Oversize / Overweight Permits in Ohio
Ohio Oversize/Overweight Regulations
According to Ohio 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)
- Length of a semi-trailer: 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)
- Overall length: 75′ (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: 34,000 lb.
- Tridem axle: 48,000 lb.
For more detailed information: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/working/publications/os-8
Ohio 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.
Round trip permit:
The round trip permit functions much like the regular trip permit, but with the added provision that it allows a return to the starting point within a 5-day timeframe. This type of permit is suitable when equipment is required at a specific work site and later needs to be brought back to its original location.
For more details:
Ohio Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits
This permit allows unrestricted movement for up to 365 days, allowing a particular vehicle and approved load to repeatedly travel one-way between two points on designated routes. The permit is issued to the truck or commercial tractor. For overweight configurations, the trailers must be identical in terms of axles, axle spacing, weights, number of wheels on each axle, and tire sizes.
To obtain an annual permit, a load must meet the following requirements:
- maximum width – 14′
- maximum height – 14′ 6”
- maximum GVW – 140,000 lbs.
The cost of an annual permit varies from $970 to $2970.
Ohio Wide Load Requirements
All loads wider than 8′ 6″ require an oversized permit issued by the Ohio 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:
Ohio trailers, vehicles, or loads wider than 10′ to be equipped with “oversize load” banners(signs).
Oversize Load Sign Requirements:
7′ long and 18″ high signs with 10″ high black letters on the yellow background.
Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:
There are no special requirements for oversize vehicles. However, escort vehicles must be equipped with warning lights.
Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:
One escort vehicle:
- 13′ wide or wider – front escort (rear on multi-lane highways)
- 90′ long or greater – rear escort
- 14′ 6″ high or greater – front escort with a height pole
Two escort vehicles:
- 14′ 6″ wide or greater
- 14′ 10″ high or greater
Note: If the Hauling Permits Office believes that a certain movement could cause significant delays, pose hazards to the public, or damage roads, they may demand a police escort vehicle, as specified on the permit.
Ohio Wide Load Restrictions
All loads wider than 8′ 6″ are subject to the following restrictions:
Oversize Holiday Restrictions:
Unless otherwise mentioned in Ohio wide load permits, oversized loads cannot be transported on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, starting from the noon of the day processing a holiday.
Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:
Permitted vehicles are allowed to travel from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, every day of the week, including Sunday through Saturday. However, if the load exceeds a width of 12 feet, it is permitted to move only from half an hour before sunrise until 3:00 pm on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:
Ohio 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 Ohio. However, they may appear in Ohio oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.
Ohio Wide Load Limits
Ohio 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: 34,000 lb.
- Tridem axle: 48,000 lb.
Note: You should rely on the Federal Bridge Formula to determine the maximum legal weight.
The maximum permitted axle weight limit:
- single axle – 29,000 lbs
- tandem axle – 36,000 lbs (50,000 lbs if with 4’1″ spacing)
- tridem axle – 47,000 lbs (60,000 lbs for a long tridem axle)
- quadrum axle – 60,000 lbs (80,000 lbs for the long axle)
Oversize Tire Regulations:
Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum tread depth of 2/32″.
The maximum permitted weight is 800 lb. per inch width of pneumatic tire.
Tires must not feature protuberances of any material other than rubber or tire chains unless their use is required for safety and permitted.
Ohio Trip Permits
The state of Ohio allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain an IRP permit for $12 per day. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.
Ohio Fuel Permits
The state of Ohio allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain an IFTA permit for $12 per day. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.
Ohio Specialty Permits
The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.
Manufactured Building/Component Permits:
This permit allows unrestricted movement for up to 365 days for manufactured buildings or components that are 12 feet wide or less. Examples include manufactured houses, office trailers, park model RVs, sheds, and more. The load must be part of an overdimension vehicle that adheres to the specified weight and height limits according to Sections 5577.02 to 5577.05 of the Ohio Revised Code. Additionally, the load’s length should not exceed 60 feet unless it is loaded on a straight truck, in which case the overall length must not exceed 40 feet.
MIchigan Legal Permits:
These permits, either for 90 days or 365 days, enable overweight vehicles to travel between a designated location in Williams, Fulton, or Lucas counties in Ohio and the Michigan border, following specified routes.
Toledo Port Area Permits:
90/365 day continuing permits allow vehicles to make multiple moves between the Michigan/Ohio state line and Toledo’s port and processing facilities, hauling commodities at Michigan legal weights of up to 154,000 lbs using load equalizing variable load suspension axles.
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:
Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Ohio
Oversize and overweight fines in Ohio depend on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight. The minimum fine is $100 plus $3 per 100 pounds of unpermitted weight once the overall unpermitted overweight reaches 10,000 pounds.
Note: Sometimes, the other penalties can be jail time or vehicle confiscations.
Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Ohio
The cost of Ohio 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 $ thousand 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.