['Size and Weight Limits']
['Oversize and Overweight Movements']
04/21/2025
Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
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General requirements
| Reducible expectations | The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will grant permits for vehicles and loads that cannot be reasonably dismantled, reduced, or otherwise separated, for movement on state highways; however, more than one overdimensional object may be transported if it does not result in another dimension that exceeds legal limits. | |||
| Permit timing | Routine permits for loads up to 16' in width, 145' in length, 17' in height, and legal weight are generally issued 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Single trip permits are issued for one one-way movement and are valid for five working days. | |||
| Method of application | In person at the Illinois Permit office, electronically using the Illinois Transportation Automated Permit System (ITAP), or J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266. | |||
| Payments accepted | Permit fees may be paid for by credit card, electronic funds transfer, or an escrow account. | |||
| Electronic permits | Permits must be carried in the vehicle or combination to which it applies along with a form that contains applicable conditions and restrictions for the permit. | |||
| Route surveys | Permits issued by IDOT are for travel upon state jurisdiction roadways only. Applicants are required to obtain permission from any local jurisdiction, including municipality, township, county or skyway, or from the Illinois Toll Authority prior to moving on local jurisdiction roadways, toll roads or when crossing toll structures. | |||
Insurance requirements
| Liability | Owners and/or operators of escort vehicles or vehicles with oversize loads exceeding 10’ in width, 13’ 6” in height, 110’ in length or overweight must have in effect or be self-insured. | |||
| Coverage | The amount of $500,000 per occurrence combined bodily injury and property damage. | |||
Available permits and fees
| Limited Continuous Operation | ||
| Construction Equipment & other loads excluding Manufactured Housing/Storage Buildings & Trusses | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| 3-months | • Width: 10' maximum • Height: 14' 6" maximum • Length: 70' maximum • Legal weight | $100 |
| 12-months | $400 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 12' maximum • Height: 14' 6" maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $150 |
| 12-months | $600 | |
| Oversized Trusses | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| 3-months | • Width: 10' maximum • Length: 70' maximum • Legal weight | $100 |
| 12-months | $400 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 12' maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $150 |
| 12-months | $600 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 14' maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $250 |
| 12-months | $1,000 | |
| Oversized Manufactured Housing / Storage Buildings | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| 3-months | • Width: 10' maximum • Height: 14' 6" maximum • Length: 70' maximum • Legal weight | $100 |
| 12-months | $400 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 12' maximum • Height: 14' 6" maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $150 |
| 12-months | $600 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 16' maximum • Height: 15' maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $250 |
| 12-months | $1,000 | |
| Oversized Stackable Manufactured Home Frames | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| 3-months | • Width: 10' maximum • Height: 13' 6" maximum • Length: 70' maximum • Legal weight | $100 |
| 12-months | $400 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 12' maximum • Height: 13' 6" maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $150 |
| 12-months | $600 | |
| 3-months | • Width: 16' maximum • Height: 13' 6" maximum • Length: 115' maximum • Legal weight | $250 |
| 12-months | $1,000 | |
| Overweight | ||
| 20,000-Pound Single Axle Equivalency Fees | ||
| Axles | Conditions | Fee (per 45 mile increment) |
| 2-axle Single axle | 1-6,000 lbs | $5 |
| 3-axle tandem | $5 | |
| Tandem | $5 | |
| 2-axle Single axle | 6,001-11,000 lbs | $8 |
| 3-axle tandem | $7 | |
| Tandem | $6 | |
| 2-axle Single axle | 11,001-17,000 lbs | not permitted |
| 3-axle tandem | $8 | |
| Tandem | $7 | |
| 2-axle Single axle | 17,001-22,000 lbs | not permitted |
| 3-axle tandem | not permitted | |
| Tandem | $9 | |
