Between the whale watching, national parks and Mount Rainier, Washington is a fantastic place to explore nature. But it’s also home to something else: innovation. If you’re driving an oversized load through the home of Starbucks, Microsoft and Amazon, you’ll need to acquire a Washington oversize permit, and The Permit Company is here to help.
The Permit Company takes the hassle out of obtaining oversize and overweight truck permits, working directly with state and local agencies on your behalf. Below is everything you need to know about moving oversized loads through Washington and how to obtain a permit.
1. How long are oversize permits valid for in Washington?
Single trip permits are valid for three consecutive days. Extensions and revisions must be authorized by the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Commercial Vehicle Services department.
2. What are the legal dimensions for loads in Washington?
The legal limits in Washington are as follows:
- Gross Weight: 105,500 lbs. on all roads (federal bridge formula applies)
- Width: 8’6” on all roads
- Height: 14’ on all roads
- Length: 46’ for buses, 40’ for single unit, 53’ for semi-trailer, 68’ for twins/doubles (with permit), 61’ Rocky Mountain doubles and turnpike doubles (68’ with permit), 97’ for saddlemounts (3 unites maximum). Triples are not permitted.
- Overhang: 3’ beyond the front wheels and 15’ beyond rear (measured from the center of the last axle).
3. What are the permit limits for loads in Washington?
The routine-issue permit limits in Washington are as follows:
- Weight:
- Single: 22,000 lbs.
- Tandem: 43,000 lbs.
- Tridum: 65,000 lbs.
- Quad: 70,000 lbs.
- Trunnion: 43,000 lbs.
- Gross Weight (depends on overweight formula; call us for more details):
- 5 axles: 99, 200 lbs.
- 6 axles: 108,000 lbs.
- 7 axles: 134,000 lbs.
- 8 axles: 156,000 lbs.
- Length: No maximum length set
- Width: 14’ wide or less on 2-lane highways and 32’ wide or less on multi-lane undivided highways. If a physical barrier separates opposing lanes of traffic on multi-lane highways, width must be 20’ or less. Anything over 16’ wide must be applied for in writing.
4. Is continuous travel allowed for oversize permits in Washington?
For overweight loads with legal dimensions, there are no restrictions to travel (7 days a week, 24 hours a day) as long as they can maintain speed with surrounding traffic.
For permit issue overweight loads, travel is restricted to 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after, 7 days a week. Vehicles that do not exceed 12’ wide, 14’6” high and 105’ long may move at night. Vehicles that exceed these limits may be permitted to travel at night but must comply with Department restrictions.
Travel is prohibited on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
5. When are escorts needed in Washington?
On two-lane highways:
- When width exceeds 11’, two escorts (front and rear) are needed
- One (rear) escort is needed when length exceeds 105’
- One (front) escort with height pole is needed when height exceeds 14’6”
- One (front) escort is needed when there is front overhang
- One (rear) escort is needed when load measured from the center of the last axle exceeds 1/3 of the total length
On multi-lane highways:
- One (rear) escort is needed for widths between 14’ and 20’
- Two (front and rear) escorts are needed when width exceeds 20’
- One (rear) when length exceeds 125’
- One (front) with height pole when height exceeds 14’6”
- One (front) when front overhand measured from steering axle exceeds 20’
Additional restrictions apply for mobile homes and farm implements.
6. Are there any city-specific restrictions in Washington?
There are certain commuter curfew hours that vary by vicinity. Call us and we can walk you through them.
7. What is a superload in Washington?
In Washington, any vehicle that exceeds 16’ wide, 16’ high, 125’ long or 200,000 lbs. is considered a superload.
Can we help? If you’re applying for an oversize permit in Washington (or any other state), give us a call at (800) 359-9407 or send us an email—we’ve got your back.