Oversize / Overweight Permits in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to New Hampshire 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: 48′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Overall length: 110′ (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: 20,000 lb.
Tandem axle: 33,400 lb.
Tridem axle: 47,500 lb.

New Hampshire Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A general 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 varies from $6 for an oversize only permit to over $10 plus a $2 additional charge added to the above rate for each additional 10,000 pounds. There is also a fee for handling and processing your request.

For more details:
https://nhdotpermits.org/PDFGate.aspx?LoginNoticeID=100

New Hampshire 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.

Overall requirements:

length: 75′
width: 10′ 6′′
height: 13′ 6′′
weight: legal

The standard cost is $115.00 (statewide) or $60.00 if driving within a 100-mile radius (only if based and registered in NH).

More information:

https://nhdotpermits.org/PDFGate.aspx?LoginNoticeID=100

New Hampshire Wide Load Requirements

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

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

All extremities of oversized vehicles and loads must be marked with red or fluorescent orange 18″ square flags (at least 4 up to 6 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 10″ high letters (1.4″ brush stroke) on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

Hauling vehicles and non-police escort vehicles must have operating top-mounted flashing or strobe amber lights.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

Non-police escort:

Width 12′-14′: 1 escort vehicle.
Length ≥90′.
Height >14′.
Overhang ≥15′: 1 escort vehicle.
Rear overhang ≥15′ + width ≥12′: 2 escort vehicles.

State police escort:

Length ≥100′: 1 state police escort (unless unsafe conditions).
Width >14′: 2 state police escorts (including the above requirement).
Highway closure: 3 state police escorts (including previous requirements).

Note:

Maximum 2 non-police escorts (from width and overhang).
State police escorts are additional to non-police escorts.
State police escorts in total may count toward highway closure requirements.

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

New Hampshire Wide Load Restrictions

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

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in New Hampshire wide load permits, oversized loads cannot be transported on weekdays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Permitted vehicles can travel half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, Monday through Friday.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.

Spring thaw restrictions: On certain parts of state highways with posted limits, vehicles can’t exceed 30,000 pounds in gross weight or the combined tire width touching the road times 300, whichever is smaller. According to RSA Section 236:3-a of State Law, trucks transporting items like heating oil, milk products, maple sap, and septic waste can be excluded from seasonal bans if NHDOT District Engineers approve.

New Hampshire Wide Load Limits

New Hampshire 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: 20,000 lb.
Tandem axle: 33,400 lb.
Tridem axle: 47,500 lb.

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

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

tandem group – 37,400 lb.
tridem group -65,000 lb. (max 22.400 lb. per axle)
quad axle – 73,000 lb. (max 20.000 lb. per axle)

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.

New Hampshire Trip Permits

The state of New Hampshire allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain a 72-hour IRP permit (temporary trip permit) for $15. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

New Hampshire Fuel Permits

The state of New Hampshire allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain a 72-hour IFTA permit for $10. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

New Hampshire Specialty Permits

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

Emergency Permits:

Special OS/OW permits labeled as “Emergency” are granted in situations of urgency caused by events like fire, flood, riot, windstorm, explosion, natural disasters, or upon request from a public official. These permits are given when immediate action is necessary to safeguard life or property.

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://nhdotpermits.org/Login.aspx

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in New Hampshire

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

Driving a vehicle exceeding the prescribed weight:

1st offense: up to $100.
Subsequent offense in registration year: up to $250.

Exceeding weight limits in RSA 266:18-a or 266:18-b:

1st offense: $100 or $0.02 per excess pound (which is greater).
2nd offense: $250 or $0.02 per excess pound (which is greater).
3rd+ offense up to 15,000 lbs: $250 or $0.02 per excess pound (which is greater).
Excess 15,000 – 30,000 lbs: $0.03 per pound.
Excess over 30,000 lbs: $0.04 per pound.

Exceeding weight on interstate and defense highways:

Same as driving a vehicle exceeding the prescribed weight.

Exceeding posted bridge limit:

up to $200

Exceeding the limit on the excluded bridges:

up to $400

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in New Hampshire

The cost of New Hampshire OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, nature, and excessive weight and size. It starts at about $10 for a single-trip permit and can reach over $115 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.