Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - Kentucky

General requirements

Reducible expectations	A permit will not be issued for a divisible load that if reasonably divided, dismantled, disassembled, or rearranged would no longer be overweight or overdimensional.
Permit timing	For applications other than on-line, allow 10-12 business days.
Method of application	The application for a Kentucky overweight/overdimensional permit worksheet, or an application for annual overweight or overdimensional permit, are submitted to the Division of Motor Carriers by hand delivery, mail, fax, the on-line motor carrier permitting system, or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	Account or credit card.
Electronic permits	Permits must be carried in the vehicle to which they apply during the movement. Permits must be presented upon request to law enforcement or authorized personnel of the Department of Vehicle Regulation.
Route surveys	A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit agrees to measure all clearances of highway structures, both laterally and vertically, prior to passage of the person's vehicles along the routes specified in the permit. A vehicle and load exceeding 15' 6" in height must submit an overweight or overdimensional proposed route survey.

Insurance requirements

Liability	Contractors hauling overweight divisible gross loads over state-maintained roads to gain access to state construction projects or public work projects are responsible for all damages to state roads, streets and bridges. The contractors must also establish an indemnity with the District Office prior to the movement.
Coverage	Movements weighing less than 18,000 pounds gross weight must have $10,⁰⁰⁰/₂₀,000 public liability insurance and $5,000 property damage insurance. Movements weighing more than 18,000 pounds gross weight must have $100,⁰⁰⁰/₃₀₀,000 public liability insurance and $50,000 property damage insurance (for-hire motor carriers only).

Available Permits and Fees

Overdimension and/or Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single Trip	Oversize or overweight	$60
Single Trip	Mobile homes	$60
Single Trip	Mobile homes over 14 ft wide	$60
Annual Permits
Permit Type	Conditions	Fee
A01	Non-divisible – less than 14' wide	$250
A02	Non-divisible – 14' to 16' wide	$500
A03	Farm – less than 14' wide	$80
A04	Farm – 14' to 16' wide	$150
A05	Metal commodities	$1,250
A06	Non-divisible Steel – statewide (routes required)	$500
Annual	Livestock or poultry feed	$150
Manufactured Housing	Up to 14' width and 13' 6" height	$500
Manufactured Housing	Greater than 14' width or 13' 6" height	$1,500
Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single Trip	Metal commodities	$100
Special fees
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual only	Duplicate/replacement permit, or to transfer a permit to another towing vehicle (only one transfer allowed for each annual permit)	$10

Permit Limitations

Permit limitations
Height	An annual permit shall not be issued or used for the movement if the height of the combination load and towing vehicle exceeds 13' 6"
Width	A permit will not be issued for the movement of an overweight or overdimensional load in excess of 16' in inclusive of the usual overhang
Length	A front overhang on a combination vehicle is prohibited
Weight	Limitations (which ever is least)
Tire	May not exceed 700 lbs times the aggregate width in" (stamped tire measurement) of all the tires on the axle
Steer axle	20,000 lbs
Single axle	24,000 lbs (dual tires)
Tandems	45,000 lbs dual wheel axle group if the combination vehicle has only 5 axles total
Tandems	48,000 lbs dual wheel axle group if the combination vehicle has 6 axles or more total
Tridem	60,000 lbs dual wheel axle group
5-axle	96,000 lbs GVW on combination units
6-axle	120,000 lbs GVW on combination units
7-axle	160,000 lbs GVW on combination units
Trunnion axle	Maximum gross weight as determined by the route and a bridge analysis performed by the cabinet’s Bridge Preservation Branch
General	Gross or axle overweight is not permitted: • On a combination unit of less than5-axles • On a single unit except off-road equipment, such as a road grader, mobile crane, or other self propelled unit • On a unit that does not have a registered weight of at least 80,000 lbs
Configuration	Limitations
Truck crane	A self-propelled truck crane cannot exceed the following: • Single wheel axle, 23,000 lbs • Tandem dual wheel axle group, 46,000 lbs • Tridem dual-wheel axle group, 69,000 lbs. • The maximum GVW for a 4-axle self-propelled truck crane is 92,000 lbs • The maximum GVW for a 5-axle self-propelled truck crane is 115,000 lbs
Manufactured Housing	• Combined length of manufactured home and towing vehicle maximum is 120' • The manufactured home may not exceed 90' in length
Annual Manufactured Housing	Maximum: • Length: 120' of manufactured home and towing vehicle • Width: 16' maximum exclusive of usual and ordinary overhang • Height: 15' (unless otherwise restricted) • Weight: 160,000 pounds Must also: • Follow escort rules • Track and document routes using GPS
Steel product	In no instance may the gross weights exceed 120,000 lbs and the movement of the products or materials is limited to 150 miles within Kentucky • Up to 10' in width

