Oversize / Overweight Permits in Rhode Island
Wide Load Regulations – Oversize / Overweight Permits in Rhode Island
According to Rhode Island law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversized/overweight load:
Legal Size Limit:
- Width: 8′ 6″; 8′ on other 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′ (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: 80′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
- Rear overhang: 6′
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: 45,200 lb.
For more detailed information: http://www.dot.ri.gov/
Rhode Island Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits
A general 5-day single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversized 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. In the case of a round trip, a unique permit must be obtained for each travel day.
Rhode Island 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 other commercial fleet. 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 – 12′ 4”
- maximum length – 80”
- maximum GVW – 130,000 lbs. (max 25,000 pounds per axle)
The cost of an annual permit starts from $100.
Rhode Island Load Requirements
All loads wider than 8′ 6″ (8′ on some roads) require an oversized permit issued by the Rhode Island 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.
You need to attach a minimum of two and a maximum of six flags at the load’s extremities. If there’s an overhang exceeding 4 feet, mark it with one or two flags, using two for widths greater than 2 feet.
Oversize Load Banner Requirements:
All oversized trailers, vehicles, or loads are to be equipped with “OVERSIZE LOAD” banners(signs) on the front and rear.
Oversize Load Sign Requirements:
7′ long and 18″ high signs with 10″ high black 1.25 brush stroke letters on the yellow background.
Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:
There are no special requirements for oversized vehicles. However, load vehicles must travel with low-beam lights on at all times.
Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:
- Escort vehicles, at least compact car size, must accompany permitted vehicles, maintaining visual and two-way radio contact at all times.
- On undivided highways, an escort precedes the load; on divided highways, it follows.
Requirements by Load Type:
- Overwidth: No escort under 12 feet. One escort for 12 to 14.5 feet. Two escorts over 14.5 feet.
- Overlength: No escort under 80 feet. One escort for 80 to 90 feet. Two escorts over 90 feet.
- Overhang: No escort under 15 feet with flags. One escort over 15 feet. Specific conditions may require a second escort.
Special Cases:
- Building moves through cities or towns, and cranes over 12 feet wide require two escorts and a police escort.
Escort Vehicle Signs:
- “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign, at least 5 feet by 12 inches, with black letters on a yellow background and 10 inches high letters. Positioned at the front or rear, removed or covered post-delivery.
Lighting:
- Flashing yellow lights visible from both front and rear, with low-beam headlights on at all times.
Rhode Island Wide Load Restrictions
All loads wider than 8′ 6″(8′ on some roads) are subject to the following restrictions:
Oversize Holiday Restrictions:
Transportation is not permitted from sunset on Friday to sunrise on Monday, as well as on the following holidays unless specified otherwise: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Victory Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Should a holiday occur on a Sunday, the subsequent Monday will be treated as a holiday; likewise, if a holiday is on a Saturday, the preceding Friday will observe holiday restrictions post 12:00 noon. For holidays occurring on weekdays, travel is permissible only until 12:00 noon the day before the holiday.
Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:
Permitted vehicles are allowed to travel from sunrise until sunset every day of the week, including Sunday through Saturday.
Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:
Rhode Island adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that provides specific bridge restrictions. As for the oversized 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 Rhode Island. However, they may appear in Rhode Island oversized load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.
Rhode Island Wide Load Limits
Rhode Island sticks to the Federal legal width limit of 8′ 6″(8′ for some roads). Everything wider requires a permit to be moved on public roads.
Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:
8′ 6″; 8′ for some 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, per axle weight should not exceed 22,400 lb.)
- Single axle: 20,000 lb.
- Tandem axle: 34,000 lb.
- Tridem axle: 45,200 lb.
Note: You should rely on the Federal Bridge Formula to determine the maximum legal weight.
The maximum permitted axle weight limit:
- single axle – 22,400 lbs
- tandem axle – 36,000 lbs (less than 12 feet apart)
- tridem axle – 50,000 lbs (less than 27 feet apart)
Permit Weight Limits for Divisible Loads:
- Vehicles with three or more axles: max 76,650 lbs
- Three-axle tractor semi-trailers: max 62,000 lbs
- Four-axle tractor semi-trailers: max 87,000 lbs
- Tractor semi-trailers with four or more axles: max 104,800 lbs
Oversize Tire Regulations:
Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum tread depth of 2/32″.
Tires with flat-headed studs protruding up to 1/16″ are allowed from November 15 to April 1. Tire chains may be used on vehicles for safety in snow, ice, or conditions causing skidding.
Rhode Island Trip Permits
The state of Rhode Island allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain a 72-hour IRP permit. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.
Rhode Island Fuel Permits
The state of Rhode Island allows out-of-state operators and carriers to obtain an IFTA permit.
A qualified motor vehicle, intended for transporting people or property, is defined as having:
- Two axles and a gross or registered weight over 26,000 pounds (11,797 kg);
- Three or more axles, regardless of weight;
- Or used in combination where the total weight exceeds 26,000 pounds (11,797 kg).
There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.
Rhode Island Specialty Permits
The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.
Manufactured Houses, Mobile Homes:
Legal dimensions are as follows:
Width 8’6″, Length 60′, and Height 13’6″. Dimensions beyond these require a special permit.
Rhode Island participates in a permit agreement with Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, allowing for multi-state permits within certain limits: up to 108,000 lbs on 5 axles or 120,000 lbs on six or more axles; Length up to 90 ft; Height up to 13’6″; and Width up to 14 ft (plus an allowable 6 in. overhang for mobile and modular home components).
For sizes beyond these limits, separate state permits are needed from each state’s permit office.
Permits are valid for 5 days, with travel restricted to the times specified on the 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:http://www.dot.ri.gov/
Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Rhode Island
Rhode Island imposes fines for exceeding truck weight limits without prison penalties. Fines are $65 per pound over the limit up to 10,000 lbs and $125 per pound for weight exceeding 10,000 lbs, as per R.I. General Laws. For vehicles over 104,800 lbs gross weight, an additional penalty of $1,025 applies on top of the above fines.
- Up to 10,000 lbs overweight: $65 per pound
- Over 10,000 lbs overweight: $125 per pound
Note: Sometimes, the other penalties can be jail time or vehicle confiscations.