| 2-axle Single axle | 22,001-29,000 lbs | not permitted |
| 3-axle tandem | not permitted | |
| Tandem | $11 | |
| Agriculture commodities | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| 40-days | 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-axle tractor-semitrailer carrying sweet corn, wheat, grain, soybeans, corn, milo, or ensilage within a 50-mile radius of origin | $5 per axle |
| Limited Continuous Operation - Oversize and/or Overweight | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| Up to 6-months | Crossing Permit for repeated overweight and/or overdimension moves directly across a highway, each vehicle | $15 |
| Movement from Disablement Sites Only | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| 3-months | 2-axle tandem: 50,000 lbs total/26,000 lbs each axle or 3-axle tandem: 60,000 lbs total/26,000 lbs each axle • Width: 10' maximumWidth • Height: 13' 6" maximum • Length: 115' maximum | $50 |
| 12-months | $200 | |
| 12-months | Emergency Only • Width: 12' maximumWidth • Height: 13' 6" maximum • Length: 110' maximum • Practical Maximum Weights | $500 |
| Overweight – Oversized | ||
| 3-months | Emergency Only • Width: 12' maximumWidth • Height: 13' 6" maximum • Length: 110' maximum • Practical Maximum Weights | $250 |
| 12-months | $1,000 | |
| Special fees | ||
| Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
| Supplemental permit fee | $5 | |
The fees for overweight-gross loads are as follows:
| Fees for overweight-gross loads on 6 or more axles | ||||
| Total axles: | 6 or more | 6 or more | 6 or more | 6 or more |
| Gross weight max: | 88,000 | 100,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 |
| Front tandem or axle (max)/# of axles: | 34,000 / 2 | 44,000 / 2 | 44,000 / 2 | 48,000 / 2 |
| Rear tandem or axle (max)/# of axles: | 48,000 / 3 | 54,000 / 3 | 54,000 / 3 | 60,000 / 3 |
| Distance | ||||
| 0-45 mi. | $10.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| 46-90 mi. | $12.50 | $25.00 | $32.50 | $55.00 |
| 91-135 mi. | $15.00 | $35.00 | $45.00 | $80.00 |
| 136-180 mi. | $17.50 | $45.00 | $57.50 | $105.00 |
| 181-225 mi. | $20.00 | $55.00 | $70.00 | $130.00 |
| 226-270 mi. | $22.50 | $65.00 | $82.50 | $155.00 |
| 271-315 mi. | $25.00 | $75.00 | $95.00 | $180.00 |
| 316-405 mi. | $27.50 | $85.00 | $107.50 | $205.00 |
| 361-405 mi. | $30.00 | $95.00 | $120.00 | $230.00 |
| 406-450 mi. | $32.50 | $105.00 | $132.50 | $255.00 |
| 451-495 mi. | $35.00 | $115.00 | $145.00 | $280.00 |
| The fees in this table include dimensions up to 15 ft high; 145 ft long; 12 ft wide. For loads having width between 12 ft 1 in. and 14 ft 6 in., an additional $15 is added to the fees in this table. For loads having any dimension greater than 15 ft high, 145 ft long, 14 ft 6 in. wide, an additional fee from the overweight axle table above is added to the fee in this table along with a $50 application fee. | ||||
| Fees for overweight-gross loads on 5 or fewer axles | |||||||
| Total axles: | 5 | 5 | 4 or more | 4 or more | 3 or more | 3 or more | 2 |
| Gross weight max: | 88,000 | 100,000 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 60,000 | 68,000 | 48,000 |
| Front tandem or axle (max)/# of axles: | 44,000 / 2 | 48,000 / 2 | 34,000 / 2 | 44,000 / 2 | 21,000 / 1 | 21,000 / 1 | 25,000 / 1 |
| Rear tandem or axle (max)/# of axles: | 44,000 / 2 | 48,000 / 2 | 40,000 / 2 | 44,000 / 2 | 40,000 / 2 | 48,000 / 2 | 25,000 / 1 |
| Distance | |||||||
| 0-45 mi. | $20.00 | $30.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 | $12.50 | $20.00 | $15.00 |
| 46-90 mi. | $32.50 | $55.00 | $25.00 | $32.50 | $21.50 | $32.50 | $25.00 |
| 91-135 mi. | $45.00 | $80.00 | $35.00 | $45.00 | $30.50 | $45.00 | $35.00 |
| 136-180 mi. | $57.50 | $105.00 | $45.00 | $57.50 | $39.50 | $57.50 | $45.00 |
| 181-225 mi. | $70.00 | $130.00 | $55.00 | $70.00 | $48.50 | $70.00 | $55.00 |
| 226-270 mi. | $82.50 | $155.00 | $65.00 | $82.50 | $57.50 | $82.50 | $65.00 |
| 271-315 mi. | $95.00 | $180.00 | $75.00 | $95.00 | $66.50 | $95.00 | $75.00 |
| 316-405 mi. | $107.50 | $205.00 | $85.00 | $107.50 | $75.50 | $107.50 | $85.00 |
| 361-405 mi. | $120.00 | $230.00 | $95.00 | $120.00 | $84.50 | $120.00 | $95.00 |
| 406-450 mi. | $132.50 | $255.00 | $105.00 | $132.50 | $93.50 | $132.50 | $105.00 |
| 451-495 mi. | $145.00 | $280.00 | $115.00 | $145.00 | $102.50 | $145.00 | $115.00 |
| The fees in this table include dimensions up to 15 ft high; 145 ft long; 12 ft wide. For loads having width between 12 ft 1 in. and 14 ft 6 in., an additional $15 is added to the fees in this table. For loads having any dimension greater than 15 ft high, 145 ft long, 14 ft 6 in. wide, an additional fee from the overweight axle table above is added to the fee in this table along with a $50 application fee. | |||||||
