Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - Maine

General requirements

Reducible expectations	Any vehicle transporting non-divisible loads in excess of legal dimension and weight limits must obtain an overlimit permit.
Permit timing	Permits are restricted to a single trip, unless authorized for a return trip or multiple trips, in one direction from the permitted origin to the permitted destination traveling only on the designated highways recorded on the permit.
Method of application	Permits can be obtained on-line, fax, phone, in person or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266. Permits will not be issued by the DOTD enforcement units. Turnpike oversize and overlength permits may be obtained at any Maine Turnpike toll plaza.
Payments accepted	Instant overlimit permits by establishing a billing account. Remittances may be in the form of a money order, bank draft, or credit card authorization. Personal checks will be accepted subject to collection. Cash payments will be accepted from walk-in customers.
Electronic permits	The oversize or overweight permit must accompany the vehicle to which it refers and is open to inspection by police officers or employees of the Department of Transportation at all times.
Route surveys	An engineering review may be required on extreme loads, or when the issuing authority deems it necessary. Vehicles or combinations 20’ wide and wider and/or 150’ long and longer require utility and town department notifications.

Insurance requirements

Liability	An applicant may be required to show proof of liability insurance at time of permit issuance.
Coverage	Maine requires $50,⁰⁰⁰/₁₀₀,000 public liability insurance, and $25,000 property damage insurance for oversize or overweight vehicles unless hauling for-hire.

Available Permits and Fees

Overdimension
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Long term	Overdimensional (1 month up to 12 months)	$25 per month
Except for long-term permits, the fee charged whn more than one limit is exceeded is based on the limit requiring the higher fee
Fees for Excess Length
Permit	Excess Lenth Range (Feet)	Fee
Length that exceeds the maximum legal	0 - 10	$6.00
	over 10 - 15	$8.00
	over 15 - 20	$10.00
	over 20 - 25	$12.50
	over 25 - 30	$15.00
	over 30 - 35	$18.00
	over 35 - 40	$21.00
	over 40 - 45	$25.00
	over 45	$27.50
Fees for Excess Width
Permit	Excess Width Range (Feet)	Fee
	0 - 2	$6.00
	over 2 - 3	$8.00
	over 3 - 4	$10.00
	over 4 - 5	$12.50
	over 5 - 6	$15.00
	over 6 - 7	$18.00
	over 7 - 8	$21.00
	over 8 - 9	$25.00
	over 9	$27.50
Fees for Excess Height
Permit	Excess Height Range (Feet)	Fee
Height that exceeds 14'	0 - 5	$6.00
	over 5 - 6	$8.00
	over 6 - 7	$10.00
	over 7 - 8	$12.50
	over 8 - 9	$15.00
	over 9 - 10	$18.00
	over 10 - 11	$21.00
	over 11 - 12	$25.00
	over 12	$27.50
Overweight
Long Term Overweight (6-Axle Minimum Combination)
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Monthly	100,000 - 110,000 lbs	$90.00
Monthly	110,001 - 120,000 lbs	$150.00
Long Term Overweight (7-Axle or More Combination)
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Monthly	100,000 - 110,000 lbs	$65.00
Monthly	110,001 - 120,000 lbs	$115.00
Excess Weight
Permit	Excess Weight Range (Pounds)	Fee
In excess of any legal weight limit	0 - 5,000	$6.00
	5,001 - 10,000	$8.00
	10,001 - 15,000	$10.00
	15,001 - 20,000	$12.50
	20,001 - 25,000	$15.00
	25,001 - 30,000	$18.00
	30,001 - 35,000	$21.00
	35,001 - 40,000	$25.00
	over 40,000	$27.50
Overdimension and/or Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Instant trip	Used for all moves EXCEPT those with special routing required, where any portion of the move is outside of Maine, the move is a superload, or special conditions exist • Permits are in an instand permit book containing 25 instant permit forms • Permits are valid for 7 days and are valid for a single trip, unless authorized for a return trip	$75.00
Monthly	Class A Special mobile equipment	$25.00
Monthly	Overweight and overdimensional loads - If the vehicle and load are within the long term overdimensional envelope, the standard monthly fee applies in addition to the overweight fee.	$25 plus overweight
Annual	Heavy duty recovery vehicle permit	$300.00
Annual	Sealed Oceangoing Containers	$15 plus a per trip highway system impact fee