Signs

General sign requirement	A vehicle exceeding 12' in width or having a front overhang must display 2 warning signs. On the front of the power unit plus the rear of the towed unit or the rear of the load.
Escort sign requirement	OVERSIZE LOAD warning signs must be displayed on a lead escort vehicle so that it is visible to oncoming traffic.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	6'-8' long	18" black lettering with 1.4" brushstroke	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	NS	NS	NS

Lights

General light requirements	If the front overhang exceeds 10', a light must be placed on the power unit. As a special provision of the permit, and due to safety considerations, the Division of Motor Carriers may require additional lighting.
Escort light requirements	When an escort is required, the vehicle must have warning lights.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	Amber strobe or flashing light	On power unit of the towing vehicle
Escort light type and placement	Amber strobe lights or flashing lights	NS

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red or orange fluorescent	18" square	Displayed on each vehicle and load operating under the a permit. One at each of the four corners and if any portion of the load extends beyond the four corners, additional flags must be displayed at the widest points of the load, and to mark both sides of a rear overhang.
Escort Flags	NS	NS	NS

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content

Escort/flagperson requirements

Escort and flagperson requirements may be modified by the issuing officer as weather, road or vehicle conditions demand.

Escorts are required as follows:

Permitted load conditions	Highway type	Escort requirements
Vehicle and load with a height exceeding 14 ft 11 in	2-lane and 4-lane	One lead escort with height pole
Vehicle and load length in excess of 75 ft	2-lane	One lead escort
Vehicle and load with a length exceeding 85 ft	2-lane	One lead escort and one trailing escort
Vehicle and load with a length over 110 ft	4-lane	One trailing escort
Vehicle and load with a width exceeding 12 ft	2-lane 4-lane	One lead escort One trailing escort
Vehicle and load with a width exceeding 12 ft or that does not maintain a speed of 45 mph	4-lane	One trailing escort
Vehicle and load with a width exceeding 14 ft	4-lane	One lead escort
Vehicle and load operating at speeds below the posted speed limit	2-lane	One trailing escort

Due to safety considerations, the Division of Motor Carriers may require additional escort vehicles as a special provision of the permit.

Escort car/company requirements

Escort vehicles must accompany the overweight or overdimensional vehicle at a distance of 300 feet on open highways unless it is necessary to travel at a distance closer or farther away for safety or due to road conditions.

Escort vehicles must:

Maintain an interval of 300 feet from the escorted load;
Maintain radio contact with the load;
Have amber strobe lights or flashing lights on the escort vehicle;
Keep their headlights lit during transit; and
Use a height pole if the escorted load is 14 feet 11 inches or greater.

An overweight or overdimensional load must slow traffic as little as possible; if traffic backs up behind the load, the escort vehicles and load must exit the highway if there is sufficient space to do so.

The escort requirements do not apply if the vehicle or equipment is less than 12 feet wide and used in part for off-road use, not required to be registered or licensed, and not transporting cargo.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

OVERSIZE LOAD warning signs must be displayed on a lead escort vehicle so that it is visible to oncoming traffic.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Travel is allowed ²⁴/₇ except for county restrictions as provided. • Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Fayette, Jefferson County (Louisville) or at the Owensboro, Kentucky 2155 bridge from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday - Friday.
Weekend	NS
Holidays	NS
Visibility	NS

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - Kentucky