Oversize / Overweight Permits in New York

New York Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to New York 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)
Truck plus semi-trailer length: 65′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
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)
Single vehicle length: 40′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Front overhang: 3′
Rear overhang: 4′

Legal Weight Limit:

Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load)
Single axle: 22,400 lb.
Tandem axle: 36,000 lb (axles are less than 8′ apart)

New York 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 may require a round-trip permit to be brought back to the original location. Depending on the load, the cost varies from $40 to $60, plus an amendment fee ($10).

New York 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.

To obtain an annual permit, a load must meet the following requirements:

maximum width – 16′
maximum height – 14′
maximum weight – 125% of the legal GVW.’

The cost varies from $360 to $900, depending on the load and permit type.

More information:

https://www.dot.ny.gov/nypermits/repository/nycrr154-1.pdf

New York Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ require an oversized permit issued by the New York 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.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

All vehicles wider than 12′ and longer than 65′ must be equipped with “oversize load” banners(signs).

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

7′ long and 18″ high with 10″ high letter with 1.41″ brush stroke on the “highway yellow” background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

Towing vehicle: 1 amber revolving light on top.
Uniform oversize loads at night: amber lights at front corners, red lights at rear corners.
Load extensions on a side: amber lights.
Rear overhang ≤ 2′: red lights at corners.
Rear overhang > 2′: red lights at corners, amber lights every 6′ along sides.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

No escorts needed for loads < 12′ wide, 80′ long, 14′ high.
Slow moving vehicles/overhang > 10′ needs escorts.

Front escort needed on two-lane highways for:

Width > 12′, length > 80′, height > 14′.
Overheight needs a high pole (+3″).

Rear escort on multi-lane highways for:

Width > 12′, length > 80′.
Slow vehicle/overhang > 10′.

Two escorts needed if criteria 2 and 3 apply.

Three escorts for:

Width > 16′ (2-lane) / 18′ (4-lane).
Length > 100′ (2-lane) / 160′ (4-lane).
160′ length on interstates needs 2 escorts.

Police escorts:

Added if the agency deems necessary.
Needed for specific sizes/weights:
Length: 140′ (2-lane), 200′ (multi-lane).
Width: > 16′ (2-lane), > 18′ (4-lane).
Weight: > 200,000 lbs or centerline crossing.
Height: 16′ or greater.

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

New York Wide Load Restrictions

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

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in New York 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.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Permits are valid on weekdays during daylight hours (half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset).

Permitted oversized loads within 12′ width and 85′ length can travel half an hour before sunrise to 12 noon on non-holidays.

Overweight only loads within 125% of legal weight have no time/day restrictions.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

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

Drivers using State Route 9A near Beverly Road to Old Saw Mill River Road (Mount Pleasant) should anticipate quick, one-minute traffic stops both ways on weekdays around 12 p.m. from February 3 to February 28. This allows for safe blasting, depending on the weather. Please drive carefully in construction areas and adhere to speed limits. Remember, fines are multiplied for speeding in these zones, and multiple speeding violations here might lead to a suspension of a driver’s license.

New York Wide Load Limits

New York 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: 22,400 lb.
Tandem axle: 36,000 lb (axles are less than 8′ apart)

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

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

steering axle – 22,400 lb.
any other single axle – 25,750 lb.
tandem group – 48,000 lb.
tridem group – 63,000 lb.
quad axle – 65,000 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 (2/32 inch of tread for rear wheels and 4/32 inch of tread for front (steering) wheels).

The maximum permitted weight is 800 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.

Metal stud tires ≤ 3/8 inch diameter, ≤ 3/32 inch protrusion are allowed Oct 16 – Apr 30, except for certain vehicles.

Weight limits for pneumatic tires:

Per inch width: Max 800 lbs.
Per wheel: Max 11,200 lbs.
Per axle: Max 22,400 lbs.
Consecutive axles < 8 ft: Max 36,000 lbs.
Consecutive axles 8-10 ft: Max 40,000 lbs.
Count axles as per subdivision five.

New York Trip Permits/New York Fuel Permits

The state of New York allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain a 72-hour IRP permit (temporary trip permit) for $25. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

Note: not more than ten permits per calendar year.

New York Specialty Permits

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

Highway Use Tax:

Vehicles with a GVW of 18,000 pounds or more need a NY HUT permit. This permit can start as temporary and become permanent. If a tractor-trailer carries fuel, it needs both an AFC permit for the trailer and a HUT for the power unit. Straight trucks carrying fuel only require an AFC 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://www.dot.ny.gov/permits

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in New York

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

first 2,000 lb. overweight – $50
2,001 – 3,000 lb. overweight – $75
3,001 – 4,000 lb. overweight – $100
4,001 – 5,000 lb. overweight – $200

…

45,000 and more lb. overweight – $4,700

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in New York

The cost of New York OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, nature, and excessive weight and size. It starts at about $40 for a single-trip permit and can reach over $900 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.