Oversize / Overweight Permits in Connecticut

Connecticut Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to Connecticut law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversize/overweight load:

Legal Size Limit:

Width: 8′ 6″ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Height: 13′ 6″(from the roadbed to the highest point of the load or vehicle, whichever is higher)
Semi-trailer length: 53′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Single vehicle length: 45′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)

Legal Weight Limit:

Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load)
Single axle: 24,400 lb.; 18,000 lb. (axle spacing less than 6′ apart)
Tandem axle: 36,000 lb.
Tridem axle: 53,800 lb.
Four axles: 67,400 lb.

Connecticut Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A general 3-day single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversize and overweight loads exceeding the legal limits. It covers one movement from point A to point B during the running times specified in the permit. You may require a round-trip permit to be brought back to the original location. The cost is $30 plus a $12.00 electronic transmittal fee.

Requirements:

up to 12’ wide
up to 13’6” high
up to 80’ long
$2.00 per each thousand pounds over 200,000 lbs.

Connecticut Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

This permit allows unrestricted movement for up to 365 days, allowing a particular vehicle and approved load to repeatedly travel between two points on designated routes.

The cost is assessed at $9.00 for every thousand pounds or portion thereof, calculated according to the approved weight. An extra fee of $12.00 is applied for electronic processing. Charges are adjusted proportionally for the remaining months within the valid duration. Once an annual indivisible permit is issued, each journey requires a route authorization at no additional cost.

More information:

https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Permits/Highways/OSOW-Vehicle-Permits

Connecticut Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ require an oversized permit issued by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

All extremities of oversized vehicles and loads must be marked with red 18″ square flags.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

All oversize vehicles must be equipped with “oversize load” banners(signs).

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

7′ long and 18″ high signs with 8″ high letters (1″ brush stroke) on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

A yellow light seen from a distance of at least 1,000 feet away on the upper part of the transporter is required.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

Over 14’ high: 1 front pilot with a height pole
Over 15’ high and 15’ wide: 1 front pilot and 2 rear pilots

Divided highways:

Over 12′ wide or 120′ long, or mobile homes under 12′ wide: 1 rear pilot car required
Over 13’6″ wide or over 120′ long, or mobiles over 12′ wide or 85′ long: 1 front and 1 rear pilot car required

Undivided highways:

Under 12′ wide or over 80′ long, or mobiles 10′ wide or over 80′ long: 1 rear pilot car required
Over 12′ wide or 100′ long, or mobiles over 10′ wide or 85′ long: 1 front and 1 rear pilot car required

For one pilot car:

Lead on two or three-lane conventional roads
Follow on four or more lane divided roads

For two pilot cars:

One leads and the other one follows the piloted load or vehicle.

Note: There can be additional escort requirements based on the permit.

Connecticut Wide Load Restrictions

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ are subject to the following restrictions:

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in Connecticut wide load permits, oversized loads cannot be transported on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, starting from 12:00 noon on the day before the listed holidays until daylight the day after the holidays.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Items measuring 13′ 6” or wider, and those towering at 14′ or more, are exclusively limited to travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This constraint applies between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Upon inquiry, permits for weekend travel (restricted to Saturdays and Sundays) can be obtained from sunrise to noon. These permits are applicable for loads not surpassing 12′ in width, 13′ 6” in height, and 80′ in length.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

Connecticut adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that provides specific bridge restrictions. As for the oversize road restrictions, they include but are not limited to the following:

driving through work zones that are under construction
neglecting warning signals when driving through work zones
not giving traffic priority to law enforcement, emergency vehicles, etc

Oversize Seasonal Weight Restrictions:

Frost Law is applied in many states and provinces of Canada. Specific restrictions may appear for Connecticut oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.

Connecticut Wide Load Limits

Connecticut sticks to the Federal legal width limit of 8′ 6″. Everything wider requires a permit to be moved on public roads.

Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:

8′ 6″ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)

Axle Weight Limits:

Legal axle weight limit:

Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load)
Single axle: 24,400 lb.; 18,000 lb. (axle spacing less than 6′ apart)
Tandem axle: 36,000 lb.
Tridem axle: 53,800 lb.
Four axles: 67,400 lb.

Note: You should rely on the Federal Bridge Formula to determine the maximum legal weight.

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

tandem group – 45,000 lb.
tridem group – 53,800 lb.
quad axle – 76,500 lb.

Note: the maximum permitted axle weight varies depending on the permit type.

Oversize Tire Regulations:

Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum legal tread depth of 2/32 inches.

The maximum permitted weight is 600 lb. per inch of tire width.

Tires must not feature protuberances of any material other than rubber or tire chains unless their use is required for safety or permitted.

Between November 15 and April 30, it is permissible to utilize studded tires. This time frame also serves as the period for employing snow chains on tires, adhering to the same restrictions.

Connecticut Trip Permits

The state of Connecticut allows out-of-state operators and carriers (gross weight in excess of 26,000 or three or more axles regardless of the weight) to obtain a 72-hour IRP permit (temporary trip permit) for $47. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

Connecticut Fuel Permits

The state of Connecticut allows out-of-state operators and carriers (gross weight in excess of 26,000 or three or more axles regardless of the weight) to obtain a 10-day IFTA permit for $30. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

Connecticut Specialty Permits

The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.

Radioactive Single Trip Permits:

These permits are issued for transporting radioactive material, which includes any amount of radioactive material categorized as “large quantity” by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 10 CFR, Part 71, any amount of radioactive waste from the nuclear fuel cycle shipped from or through the State to a waste facility, shipments of radioactive material or waste by commercial carriers requiring placards according to 10 CFR or 49 CFR.

Base permit fee: $25.00.

Note: Oversize/overweight radioactive loads need an additional Oversize/Overweight Single Trip Permit, along with the Radioactive Single Trip Permit.

Amber Light Permits:

Vehicles escorting oversize loads shall be equipped with roof-mounted amber warning lights.

Loading Zone Permits:

A loading zone permit may be issued for using commercial loading zones by non-commercial delivery vehicles.

For more information about specialty permits:

https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Permits/Highways/OSOW-Vehicle-Permits

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Connecticut

Oversize and overweight fines in Connecticut depend on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight.

less than 5% overweight – $3 per hundred pounds
5-10% overweight – $5 per hundred pounds, but min $50
10-15% overweight – $6 per hundred pounds, but min $100
15-20% overweight – $7 per hundred pounds, but min $200

…

over 30% overweight – $15 per hundred pounds, but min $1,000

First-degree reckless endangerment (Class A misdemeanor) carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both. Second-degree reckless endangerment (Class B misdemeanor) entails a potential sentence of up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Connecticut

The cost of Connecticut OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, nature, and excessive weight and size. It starts at about $30 for a single-trip permit and can reach several hundred dollars for an annual permit.

You may also be charged an application fee for processing and handling your permit request.

Trucking Permit Service

Express Permits provides a full spectrum of trucking permit services, assisting motor carriers in obtaining the appropriate oversize and overweight permits, coordinating with authorities, and ensuring compliance with state regulations, saving valuable time, effort, and potential penalties. You can rely on us regardless of your load’s type, nature, and destination.