['Size and Weight Limits']
['Oversize and Overweight Movements']
07/19/2024
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General requirements
Reducible expectations | If a single commodity, when loaded, creates a single overdimension, two or more commodities may be hauled as one load provided legal axle and gross weights are not exceeded, or another over-dimension of width, length, or height is not created or made greater by the additional cargo. If the load creates or makes greater an illegal dimension of length, width, or height, the TxDMV may issue permits under certain conditions. | |||
Permit timing | NS | |||
Method of application | Permits can be obtained by telephone, fax, on-line using the Texas Permitting & Routing Optimization System (TxPROS), or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266. | |||
Payments accepted | Fees may be paid by the electronic funds transfer, an escrow account, or a credit card. | |||
Electronic permits | Except as for superloads, the original permit, a print copy of the permit, or an electronic copy of the permit must be kept in the permitted vehicle until the permit terminates or expires. An operator of a vehicle operating under a permit shall, on request, provide the original permit, a print copy of the permit, or an electronic copy of the permit to a department inspector or to a peace officer. If the department provides a permit electronically, the vehicle operator may provide a legible and accurate image of the permit displayed on a wireless communication device. | |||
Route surveys | Applicants requesting a permit to move a load exceeding 20' wide, 125' long, or 19' high will be furnished with a proposed route. The applicant must physically inspect the proposed route to determine if the overdimension load can safely negotiate it. The applicant must notify the TxDMV in writing whether the overdimension load can or cannot safely negotiate the proposed route. If any section of the proposed route is unacceptable, the applicant must provide the TxDMV with an alternate route around the unacceptable section. Once a route is decided upon and a permit issued, the permit may not be amended unless an exception is granted by the TxDMV. |
Insurance requirements
Liability | An applicant for a permit, other than a permit to operate a vehicle loaded with timber or pulp wood, wood chips, cotton, or agricultural products in their natural state, must file with the department a bond or letter of credit. | |||
Coverage | The bond or letter of credit must be in the amount of $15,000 payable to the Texas Department of Transportation and the counties of the state and be conditioned that the applicant will pay the Texas Department of Transportation for any damage to a state highway, and a county for any damage to a road or bridge of the county, caused by the operation of the vehicle. |
Available permits and fees
Overdimension | ||
Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
Single trip | Oversize | $60 |
Single trip | Manufactured housing | $40 |
Single trip | Portable building | $15 |
30-day | Exceeding legal width or length limits | $120 |
60-day | Exceeding legal width or length limits | $180 |
90-day | Exceeding legal width or length limits | $240 |
Annual | Exceeding legal height or length limits | $960 |
Annual | Round hay bales loaded side by side up to 12' wide | $10 |
Annual | Newly manufactured homes | $1,500 |
Annual | Utility pole (overlength) | $120 |
Overweight | ||
Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
Trip | Base permit fee PLUS highway maintenance fee | $60 + |
Highway Maintenance Fee | ||
Trip | 80,001 - 120,000 lbs | $150 |
Trip | 120,001 - 160,000 lbs | $225 |
Trip | 160,001 - 200,000 lbs | $300 |
Trip | 200,001 lbs - above PLUS $35 vehicle supervision fee | $375 + |
Trip | > 254,300 lbs - Above fees PLUS bridge analysis fee | $500 + |
Annual Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Tolerance (10% axle and 5% GVW tolerance) | ||
Annual | Base fee PLUS county fee | $90 + |
Annual | 1-5 counties | $175 |
Annual | 6-20 counties | $250 |
Annual | 21-40 counties | $450 |
Annual | 41-60 counties | $625 |
Annual | 61-80 counties | $800 |
Annual | 81-100 counties | $900 |
Annual | 101-254 counties | $1000 |
Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
