Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - Iowa

General requirements

Reducible expectations	Permits will not be issued for oversize or overweight movements that can be reduced or loaded within the legal size and weight limits.
Permit timing	NS
Method of application	Permit applications may be obtained in person, by facsimile, on-line, by mail or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	Fees may be paid by credit card, certified check, cashier's check, traveler's check, bank draft, or cash. Monthly billing accounts are available.
Electronic permits	Permits will be in writing or in electronic format.
Route surveys	Carrier provides the route and Iowa DOT verifies. Load can change, the configuration cannot. Routes for annual permits must be checked for construction restrictions and clearance problems using the vertical clearance maps, bridge embargo maps, pavement restriction maps, and the 511ia.org website prior to moving under permit.

Insurance requirements

Liability	An applicant may be required to file a bond, certified check, or other assurance in an amount sufficient to cover the reasonably anticipated cost of damage or loss to private property, real or personal, likely to be caused by the vehicle and load or to ensure compliance with permit provisions. A carrier may act as a self-insurer if an application for self-insurance is filed and approved by the Department.
Coverage	Public liability insurance in the amounts of $100,000 bodily injury each person, $200,000 bodily injury each occurrence, and $50,000 property damage with an expiration date to cover the tenure of the permit is required. Instead of filing with the permit-issuing authority, a copy of the current certificate of public liability insurance in these amounts must be carried in the vehicle for which the permit was issued. Proof of liability insurance may be either in writing or in electronic format.

Available Permits and Fees

Overdimension
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single Trip	Valid for five days, valid for one trip only (one way)	$35
Round trip	Valid for five days, to complete a round trip along the same route	$70
Annual	• Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips • 80,000 lbs gross maximum, 20,000 lbs per axle maximum • Valid on all state and interstate highways	$50
Annual	All-systems permit Vehicles with indivisible loads, or manufactured or mobile homes including appurtenances: • Legal weight • Width up to 16' • Height up to 15' 5" • Length up to 120'	$160
Annual	For the movement of hay, straw, stover, and bagged livestock bedding only. • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips • Width to 12' 5" • 80,000 lbs gross maximum, 20,000 lbs per axle maximum • Valid on all state and interstate highways	$25
Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual	Self-propelled applicators with flotation tires which: • Have an unladen axle weight between 20,001 and 25,000 lbs • Was in use in Iowa or purchased prior to Feb. 1, 2007 and permitted prior to July 1, 2007 • Must not exceed 25,000 lbs on any axle • A maximum of 10 counties per permit • maximum permit fee is $3,500	$600 per county
Annual	Bridge exempt permit • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips • Must be 41' or less in length and exceed maximum gross weight table for non-interstate highways • May not exceed 80,000 lbs gross, 20,000 lbs single axle	$25
Annual	All-systems permit Vehicles with indivisible or divisible loads • Legal width, height, and length • 12% gross weight allowance • No interstate travel if over 80,000 pounds	$500
Annual	Compacted rubbish permit • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips • Each county of operation requires a separate rubbish permit • Separate city and/or county permits may be required • Up to 36,000 lbs on the rear tandem axle for non-interstate roads • Interstate limits are 20,000 lbs single axle and 34,000 lbs rear tandem-axle.	$100 per county
Annual	Raw milk transporter permit • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips • 20,000 lbs per axle maximum, 80,000 lbs total gross weight	$25
Annual	Fluid milk products: For the operation of vehicles or combinations of vehicles transporting fluid milk products to or from a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station with weights not exceeding: • 20,000 lbs per axle • 96,000 lbs total gross weight	$400
Annual	Divisible raw forest products • Non-interstate travel and non primary system • See permit limitations	$175
Registration fee	For vehicles transporting buildings, except mobile homes and factory-built structures, on a single-trip basis. The vehicle must be registered for the combined gross weight of the vehicle and load. The fee covers the variance between the registered and actual weight.	$0.05 per ton, per mile
Overdimension and/or Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	• Valid for house moves only • Valid for five days, valid for one trip only • Includes a temporary weight increase for one trip	$35 plus mileage fee
Single trip	• Valid for house moves only • Weight increase only. Not valid for travel on state roads. Used in conjunction with city/county permits only • Includes a temporary weight increase for one trip	$70
Annual	• Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips • 156,000 lbs gross maximum, 20,000 lbs per axle maximum • Not valid for interstate travel (state roads only)	$400
Special fees
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Any	Duplicate permit	$2

