Pennsylvania Oversize Permits Information

Permits
Overweight Permits are valid for 5 days. Driver must have a permit prior to entering the state.

Operating Time
Travel is allowed from sunrise to sunset 7 days a week.

Restrictions
Traveling in urban areas are allowed movement seven days a week from 3:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. (2 pilots and special lighting are required), 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to sunset, except holidays. Travel is also restricted from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in Fort Pitt, Squirrel Hill or Liberty Tunnels in Allegheny County. Permit travel is not allowed from noon the day before a major holiday and holiday weekend until sunrise the following weekday.

Speed Limit

Maximum posted limits unless otherwise specified on permit.

Turnpike
A permit is required if load is over 10′ wide, 85′ long, 13’6 high, 100,000 pounds gross or any axle weight is over 22,400 pounds, or overhang extends 5′ to the front or 15′ to the rear. Loads over 11′ wide, 90′ long or overhang extends 5′ to the front or 15′ to the rear requires an escort. Vehicles over 160′ long require a Police escort. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, loads can travel between dawn and dusk Monday through Thursday, and between dawn and noon on Friday. After Labor Day until Memorial Day, loads can travel dawn to dusk Monday through Friday and dawn to noon on Saturday. Vehicles between 8’6″ wide and 10′ wide do not require a permit, but must follow time of day restrictions.

Legal Dimensions
The vehicle must have the following characteristics:

Width: 8’6″ on designated highways, 8′ on other roads
Height: 13’6″
Length: 53′ semitrailer (kingpin to center line of rear axle must not exceed 41′)
Weight: 80,000 Gross; Steer Axle – 20,000; Single – 20,000; Tandem – 34,000; Tridem – 42,500
70′ poles, pipes, machinery, steel beams or other objects of a structural nature do not require a permit for daylight travel for up to 85′ overall length.

Routine Pennsylvania Oversize Permit Limits
Width: 16′
Length: 160′
Weight: Single – 27,000 Tandem – 52,000 Tridem – 63,000 Quad – 72,000
Loads exceeding 201,000 gross weight, width over 16 feet, or 160 feet overall length, are considered superloads.

Escorts
Width: Over 13′ on all highways – 1 escort
Height: Over 14’6″ – 1 escort with height pole
Length: Over 90′ – 1 escort
Overhang: Over 15′ rear – 1 escort
Weight: If permit requires reduced speed over bridges – 1 escort. If permit requires load to be only vehicle on a bridge, or to occupy more than one lane of traffic on a bridge – 2 escorts.
*Note: If width exceeds 13′ and length exceeds 120′, or width exceeds 13′ and height exceeds 14’6″ 2 escorts are required.

Security Measures
“Oversize Load” signs are required on all oversized loads unless otherwise specified in the permit. Signs must be removed or covered when the vehicle/load is no longer oversize. Flags measuring 18″x18″ are required at the widest points of any oversize load and on rear overhang of 4′ or more. If rear lights are obstructed by load, lighting equipment is required. Headlights and rear lamps of a permitted vehicle must be on during movement when traveling with pilot car(s).

Request a Permit