Annual | Intermodal Shipping Container Port Permit | $6,000 |
Annual | North Texas Intermodal Permits | $1,000 |
Annual | Rig-up truck | $52 |
Annual | Timber | $900 |
Annual | Ready-mix | $1,000 |
Overdimension and/or Overweight | ||
Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
Single trip | Movement of houses that exceed 20' wide PLUS overweight fees | $60 + |
Single trip | Cranes and well-servicing units (fee based on mileage - $31 minimum) | Variable |
Single trip | Self-propelled off road equipment PLUS overweight fees | $60 + |
Annual | Company envelope | $4,000 |
Annual | Vehicle envelope | $4,000 |
Quarterly | Hubometer Permits (fee based on mileage - $31 minimum) | Variable |
Annual | Implements of husbandry - Envelope PLUS overweight fees | $270 + |
Annual | Mobile crane | $100 |
Annual | Water well drilling machinery and related equipment PLUS overweight fees | $270 + |
Permit limitations
Permit limitations | |
Length | Limitations |
Truck or single vehicle | 75' |
Overhang | Front: 25', rear: 30' |
Weight | Limitations |
Tire | 650 lbs per inch of tire width or the following axle or axle group weights, whichever is the lesser amount |
Single axle | 25,000 lbs |
2-axle group | 46,000 lbs |
3-axle group | 60,000 lbs |
4-axle group | 70,000 lbs |
5-axle group | 81,400 lbs |
6- or more axle group | Determined by the TxDOT based on an engineering study of the equipment |
Over 200,000 lbs | Must have at least 95' of total axle spacing |
Intermodal Shipping Container Port Permit | |
Configuration | Limitations |
Distance | Transported in Texas within 30 miles of select port authorities or ports of entry that are located in a county contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or inlet opening into the gulf |
6-axles | • Gross weight – 93,000 lbs • Truck-tractor single axle – 13,000 lbs • Truck-tractor two-axle group – 18,500 lbs per axle • Semitrailer three-axle group – 16,400 lbs per axle |
7-axles | • Gross weight – 100,000 lbs • Truck-tractor single axle – 15,000 lbs • Truck-tractor three-axle group – 14,900 lbs per axle • Semitrailer three-axle group – 15,400 lbs per axle |
Configuration | Limitation |
Cranes and well-servicing units | The maximum permit weight may not exceed (whichever is less): • Single axle: 30,000 lbs • Inch of tire width: 850 lbs per (950 lbs per inch of tire width for steerable units) |
Self-propelled off road equipment | Operating under this permit must meet the following requirements: • Weight per inch of tire width does not exceed 650 lbs • Weight per axle does not exceed 45,000 lbs • All wheels have a minimum rim diameter of 25" • Minimum spacing between axles, measured from center of axle to center of axle, is not less than 12' • Equipment must be empty and not travel on controlled access highways |
30-, 60-, 90-day overdimension | In order to qualify for a 30, 60 or 90 day permit, vehicles and loads must be: • No greater than 13' wide, 14' high or legal length for an overwidth permit, and • No greater than 8' 6" wide, 14' high, 110' long for vehicles and loads on a trailer • No longer than 75' long for single vehicles moving empty or hauling a load |
Annual overdimension | To qualify for this permit, vehicles and loads must be: • No greater than 8' 6" wide, 14' high, 110' long for vehicles and loads on a trailer • No longer than 75' long for single vehicles moving empty or hauling a load |
Company envelope | May be used to operate any properly registered truck owned or leased to the company. No more than one vehicle can be operated at one time with a specific permit, but a company may purchase more than one permit • Width: 12' • Height: 14' • Length: 110' • Weight: 120,000 lbs gross weight |
Single vehicle envelope | Single vehicle envelope • Width: 12' • Height: 14' • Length: 110' • Weight: 120,000 lbs gross weight |
Hay | To transport cylindrical (round) bales of hay • Width: 12' • All other dimensions and weight must be legal |
Hubometer | For the following vehicle types: self-propelled oil well servicing units, self-propelled mobile cranes, self-propelled concrete pumps, trailer-mounted oil well servicing units, coiled tubing units, swabbing units, and self-propelled bundle extractors • Maximum width: 12' • Maximum height: 14' 6" • Maximum length: 95' • Axle: 30,000 lbs (based upon results of weight analysis) • Tire width : 850 lbs per inch for non-steerable units • Tire width : 950 lbs per inch for steerable units |