Permit Limitations

Permit limitations
Configuration	Limitations
Width	Limited to the maximum physical limitations and clearances of the roadway and infrastructure along the intended route of travel.
Height	Limited only to the height of underpasses, bridges, power lines, and other established height restrictions. The carrier is required to contact affected public utilities when the height of the vehicle with load exceeds 16'. At the discretion of the permit-issuing authority, a written verification may be required from the affected utility.
Weight	For movement under a single-trip permit, the gross weight on any axle may not exceed 20,000 lbs. May allow additional weight if Department determines a special or emergency situation exists.
Weight	If the combined gross weight exceeds 100,000 lbs, a single-trip permit may be issued for the movement only if the permit-issuing authority determines that it would not cause undue damage to the road and is in the best interest of the public.
Length	Limited to the maximum physical limitations and clearances of the roadway and infrastructure along the intended route of travel.
Raw forest products	To transport raw forest products (logs, pilings, posts, poles, cordwood products, wood chips, sawdust, pulpwood, intermediary lumber, fuel wood, mulch, tree bark, and Christmas trees not altered by a manufacturing process off the land, sawmill, or factory from which the products were taken) to storage, processing, or to other commercial facilities. • 20,000 lbs per axle • 46,000 lbs on one tandem axle on tractor and trailer • Sealed International containers of raw forest products conditionally considered as indivisible loads
Cranes	Allowed up to 24,000 lbs per axle with pneumatic tires and are subject to a single trip permit. Routes must be reviewed by the Department prior to issuance of a permit.
Multi trip	• Width, 16' • Length, 120' • Height, 15' 5" • Weight, 156,000 lbs total gross weight • Distance, on routes specified by the permit-issuing authority.

Signs

General sign requirement	Mounted on the front bumper and on the rear of oversized loads
Escort sign requirement	Vehicle markings may be approved or required by the permit-issuing authority.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	7' x 18"	10" min black letters with 1.5" brushstroke	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	7' x 18"	10" min black letters with 1.5" brushstroke	Yellow

Lights

General light requirements	Warning lights are required. An escort can be used in lieu of amber light.
Escort light requirements	Warning lights are required while escorting a permit load.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	Flashing or strobe amber light	Mounted on the towing unit visible for at least 500' and providing 360° warning
Escort light type and placement	Flashing or strobe amber light	Mounted on top of the escort vehicle and be visible for at least 500' and providing 360° warning

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red or orange fluorescent	18" square	1-flag at each front corner of the towing unit and 1-flag at each rear corner of the load. In addition, there must be a flag at any additional protrusion in the width of the load.
Escort Flags	Red or orange fluorescent	18" square	Each corner of the front bumper of the vehicle.

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
NS	NS	NS

Escort/Flagperson requirements

Rear escort vehicles are required as follows:

A rear escort is required when vehicle length exceeds 120 feet;
A rear escort is required when the width of the vehicle and load is over 16 feet 6 inches and travel is on a four-lane roadway; or

Front escort vehicles are required if:

Height is over 14 feet 6 inches (must use a height pole);
Width is over 12 feet up to feet 14 feet 6 inches while traveling a two-lane road. In this situation, in lieu of an escort, a carrier can display an amber light or strobe light on the power unit and on the rear extremity of the vehicle or load; or
Width is over 14 feet 6 inches when traveling on a two-lane roadway.

Should law enforcement escorts be required, the fee is $25 per hour per officer, maximum of $250 per officer, per day.

Flagpersons

Escorts must not assume responsibility for stopping traffic. An on-duty peace officer must be contacted to provide any traffic control.

Escort car/company requirements

Escort drivers must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, and carry proof of public liability insurance in the amounts of $100,000/$200,000/$50,000.

Immediately prior to an escorting trip, the escort must determine that his/her vehicle is in safe operating condition and that the dimensions of the vehicle and load are in compliance with the permit issued.

The escorting vehicle must be a mid-size automobile or motor truck with sufficient mobility to be able to assist in an emergency and designed to afford a clear and unobstructed vision both front and rear. The escorting vehicle shall not be used to tow a trailer while performing escorting duties. A pole used for measuring vertical clearances must be mounted on the front escort vehicle. The escort must measure all vertical clearances whenever the height of the permitted vehicle exceeds 14 feet 6 inches up to and including 20 feet.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

An OVERSIZE LOAD sign is not required for an escort vehicle in Iowa.

There must be a flashing or strobe amber light on top of the escort vehicle that is visible for at least 500 feet and provides 360° warning.

An 18-inch square red flag must be on each corner of the front bumper of the vehicle.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Movement is allowed 7-days a week except for special events when abnormally high traffic counts can be expected.
Weekend	Movement is allowed 7-days a week except for special events when abnormally high traffic counts can be expected.
Holidays	No movement will be allowed on the following holidays, or after 12 noon on days preceding these holidays, or holiday weekends that include holidays falling on Monday: • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor Day
Visibility	Movements are permitted only when the roads are clear of ice and snow and visibility is at least one-quarter mile.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - Iowa