Oversize / Overweight Permits in New Jersey

New Jersey Oversize/Overweight Regulations

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

Legal Size Limit:

Width: 8′ 6″; 8′ for undesignated roads (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)
Length of a semi-trailer: 53′; 48′ for undesignated highways (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: 22,400 lb.
Tandem axle: 34,000 lb.
Tridem axle: 56,400 lb.

New Jersey Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A general 5-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’ll require a separate permit for a return journey.

The basic cost is $10 for either overweight or oversize permits and $20 for both oversize and overweight.

Note: There can be additional fees for processing and handling permit requests.

For more details:

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/freight/trucking/oversize.shtm

New Jersey Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

New Jersey does not provide annual oversize-overweight trucking permits on a regular basis. Feel free to contact the NJ Department of Transportation for more details. However, it issues annual ocean-borne containerized cargo multiple-trip permits for the basic cost of $100.00. It refers to the loads not exceeding the following:

combined gross weight: 90,000 lb.
tandem axle weight: 38,000 lb.
tridem (tri-axle) axle weight: 56,000 lb.

Note: There can be additional fees for processing and handling permit requests.

New Jersey Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ (8′ for undesignated roads) require an oversized permit issued by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

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

Each front (rear) corner of front (rear) escort vehicles must feature a red flag.

If the load projects beyond the vehicle, the extremities of the load must be marked with flags rather than the vehicle.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

In New Jersey, oversize trailers and vehicles, as well as escort vehicles, shall be equipped with “oversize load” or “wide load” banners(signs). If, for example, there are one front and one rear escort vehicle, the front one must feature a front “oversize load” sign, while the rear one shall be equipped with a rear “oversize load” sign.

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

At least 6′ long and 1′ high signs with 10″ high black letters on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

A towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed must have their low beam headlamps and red tail lamps turned on and illuminated 24/7.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

One escort vehicle:

the width exceeds 14′ or the length exceeds 100′

Two escort vehicles:

the width exceeds 16′ or the length exceeds 120′

Additional escort vehicles are required for oversized vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a nighttime waiver (according to N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11(e)) traveling from sunset to sunrise.

If the height, including load, exceeds 14 feet, N.J.S.A. 39:4-28 applies.

The number of escort vehicles needed depends on the number of lanes: one escort precedes on less than four lanes, two escorts precede and follow on four or more lanes, and three escorts precede, follow, and travel alongside on three or more lanes.

Distances between escort and escorted vehicles are set between 200 to 500 feet for the preceding escort and 100 to 250 feet for the following escort.

New Jersey Wide Load Restrictions

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ (8′ for undesignated roads) are subject to the following restrictions:

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in New Jersey wide load permits, oversized loads cannot be transported on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If any holidays fall on Saturday, the proceeding Friday shall not be permitted for transportation. If it falls on Sunday, the following Monday shall not be allowed for oversize transport.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Oversized loads can be transported from sunrise till sunset.

If visibility is limited to less than 500′ during daylight hours or hazardous road conditions exist, oversized-overweight loads are not allowed to be transported.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

New Jersey 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:

While the Frost Law is applied in many states and provinces of Canada, no specific seasonal restrictions are provided by the state of New Jersey. However, they may appear in New Jersey oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.

New Jersey Wide Load Limits

New Jersey 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″; 8′ for undesignated roads (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: 22,400 lb.
Tandem axle: 34,000 lb.
Tridem axle: 56,400 lb.

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

determined by the Federal Bridge Formula
weight per inch in width of tire: 800 lbs

Any tractor semitrailer combination:

tandem axle –38,000 lbs
tridem axle – 56,400 lbs
gross weight: 90,000 lbs

Oversize Tire Regulations:

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

Tires must not feature protuberances of any material other than rubber unless their use is required for safety and permitted. The use of regrooved or recut tires is not allowed unless the tire is specifically designed to undergo regrooving or recutting.

Tire chains on well-maintained highways are not allowed unless it is essential for the safety of life or property due to adverse highway conditions.

New Jersey Trip Permits

The state of New Jersey issues 72-hour IRP permits for out-of-state operators willing to enter the state. The cost is $25 plus a fee for handling and processing your permit.

New Jersey Fuel Permits

The state of New Jersey issues 96-hour IFTA permits for out-of-state operators. The cost is $25 plus a fee for handling and processing your permit.

New Jersey Specialty Permits

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

Annual Ocean-Borne Containerized Cargo Multiple-Trip Permits:

The ocean-borne containerized cargo permits are granted for tractor-semitrailer combinations that transport sealed containers commonly utilized for international ocean freight transportation.

Amber Light Permits:

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

Loading Zone Permits:

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

For more information about specialty permits:

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/rules/documents/13-18-Current.pdf

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in New Jersey

Oversize and overweight fines in New Jersey depend on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight. They vary from 2 cents per unpermitted pound (up to 10,000 pounds) to 3 cents per unpermitted pound (over 10,000 pounds).

New Jersey Police Officers enforce weight restriction violations concerning two aspects: exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) limit or being overweight on specific axles. GVW fines are $500 for the first 1,000 lbs plus $100 for each next 1,000 pounds.

Note: The fine should not exceed $1,000.00.

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in New Jersey

The cost of New Jersey OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, nature, and excessive weight and size. It starts at about $25 for a single-trip permit and can exceed $100 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.