Permit Limitations

Permit limitations
Length	Limitation
Overhang	8' 6" for logs provided that no more than 25% of the length of the logs extends beyond the body of the vehicles. No more than 40% of the length of the logs can extend beyond the vehicle's body.
Weight	Limitations (without a special and detailed review by the Maine DOT)
2-axle vehicle	39,100 lbs
3-axle vehicle	62,100 lbs
4-axle truck	73,000 lbs
4-axle (or more) special mobile equipment	110,000 lbs
4-axle truck tractor-semitrailer	120,000 lbs
5-axle truck tractor-semitrailer	130,000 lbs
6-axle truck tractor-semitrailer	140,000 lbs
7-axle truck tractor-semitrailer	159,000 to 167,000 lbs
8-axle truck tractor-semitrailer	177,000 lbs
Configuration	Limitations
Long-Term	Load carrying vehicles under a long-term permit must consist of a tri-axle semitrailer and a tandem-drive, or tridem-drive truck tractor. • 13' 6" height • 11' 6" width • 45' single vehicle length • 75' combination vehicles • 600 lbs per inch width of tire • 120,000 lbs GVW • 12,000 lbs steer axle (6,000 lbs min.) • 50,000 lbs tandems • 60,000 lbs tridem
Sealed Oceangoing Containers	Carriers transporting sealed oceangoing containers may, under certain predefined conditions, be issued Oceangoing Container Permits authorizing operation at weights in excess of the legal weight. Permits are vehicle and route specific; issued for a predetermined number of trips. The vehicle combination and load may not be oversize. Five Axle Vehicle Combination: • 93,000 lbs GVW • 46,000 lbs tandem • 80,000 pounds minimum registered weight Six Axle Vehicle Combination: • 100,000 lbs GVW • 46,000 lbs tandem • 54,000 lbs tridem • 100,000 pounds minimum registered weight • 32' between the extreme axles of the combination - excluding the steer axle
Heavy duty recovery vehicle	For a wrecker that: • Is designed for the specific purpose of recovering vehicles that have a GVW or CGVW of more than 80,000 lbs • Has 4 or 5 axles • Has a GVWR and a recovery boom that is rated for 70,000 lbs or more • Is equipped with an air brake system capable of providing compressed air to the braking or suspension system of a vehicle being towed • Is capable of towing a combination vehicle with a gross weight of more than 99,000 lbs
Class A Special Mobile Equipment Limits
Configuration	Limitations
Width, height, and length	Must be legal
2-axles	39,100 lbs GVW
3-axles	62,100 lbs GVW
4-axles	79,350 lbs GVW
5 or more axles	92,000 lbs GVW
Steer axle	18,900 lbs
Single axle	25,410 lbs
Tandem axles	48,300 lbs
Tri-axle	56,700 lbs

Signs

General sign requirement	Signs mounted on the front bumper and at the rear. When the movement is not oversize, the load signs must be removed or covered.
Escort sign requirement	Placed on the roof perpendicular to the length of the vehicle and legible on both sides or on the front bumper when the pilot vehicle is required to precede the over dimension load, or on the rear bumper when the pilot vehicle is required to follow the load.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD/OVERWIDTH LOAD	7' x 18"	10" black lettering with 1.4" brushstroke	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	5' x 12" (minimum)	At least 8" black lettering with 1.4" brushstroke	Yellow

Lights

General light requirements	Headlights must be on low beams at all times unless weight is the only overlimit condition of the permit. Warning lights required.
Escort light requirements	Warning lights required. Headlights must be on low beam at all times during the move.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	A single 6-inch diameter amber intermittent flashing light or a single 4-inch diameter amber rotary type light or a light bar with 4 amber flashing/strobe lights.	Centered on top of the cab unless the load protrudes out over the cab, then placed at the highest forward point of the load.
Escort light type and placement	(2) intermittent flashing amber lights at least 6" in diameter or (2) rotary type amber lights at least 4" in diameter or a light bar of sufficient length and width to accommodate a minimum of (4) amber flashing or strobe lights.	Located horizontally on the roof If a light bar is used. Otherwise attached to the roof of the pilot vehicle, one on the extreme left and the other on the extreme right.

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red or fluorescent orange	18" square	On the extreme ends of the front bumper and on the extreme ends of the load.
Escort Flags	NS	NS	NS

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
NS	NS	NS

Escort/flagperson requirements

If a Maine State Police escort is a requirement for the issuance of a permit, it is the responsibility of the permittee to contact the Maine State Police to make the necessary arrangements. A three-day notice must be given when services are required. The State Police contact number is (207) 624-7000. Only the Maine State Police may provide escorts on the Interstate Highway System.

When one pilot vehicle is required, it must travel in front of the overdimensional vehicle(s), except on divided highways where the pilot vehicle will follow the overdimensional vehicle(s). If two pilot vehicles are required, one must precede and one must follow. Movement must be made in such a way to prevent other vehicles from coming in between the pilot vehicle and the overdimensional vehicle.

A pilot car is not required if the overhang is less than 15 feet with proper flags displayed. One pilot vehicle is required if the overhang is 15 feet or more.

