Missouri Oversize Permits

MissouriPERMITS

Missouri oversize permits are valid for seven days. You must have a permit prior to entering the state.

OPERATING TIME

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, including Saturday and Sunday, except that loads over 14’ wide will not be allowed weekend travel. Travel times are more limited in metropolitan and tourist areas (see Restricted Travel section below). Overweight-only up to 112,000 lbs. gross with legal size may travel 24 hours except for metro and tourist areas.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

Width:
  • 8’6″ on Interstate, designated highways
  • 8’ on other roads
Weight: 80,000 lbs. gross weight

  • Single – 20,000 lbs. (22,000 on secondary)
  • Tandem – 34,000 lbs. (36,000 on secondary)
  • Tridem – 34,000 lbs. (8’ of spacing); 42,500 lbs. (9’ of spacings)

Note: Missouri does not grant permits for legal gross weight, but does for overweight on an axle group.
Length:
  • 53’ semi-trailer and load (including rear overhang) on Interstate and designated highways
  • 60’ when more than 10 air miles from designated system
Height:
  • 14’ on designated highways
  • 13’6″ on other roads

Note: Overheight loads must be on drop-deck trailers to be permitted.

PERMIT LIMITS

Width: 16’
Weight:
  • Single – 20,000 lbs.
  • Tandem – 46,000 lbs. (40,000 on a 10′ spread)
  • Tridem – 60,000 lbs.
  • Quad – 72,000 lbs.
  • 5 axles – 104,000 lbs.
  • 6 axles – 120,000 lbs.
  • 7 axles (1-3-3) – 132,000 lbs.

Note: Missouri does not allow 1-2-2-1 (tandem drive tractor, tandem trailer, and booster) combinations. You must have a tridem drive tractor to use a tandem trailer and a booster.
Length: 150’
Height: 16’ (15’7″ maximum on some routes)

Loads exceeding these dimensions or gross weight over 160,000 lbs. are considered superloads.

ESCORTS FOR WIDELOAD AND OVERSIZED SHIPPING

When Escorts are Needed

On 2-Lane & Undivided Highways:

Length over 90’ 1 escort on all highways except divided highways
Height over 15’6″ 1 escort
Width over 12’4″ 1 escort (2 escorts off designated highway system)
Width over 14’ 2 escorts

Interstate and Divided Multi-Lane highways:

Height over 16’ Requires a route survey and 1 escort. A utility bucket truck might be required to lift the wires.
Width over 14’ 1 escort
Additional Factors Determining Escorts:

Special escort requirements vary based on the size, speed, or operation of the movement. Flagmen may be required in some instances, such as when the load is equal to or over the width of a lane, or on a two-lane bridge where movement infringes on adjacent land. Escorts may act as flagmen when needed.

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS

“Oversize Load” signs are required on front and rear of the load vehicle when width exceeds 10’6″. They are required at the rear of the load when the overall length exceeds 90′. Flags are required at the extreme ends or projections of all overwidth and overlength loads.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL

Travel is prohibited on major holidays and beginning at noon the day before these holidays or during holiday weekends. There will be no travel on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in St. Louis city and county (except for route 370), in St. Charles County on I-70, route 94, and route 40/61, and in Jefferson County on I-55 and routes 21, 30, 141, and 61/67. No travel from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Kansas City area on routes 150, 291, I-470, 291, 152 west to I-435 and inside the area bounded these routes and the city limits of Springfield, except on I-44 and Route 65. These metro area curfews do not apply to loads that are overweight-only.

No permit movement is allowed on Mississippi River bridges in St. Louis on I-70, I-55, I-64 and on routes 60/62 to Cairo, IL. During the tourist season, Saturday and Sunday travel are not allowed on routes in the Lake of the Ozarks and Branson (within 10 miles of Branson), with the exception of route 65 in the Branson area. Tourist season means June 1 through Labor Day at the Lake of the Ozarks and through October 31st in the Branson area. These curfews are listed in more detail in part 9 of the MO Permit Regulations Booklet, which is available to drivers and should be carried if you do O/D loads in Missouri.

You can also obtain any trip and fuel permits you may need with our sister site!