Oversize / Overweight Permits in Oregon

Oregon Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to Oregon 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: 14′ (from the roadbed to the highest point of the load or vehicle, whichever is higher)
Vehicle combination 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)
Semi-trailer length: 56′ (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: 4′
Rear overhang: 5′

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.

Oregon 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 separate permit to be brought back to the original location.

Requirements:

gross weight is up to 140,000 pounds
length is up to 90 feet
height is up to 16 feet

For more details:

https://www.oregon.gov/odot/mct/pages/over-dimension.aspx

Oregon 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.

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

maximum GVW – 105,000 lb. (divisible loads)

Note: Per axle weight should not exceed 20,000 lb.

Oregon Wide Load Requirements

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

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

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

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

All overwide vehicles and loads as well as all vehicle combinations longer than 80′ must be equipped with “oversize load” banners(signs).

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

At least 7′ long and 18″ high signs with 10″ high black letters on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

End load lights are a must when visibility is below 500 feet due to darkness or poor visibility. At hours of darkness, use lamps or marker lights to illuminate the outermost parts (amber forward and intermediate side markers, red rearward markers). If the width exceeds 10′ on a two-lane highway or 12′ on a multi-lane highway, amber warning lights on the cab are necessary, except when two pilot cars are present.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

One pilot vehicle must travel in front (rear on multilane highways) when it is required for width.

One pilot vehicle must travel in front and the other one at the rear when two pilot vehicles are required.

One pilot vehicle must travel in front when it is required for height.

For detailed information click https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Forms/Motcarr/1994.pdf.

Note: There can be additional escort requirements specified in the permit.

Oregon Wide Load Restrictions

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

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

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

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Travel is allowed from half an hour after sunrise until half an hour after sunset daily, excluding restricted holidays.

Weekend travel is allowed on Saturdays until noon and prohibited on Sundays, except for vehicles not exceeding 14 feet in width. During the daytime, travel is permitted on Interstate highways west of the Cascade Mountains summit and authorized highways to the east of it. Night travel is allowed for vehicles up to 10 feet wide on “green” routes and up to 12 feet wide on Interstates. However, specific local restrictions exist in Portland, Eugene, Grants Pass, and other areas.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

Oregon 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

Note: All vehicles, including driven and towed must comply with posted bridge weight limits.

Oversize Seasonal Weight Restrictions:

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

Movement of vehicles exceeding 8′ 6″ in width is prohibited when:

road surfaces are hazardous due to ice, snow or frost;
visibility is less than 500′ due to snow, mist, rain, dust, smoke, fog, etc;
wind conditions exist which cause excessive swaying or weaving;
the Department of Transportation places signs indicating travel is hazardous.

Note: Chain up locations are not intended to serve as staging areas for over dimension vehicles. Parking in chain-up areas is strictly prohibited.

For more details:
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/MCT/Documents/ODPermitsHolidayHours.pdf

Oregon Wide Load Limits

Oregon 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: 21,500 lb.
Tandem axle: 43,000 lb.

Non-divisible self-propelled or towed fixed load vehicles with low-pressure flotation tires (at least 15 inches wide) are limited to 700 pounds per inch of tire width, 36,000 pounds for a single axle, and 43,000 pounds for a tandem axle.

Oversize Tire Regulations:

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

The maximum permitted weight should not exceed 600 lb. per tire inch of width.

Tire chains can be used because of snow, ice, or other inclement weather conditions and when SNOW ZONE signs are posted.

Oregon Trip Permits/Oregon Fuel Permits

The state of Oregon allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain IRP permits/IFTA permits (trip permit/fuel permits) $60. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit request.

Trip permits from another state:

You can drive using your valid trip permit from another state. Keep proof of insurance in the cab.

Recreational vehicle trip permits:

Apply to: campers, travel trailers, motor homes not longer than 45′.

It is valid for 10 days and costs $34.

Heavy motor vehicle trip permits:

Apply to: motor vehicles with a combined (ORS 801.199) or loaded weight (ORS 801.330) over 10,000 pounds, and motorized fixed load vehicles.

It is valid for 10 days and costs $43.

Vehicles with a combined weight over 26,000 lb. may be subject to weight-mile tax. Vehicles with a combined weight over 80,000 lb. require an over-dimension permit.

Oregon Specialty Permits

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

Before transporting a vehicle on the highways, the owner/operator must either obtain a special 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.oregon.gov/odot/Forms/Motcarr/1860fill.pdf

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Oregon

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

Progressive scale:

first 1,000 lb. overweight – $100.00
1,001 – 2,000 lb. overweight – $150.00
2,001 – 3,000 lb. overweight – $200.00
3,001 – 5,000 lb. overweight – $300.00

…

12,501 and more lb. overweight – 24 cents per pound

For more information:
https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_818.430

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Oregon

The cost of Oregon 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 over $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.