Implements of husbandry | Oversize or overweight implements of husbandry operating under this permit may not exceed: • Maximum Width - 16' • Maximum Height - 16' • Maximum Length - 110' • Maximum Weight – Max. allowable permit weights |
Manufactured housing | For the movement of newly manufactured homes that exceed Texas legal size limits from a manufacturing facility to a temporary storage location, not to exceed 20 miles from the point of manufacture |
Mobile crane | Cranes operating under this permit may not exceed: • Width: 10’ • Legal height and length • 650 lbs per inch of tire width • 120,000 lbs gross weight • 25,000 lbs single axle • 46,000 lbs tandem axle group • 60,000 lbs 3-axle group • 70,000 lbs 4-axle group • 81,400 lbs 5-axle group |
Rig-up truck | Units operating under this permit may not exceed: • Steer axle: 25,000 lbs or 850 lbs per inch of tire width, whichever is less • All other axles must be legal weight • Legal height, width, and length |
Utility pole | For vehicles used exclusively for the transportation of poles required for the maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution of lines • Length: 75' • Legal height, width, and weight |
Water well drilling machinery | For the movement of water well drilling machinery and related equipment that cannot be reasonably dismantled • Maximum Width: 16' • Maximum Height: 14'6" • Maximum Length: 110' • Weight: maximum allowable permit weights |
Timber | For the movement of unrefined timber, wood chips and woody biomass • GVW: 84,000 lbs • Tandems: 44,000 lbs • Legal height, width, and length |
Ready-mix | For ready-mixed concrete trucks operating on three axles providing an axle tolerance of 10% provides the following weights are not exceeded: GVW: 69,000 lbs • Single axle: 25,300 lbs • Tandem: 50,600 lbs • Tires: Manufacturer’s tire load rating • Legal height, width, and length |
Signs
General sign requirement | On non-escorted moves, Texas does not require the use of OVERSIZE LOAD signs except when moving a manufactured home. | |||
Escort sign requirement | Must display on either the roof or the front and rear. | |||
Type | Size | Lettering | Background | |
General signs | NS | NS | NS | NS |
Escort signs | OVERSIZE LOAD or WIDE LOAD | 5' x 12" (minimum) 7' x 18" (maximum) | 8" high (minimum) 10" high with a brushstroke of at least 1.41" (maximum) | Yellow |
Lights
General light requirements | Warning lights are required when traveling in a convoy or moving a mobile home | |||
Escort light requirements | Warning lights are required while actively engaged in escort duties for the permitted vehicle. | |||
Type | Placement | |||
General light type and placement | Rotating amber beacon or an amber pulsating light not less than 8" in diameter | Mounted at the rear top of the load being transported A manufactured home may use (2) 5" flashing amber lights mounted approximately 6' from ground level at the rear corners and must use a rotating amber beacon of not less than 8" in diameter mounted on top of the cab. | ||
Escort light type and placement | (2) flashing amber lights or 1 rotating amber beacon of not less than 8" in diameter An escort flag vehicle may be equipped with alternating or flashing blue and amber lights. | Fixed to the roof visible to the front, sides, and rear of the escort |
Flags
Type | Size | Placement | ||
General Flags | Red or orange fluorescent | 12" square | Securely mounted on a staff or securely fastened by at least one corner to the widest extremities of an overwidth permitted vehicle, and at the rear of an overlength permitted vehicle or a permitted vehicle with a rear overhang in excess of 4' | |
Escort Flags | Red | 16" square | Mounted on each of the four corners of the vehicle when escorting a manufactured home or portable building |
Escort vehicle markings
Size | Placement | Content | |
NS | NS | NS |
Escort/flagperson requirements
Except for loads that are overweight only, escorts are required for various oversize loads, unless the TxDOT grants an exception:
DIMENSION | SIZE | TYPE OF ESCORT* |
---|---|---|
