Looking for more information on getting an oversize permit in Pennsylvania? You’ve come to the right place.
1. How long are oversize permits valid in Pennsylvania?
Single trip permits are valid for five travel days. Additional days are added if travel days include a weekend.
2. What are the legal dimensions for loads in Pennsylvania?
The legal limits in Pennsylvania are as follows:
- Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs. on all roads (federal bridge formula applies)
- Width: 8’6” on designated highways and for non-divisible loads on all other roads with a lane width of 10’ or more; 8’ on all other roads.
- Height: 13’6” on all roads
- Length: 40’ for single unit and buses; 53’ for semitrailers (kingpin to center line of the rear axle group must not exceed 41′); 28’6” for twins/doubles on designated highways only; 65’ for autotransporters on all roads; 75’ for stinger steered on all roads. Rocky mountain doubles, turnpike doubles and triples are not permitted on any roads.
- Overhang: Saddlemounts have 3’ front and 4’ rear overhang. Six-foot rear overhang may be exceeded for combinations carrying non-divisible loads that do not exceed 70’ in length.
3. What are the permit limits for loads in Pennsylvania?
The routine-issue permit limits in Pennsylvania are as follows:
- Weight:
- Single: 27,000 lbs.
- Tandem: 52,000 lbs.
- Tridum: 63,000 lbs.
- Quad: 72,000 lbs.
- Gross Weight (range is authorized subject to bridge engineering analysis):
- 5 axles: 116,000 – 120,000 lbs.
- 6 axles: 127,000 – 147,000 lbs.
- 7 axles: 136,000 – 174,000 lbs.
- 8 axles: 136,000 – 201,000 lbs.
- Length: 120’ except on 4-lane highways where 160’ is permitted
- Width: 16’
- Height: 14’6”
4. Is continuous travel allowed for oversize permits in Pennsylvania?
For loads under 135,000 lbs. and 10’ wide, travel is allowed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For all other loads, travel is permitted sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week.
Travel is prohibited on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
5. When are escorts needed in Pennsylvania?
On all lane highways:
- When width exceeds 13’, one (rear) escort is needed on multi-lane highways, or one (front) is needed on two-lane highways
- When width exceeds 16’, a police escort is required
- When length exceeds 90’, one (rear) escort is needed
- When length exceeds 160’, a police escort is needed
- When rear overhang exceeds 15’, one (rear) escort is needed
- When height exceeds 14’6”, one (front) escort is needed with high pole
- When weight exceeds 201,000 lbs., a police escort is needed
- If permit includes specifics on bridge travels, one or two escorts may be needed. Call us at (877) 416-1051 for additional details.
Additional restrictions apply for urban and non-urban areas. Police escorts require 24 hours of advance notice.
6. What is a superload in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, loads that exceed 160’ long, 16’ wide and/or 201,000 lbs. are considered superloads.
If you need help applying for an oversize permit in Pennsylvania (or any other state), give us a call at (877) 416-1051 or send us an email—We’ll take care of it.