Permit Limitations
| Permit limitations | |
| Dimension | Limitation |
| Width | • Width up to 14' 6", except for toll highways and certain expressways in the Chicago area (permits may be issued for vehicles/loads greater than 14' 6" inches under specific circumstances) • On toll highways and certain expressways in the Chicago area, the maximum width under permit is 12' • Horizontal clearances at bridges and other obstructions must exceed the overall width of the load by 24" or more. When practical, the load may be raised over handrails in order to clear, though the vertical clearance between the top of the handrail and the underside of the load must be at least 18" |
| Height | • The practical maximum height under permit is 15' • The maximum height authorized on Chicago-area controlled-access highways is 13' 6" • On highways, a 3" clearance generally is specified to allow for bounce. |
| Length | The practical maximum length for permit movements is 145' (after analysis of an individual movement, the Department may issue permits for greater lengths). |
| Weight | |
| Configuration | Limitation (many bridges will not carry these weights) |
| 6 or more axle tractor semitrailer combination | • 120,000 lbs gross • 48,000 lbs on drive tandem • 60,000 lbs on semitrailer tandem |
| 5-axle tractor semitrailer combination | • 100,000 lbs gross • 48,000 lbs on either tandem |
| 4 or more axle vehicles (axle spacing 23' or more) | • 76,000 lbs gross • 34,000 lbs on one tandem • 44,000 lbs on the other |
| 3 or more axle vehicles (axle spacing 18' or more) | • 68,000 lbs gross • 20,000 lbs on one axle • 48,000 lbs on the tandem |
| 2-axle vehicle | • 48,000 lbs gross • Neither axle exceeds 25,000 lbs |
| Axle spacing | For all overweight loaded routine and super load permits, as well as all towed routine permits (All towed permits that do not meet these minimum spacing requirements will automatically be processed as a super load permit): • Spacing between the steer axle and the first axle on the tractor tandem may not be less than 8' 1" • Spacing before the first axle of the trailer may not be less than 18' 6" • The sum of all axle spacings must be at least 43' 6" |
| Vehicle size | Minimum size of vehicles that may tow a load 10' wide or more is a 3⁄4-ton truck or equivalent |
| Combination vehicle | For which an overweight permit will be issued must consist of a standard tandem axle truck tractor drawing a tandem axle semitrailer |
Signs
| General sign requirement | The OVERSIZE LOAD sign is required on all loads greater than 10' wide, 14' 6" high, or 75' long. When an escort vehicle is traveling ahead of the permit load, the sign is visibly displayed toward the front, and when the escort vehicle is trailing, the sign is displayed toward the rear. | |||
| Escort sign requirement | When operating on a 2-lane highway, the escort vehicle must travel ahead of the load with an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign displayed on the escort vehicle and be visible from the front. When operating on a multilane divided highway, the escort vehicle shall trail the load and the sign visible from the rear. | |||
| Type | Size | Lettering | Background | |
| General signs | OVERSIZE LOAD | 7' x 18" | 12" black lettering with 2" brushstroke (minimum 10" with 1.41" brushstroke) | Yellow |
| Escort signs | OVERSIZE LOAD | 5' x 12" | 8" black lettering | Yellow |
Lights
| General light requirements | Light must be in operation during the movement of all oversize and/or overweight permit loads. | |||
| Escort light requirements | The vehicle must be equipped with the lights below when escorting oversized loads more than 12' wide. When operating on a 2-lane highway, the escort vehicle must travel ahead of the load with lighting visible from the front. When operating on a multilane divided highway, the escort vehicle must trail the load with the lights visible from the rear. | |||
| Type | Placement | |||
| General light type and placement | Rotating or flashing amber lights | Top mounted on cab and on the rear of the load if necessary with sufficient intensity, when illuminated, to be visible at 500' in normal sunlight to traffic approaching from the front and the rear of the transport vehicle. Vehicles transporting objects over 80' in length need to be equipped with 2 rotating or flashing amber lights: one over the cab of the vehicle with the other within 10' of the rear of the object, mounted as high as practical over it. | ||