If a night move is authorized, one or more Maine State Police officers must be present to the escort overdimensional vehicles. The troop commander may waive or modify police escort requirements when in the troop commander’s opinion public safety will not be adversely affected.

The Chief of the Maine State Police or a member of the department holding the rank of Lieutenant or higher – or their designee may waive the requirement for a second police escort or require additional police escorts to safely complete the move.

When traffic in excess of seven cars is held up behind the oversize or overweight movement, or if an emergency vehicle is approaching from the rear, the driver of the vehicle must pull over to the right and allow the following traffic to pass.

Two-way mobile communication with a minimum of one-half mile transmitting radius is required if a pilot or police escort is required. Communication must be maintained between the overlimit vehicle(s) and the pilot(s) and/or police escort vehicle(s) at all times during the move. When a police escort is required, the permittee is responsible for ensuring that the required communication is in place.

Escort car placement

The following table details the pilot vehicle and police escort requirements for a single vehicle and load or a vehicle combination and load where the object moved is not a mobile or modular home:

Number of Pilots/Escorts	Permit Type	Width	Length	Height
1	Maine only	Greater than 12 ft and less than 16 ft	Greater than 80 ft and less than 125 ft	-
1	Multi-state	Greater than or equal to 12 ft	Greater than or equal to 80 ft	-
2	Maine only	Nighttime moves of timber harvesting equipment up to 11 ft 6 in	Nighttime moves of timber harvesting equipment up to 75 ft	-
1 pilot and 1 police escort	Maine only	Greater than or equal to 16 ft and less than 20 ft	Greater than or equal to 125 ft and less than 150 ft	-
2 police escorts	Maine only	Greater than or equal to 20 ft	Greater than or equal to 150 ft	-
1 pole car	Maine only	-	-	Greater than 16 ft

The following table details the pilot and police escort requirements for a vehicle combination and load is a manufactured, modular, mobile, or pre-fabricated home:

Number of Pilots/Escorts	Permit Type	Width	Length	Height
1	Maine only	Greater than 12 ft and less than or equal to 16 ft	Greater than 80 ft and less than 125 ft	-
	Multi-state	Greater than or equal to 12 ft	Greater than or equal to 80 ft	-
2	Maine only	Greater than 14 ft 6 in. and less than 16 ft	-	-
1 pilot and 1 police escort	Maine only	1. Base greater than or equal to 16 ft and less than 20 ft, or2. Eaves greater than or equal to 16 ft 9 in.	Greater than or equal to 125 ft and less than 150 ft	-
2 police escorts	Maine only	Greater than or equal to 20 ft	Greater than or equal to 150 ft	-
1 pole car	Maine only	-	-	Greater than 16 ft

Escort car/company requirements

The driver of an escort (pilot) vehicle must be at least 18 years of age and have maintained an operator's license for at least two years prior to the movement, and be familiar with rules regarding the outfitting and use of pilot vehicles.

Pilot vehicles may either be a pickup or an automobile equipped with an interior rearview mirror, and right and left exterior side view mirrors.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

The escort (pilot) vehicle must display an OVERSIZE LOAD sign. The sign must be no less than five feet wide by 12 inches high with lettering eight inches high with a 1.4-inch brush stroke and a border width of one inch around the letters. The lettering must be black and displayed on a yellow background. The sign must be displayed on the roof perpendicular to the length of the vehicle and legible on both sides. Alternatively, the sign can be displayed on the front bumper when the pilot vehicle is in front of the overdimensional load, or on the rear bumper when the pilot vehicle is required to follow.

Such vehicles must also be equipped with two intermittent flashing amber lights at least six inches in diameter, or two rotary-type amber lights at least four inches in diameter, or a light bar of sufficient length and width to accommodate a minimum of four amber flashing or strobe lights (or combination thereof). These six-inch or four-inch lights must be attached to the roof of the pilot vehicle, one on the extreme left and the other on the extreme right. If a light bar is used it must be located horizontally on the roof perpendicular to the length of the pilot vehicle.

Headlights of the pilot vehicle must be on low beam at all times during the move.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Generally limited to daylight travel only unless move is an emergency off-hour move or an overweight only move. Travel may be allowed at night if public safety is not affected. Vehicles permitted for overweight-only that are capable of moving with the flow of traffic may move at any time of day.
Weekend	Movements of loads exceeding the legal limits may move on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year except during the months of July and August (July and August require special authorization).
Holidays	Overdimensional permits requested for travel on holidays throughout the year require pre-clearance by the Maine Department of Transportation's Traffic Engineering Division.
Visibility	No movement may be made when visibility is poor or the highway is considered dangerous due to rain, snow, slush, ice, or any other condition deemed unsafe by the Issuing Authority or a State Police officer.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - Maine