabama (800) 499-2782
- Alaska (907) 365-1210, Director; (907) 365-1210, Administrative
- Arizona (602) 255-0072
- Arkansas (501) 569-2381
- California North Region Office (916) 322-1297; South Region Office (909) 383-4637
- Colorado (800) 350-3765
- Connecticut (860) 594-2878
- Delaware (302) 744-2715
- District of Columbia (202) 442-4670
- Florida (850) 410-5777
- Georgia (404) 635-8176
- Hawaii (808) 831-6712
- Idaho (208) 334-8420
- Illinois (217) 785-1477
- Indiana (317) 615-7320
- Iowa (515) 237-3264
- Kansas Special Permits (785) 271-3145
- Kentucky (502) 564-7150
- Louisiana (225) 343-2345 or (800) 654-1433
- Maine (207) 624-9000, extension 52134
- Maryland (410) 582-5650 or (800) 543-2515
- Massachusetts (508) 473-4755
- Michigan (517) 373-2121
- Minnesota (651) 296-6000
- Mississippi (888) 737-0061 or (601) 359-1717
- Missouri (800) 296-6000
- Montana (406) 444-7262
- Nebraska (402) 471-0034
- Nevada (775) 684-4711
- New Hampshire (PDF, 220 KB), (603) 271-2693
- New Jersey (609) 633-9402
- New Mexico (PDF, 84 KB), (505) 827-0376
- New York (518) 485-2999 or (888) 783-1685
- North Carolina (888) 574-6683
- North Dakota (701) 328-2455
- Ohio (614) 351-2300
- Oklahoma (877) 425-2390
- Oregon (503) 373-0000
- Pennsylvania (717) 787-4680
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island (401) 462-5745
- South Carolina (877) 349-7190
- South Dakota (605) 773-4578
- Tennessee (615) 741-1751
- Texas (800) 299-1700, option 1
- Utah (801) 965-4892
- Vermont (802) 828-2064
- Virginia (866) 878-2582
- Washington (360) 704-6340
- West Virginia (304) 558-0384
- Wisconsin (608) 266-7320
- Wyoming (307) 777-4376
Canadian Provinces
- Alberta (800) 662-7138
- British Columbia (800) 559-9688
- Manitoba (204) 945-3961 or (877) 812-0009
- New Brunswick (888) 762-8600
- Newfoundland/Laborador (709) 729-0359
- Northwest Territories (867) 984-3341
- Nova Scotia (902) 424-5851
- Nunavut (867) 975-5300
- Ontario (416) 246-7166, extension 6300 or (800) 387-7736
- Prince Edward Island (PDF, 1.25 MB) (902) 368-4291
- Quebec (418) 527-7775 or (800) 567-7775
- Saskatchewan (306) 775-6969 or (800) 667-7575
- Yukon Territory (867) 667-5644 or (800) 661-0408, extension 5644
Permit Facts and Figures FY 2003
The following table indicate the number of overweight permits issued by States for nondivisible and divisible single trip load movements, nondivisible and divisible annual (or multiple use) load movements, and for divisible overwidth load movements.
State | Nondivisible Trip | Nondivisible Annual | Divisible Trip | Divisible Annual | Divisible Overwidth | Totals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 20313 | 5194 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25507 |
Alaska | 6953 | 93 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 7058 |
Arizona | 80771 | 342 | 0 | 2538 | 0 | 83651 |
Arkansas | 38787 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38787 |
California | 174314 | 23436 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 197750 |
Colorado | 9903 | 3905 | 0 | 1956 | 0 | 15764 |
Connecticut | 61988 | 0 | 0 | 2627 | 0 | 64615 |
Delaware | 47453 | 0 | 127828 | 0 | 0 | 175281 |
DC | 424 | 708 | 226 | 220 | 0 | 1578 |
Georgia | 58439 | 11056 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 69528 |
Hawaii | 1054 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 1615 | 2767 |
Idaho | 18272 | 9106 | 5 | 34012 | 49 | 61444 |
Illinois | 133619 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 133619 |
Indiana | 125630 | 0 | 68369 | 13610 | 0 | 207609 |
Iowa | 29625 | 833 | 0 | 86 | 0 | 30544 |
Kansas | 39622 | 2009 | 0 | 1705 | 50 | 43386 |
Kentucky | 77348 | 6454 | 0 | 0 | 2578 | 86380 |
Louisiana | 67892 | 1995 | 0 | 15600 | 0 | 85487 |
Maine | 19373 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19373 |
Maryland | 136547 | 8613 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 145160 |
Massachusetts | 44576 | 3821 | 0 | 21542 | 0 | 69939 |
Michigan | 102056 | 21220 | 0 | 216 | 0 | 123492 |
Minnesota | 18765 | 1302 | 0 | 3799 | 314 | 24180 |
Mississippi | 124953 | 12104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 137057 |
Missouri | 39182 | 4791 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 43997 |
Montana | 10318 | 971 | 769 | 201 | 1326 | 13585 |
Nebraska | 19005 | 0 | 65 | 35081 | 35 | 54186 |
Nevada | 12490 | 2217 | 50 | 3757 | 0 | 18514 |
New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New Jersey | 9592 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9592 |
New Mexico | 12842 | 4867 | 0 | 172 | 0 | 17881 |
New York | 116587 | 4989 | 0 | 72394 | 0 | 193970 |
North Carolina | 66748 | 5737 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 72493 |
North Dakota | 17574 | 0 | 31726 | 0 | 494 | 49794 |
Ohio | 92751 | 4028 | 6810 | 17186 | 0 | 120775 |
Oklahoma | 35512 | 1076 | 0 | 917 | 36 | 37541 |
Oregon | 31648 | 16360 | 351 | 83929 | 93 | 132381 |
Pennsylvania | 104830 | 7310 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 112140 |
Rhode Island | 10206 | 224 | 0 | 4898 | 0 | 15328 |
South Carolina | 44576 | 2886 | 2075 | 3664 | 1511 | 54712 |
South Dakota | 38373 | 3697 | 546 | 762 | 65 | 43443 |
Tennessee | 100260 | 3821 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104081 |
Texas | 160987 | 11908 | 0 | 20425 | 0 | 193320 |
Utah | 7443 | 1320 | 2781 | 8742 | 0 | 20286 |
Vermont | 21418 | 1552 | 0 | 3815 | 0 | 26785 |
Virginia | 65627 | 14327 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79954 |
Washington | 78632 | 26500 | 16409 | 17828 | 0 | 139369 |
West Virginia | 34956 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36080 | 71036 |
Wisconsin | 12400 | 3546 | 0 | 5163 | 0 | 21109 |
Wyoming | 46758 | 191 | 155 | 637 | 480 | 48221 |
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals: | 2629392 | 234607 | 258206 | 377482 | 44762 | 3544449 |
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