| Escort light type and placement | Rotating or flashing amber lights | Top-mounted with sufficient intensity to be visible at 500' in normal sunlight. | ||
Flags
| Type | Size | Placement | ||
| General Flags | Bright red flags with no advertising, wording, emblem, or insignia inscribed upon them. | 18" square | Flags displayed to wave freely on all 4 corners of a house trailer and at the extremities of other overwidth objects, and at the extreme ends of all protrusions, projections, or overhangs. | |
| Escort Flags | NS | NS | NS | |
Escort vehicle markings
| Size | Placement | Content | |
| NS | NS | NS | |
Escort/flagperson requirements
Escorts are required as follows:
| Load Conditions | Escort Requirements |
|---|---|
For all moves:
| One civilian escort vehicle |
For all moves exceeding a combination of two or more of the following:
| Two civilian escort vehicles |
For all:
| Three civilian escort vehicles |
For all:
| Illinois State Police escorts (permittees must make arrangements with the state police at least 24 hours prior to the move) |
Escort car/company requirements
The requirements for civilian escort vehicles and drivers are as follows:
- A civilian escort vehicle may be a vehicle not exceeding a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,000 pounds that is designed to afford clear and unobstructed vision both front and rear;
- All escort vehicle operators must be 18 years of age or over and properly licensed to operate the vehicle;
- Escort vehicles must travel approximately 300 feet in front of the load on two-lane highways and the same distance to the rear on multilane highways in rural areas;
- When traveling within the corporate limits of a city or town, the escort vehicle must maintain a reasonable and proper distance consistent with existing traffic conditions (however, the required escort vehicle with a height pole for overheight movements must travel in front of the load);
- A separate escort must be provided for each load hauled under permit; movements in convoys are prohibited unless a State Police escort vehicle is also required, then the Permit Office may authorize convoy movement for multiple loads;
- The operator of the escort vehicle must obey all traffic laws;
- The escorting vehicle shall be in safe operational condition;
- The driver of the escort vehicle must be in radio contact with the driver of the permit vehicle;
- Owners and/or operators of escort vehicles must have in effect or be self-insured in the minimum amount of $500,000 per occurrence combined bodily injury and property damage; and
- A pole for measuring vertical clearances must be mounted on escort vehicles leading loads in excess of 14 feet 6 inches in height and the escort driver is required to alert the driver of the permit vehicle to any overhead obstructions that will not clear the load.
Escort car signs, flags, and lights
The vehicle must be equipped with lights below when escorting oversized loads more than 12' wide.
The vehicle must be equipped with rotating or flashing amber lights mounted on top that are of sufficient intensity, when illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
When operating on a two-lane highway, the escort vehicle must travel ahead of the load and the rotating or flashing lights and an OVERSIZE LOAD sign must be displayed on the escort vehicle and be visible from the front; when the escort trails, the sign must display toward the rear. Escort vehicle OVERSIZE LOAD signs may include eight-inch black letters on a yellow panel that is five feet wide by 12 inches high.
Travel restrictions
| Daytime | Permit movements may be made only from 30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset on weekdays. | |||
| Weekend | 30-minutes before sunrise until noon on Saturdays, except categorical permit moves that are overweight only can move with no time restrictions. Permit movements up to 12' in width, and/or 13' 6" high, and/or up to 115' in length that do not exceed practical maximum weights may be made seven days per week between 30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset, excluding holidays. | |||
| Holidays | Permit movements are not allowed later than noon on the day preceding a holiday or a holiday weekend: • New Year’s Day • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day | |||
| Visibility | Movements may not be made when the highway is covered with snow or ice or when visibility is impaired by rain, snow, fog, or smog, or at any time travel conditions are considered unsafe by the Illinois State Police. | |||
['Size and Weight Limits']
['Oversize and Overweight Movements']
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.