Pennsylvania Oversize/Overweight Permits

PennsylvaniaPERMITS

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

OPERATING TIME

Sunrise to sunset Monday through Friday, and sunrise until noon on Saturday. Overweight-only loads that don’t exceed 107,000 lbs. or 70’ overall length and operate at prevailing speeds can travel continuously.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

Height: 13’6″
Weight: 80,000 lbs. gross weight

  • Steer Axle – 20,000 lbs.
  • Single – 20,000 lbs.
  • Tandem – 34,000 lbs.
  • Tridem – 42,500 lbs.
Overhang: Up to 6’ rear overhang allowed on a divisible load. No overhang restrictions on non-divisible loads. This includes beams, utility poles, pipes, building materials, etc.
Length: 53’ semitrailer (the measurement from the kingpin to the centerline of rear axle group must not exceed 41’). If the combination is legal without load, no permit is required if the load is 70’ or less or if overall length is 85’ or less and the load is non-divisible (no extra length created by multiple end-to-end pieces).
Width:
  • 8’6″ on designated highways
  • 8’ on other roads

PERMIT LIMITS

Weight:
  • Single – 27,000 lbs.
  • Tandem – 52,000 lbs.
  • Tridem – 63,000 lbs.
  • Quad – 72,000 lbs.
Width: 16’
Length:
  • 120’
  • 160’ on 4-lane highways
Height: 14’6″

Loads exceeding 201,000 lbs. gross weight, width over 16’, or 160’ overall length are considered superloads.

ESCORTS FOR WIDELOAD AND OVERSIZED SHIPPING

When Escorts are Needed:

On 2-Lane Highways:

Width over 13’ 1 escort on all highways
Width over 16’ Police escort required
Overhang over 15’ 1 escort
Length over 90’ 1 escort
Length over 160’ Police escort
Height over 14’6″ 1 escort with high pole. PA also requires a route survey to accompany the application.
Weight over 201,000 lbs. Police escort required
If permit calls for reduced speeds over bridges 1 escort
If permit requires a load to be the only vehicle on a bridge or to occupy more than one lane traffic on a bridge 2 escorts

Note: If both length exceed 90’ and width exceeds 13’, front and rear escorts are required on all two-lane highways.

The City of Philadelphia requires Police escorts when:

75’ long

11’5″ wide

14’ tall

145,000 lbs.

Non-Urbanized Areas:

Permitted loads unable to maintain a speed of 40 mph on limited access highways – 1 escort

 Urban Areas:

Permitted load not able to run 40 mph on limited access highways allowed only between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 1 escort

Oversize load allowed to run 3 a.m. to sunrise — 2 escorts

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE

A permit must be ordered in advance if the width is over 10′, length is over 85′, height is over 13’6, weight is over 125,000 lbs., or any axle weight is over 22,400 lbs. On the mainline (I-76), any load taller than 13’6″ is not permitted. A pilot car is required if the width is more than 11’, the length is more than 90’, or the rear overhang is more than 15’. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, overdimensional loads can travel from dawn to dusk Monday through Thursday, and from dawn to noon on Friday. From Labor Day until Memorial Day, they can travel from dawn to dusk Monday through Friday and from dawn to noon on Saturday.

Note: The cost of a trip on the Turnpike increases with the weight of a vehicle. A gross vehicle weight of 80,000–100,000 pounds is moderately expensive. Over 100,000 pounds is much more expensive.

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS

“Oversize Load” signs are required on the front of the tractor and the rear of the load or trailer (whichever extends the farthest) on all oversized loads unless otherwise specified in the permit. Signs must be removed or covered when the vehicle/load is no longer oversize. Flags are required at the widest points of an oversize load. Rear overhang of 4′ or more must be flagged, or have a red light attached to the end of the load during darkness. Headlights and rear lamps of a permitted vehicle must be on during movement when traveling with pilot vehicles.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL

Daylight only until noon on Saturdays and no Sunday travel. Loads over 10 feet wide and/or 85 feet long cannot travel on the weekend. Except for holidays, movement is permitted inside urban areas (see map included with provision sheet) seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to sunset, as well as 3:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. (but two pilots and special lighting are required for these). A city permit is required for Philadelphia for all routes except Interstates. Permit travel is usually not allowed from noon on the day before the six major holidays and holiday weekends until the following weekday.

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