These requirements do not apply to movements of manufactured housing, portable building units, or portable building compatible cargo; requirements for such movements are described later. | ||
Width | exceeds 14 feet up to 16 feet | front — two lane roadway rear — four or more lane roadway |
exceeds 16 feet | front and rear for all roadways | |
Height | exceeds 17 feet | front — equipped with height pole |
exceeds 18 feet | front and rear — front escort to be equipped with height pole. | |
Length | exceeds 110 feet up to 125 feet overall | front — two lane roadway rear — multi-lane roadway |
exceeds 125 feet overall | front and rear for all roadways | |
front overhang exceeds 20 feet | front — two-lane highway rear — four or more lane highway | |
rear overhang exceeds 20 feet | rear — all roads |
If the load is over in two dimensions that require an escort, then front and rear escorts will be required. For example, if a load exceeds 14 feet in width and 110 feet in length, both front and rear escorts are required.
Convoys must have a front escort vehicle and a rear escort vehicle on all highways at all times.
Flagpersons
An "escort flag vehicle" means a vehicle that precedes or follows an oversize or overweight vehicle operating under a permit for the purpose of facilitating the safe movement of the vehicle and load.
An "escort flagger" means a person who has successfully completed a training program in traffic direction as defined by the basic peace officer course curriculum established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. In accordance with a permit operates an escort flag vehicle or directs and controls the flow of traffic using a hand signaling device or an automated flagger assistance device.
In addition to any other specific requirements, the Department may require a person operating under a permit to use one or more escort flag vehicles and escort flaggers.
Escort car/company requirements
An escort vehicle must be a single unit with a gross vehicle weight of not less than 1,000 pounds nor more than 10,000 pounds.
Any permitted vehicle that exceeds 17 feet in height must have a front escort vehicle equipped with a height pole, made of nonconductive material, to accurately measure overhead obstructions.
An escort vehicle must maintain two-way communications with the permitted vehicle and other escort vehicles involved with the movement of the permitted vehicle.
Escort operators must warn the traveling public when a permitted vehicle must travel over the center line of a narrow bridge or roadway, a permitted vehicle makes any turning movement that will require the permitted vehicle to travel in the opposing traffic lanes, a permitted vehicle reduces speed to cross under a low overhead obstruction or over a bridge, a permitted vehicle creates an abnormal and unusual traffic flow pattern, or in the opinion of TxDOT, warning is required to ensure the safety of the traveling public or safe movement of the permitted vehicle.
Escort car signs, flags, and lights
An escort vehicle must have two flashing amber lights or one rotating amber beacon of not less than eight inches in diameter fixed to the roof of the escort vehicle. The light must be visible from all sides of the escort vehicle. An escort flag vehicle may be equipped with alternating or flashing blue and amber lights.
An escort vehicle must display a sign on either the roof of the vehicle or the front and rear of the vehicle with the words OVERSIZE LOAD or WIDE LOAD. The sign must be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle while escorting the permitted load and meet the following specifications:
- At least five feet, but not more than seven feet in length, and at least 12 inches, but not more than 18 inches in height;
- Yellow background with black lettering;
- Lettering must be at least 8 inches high, but not more than 10 inches high with a brush stroke at least 1.41 inches wide; and
- The sign must be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle while escorting the permit load (the sign must not be used at any other time).
Travel restrictions
Daytime | Permitted vehicle may be moved only during daylight hours unless the vehicle is overweight only or is traveling on an interstate highway and does not exceed 10' wide and 100' with legal front and rear overhangs. | |||
Weekend | NS | |||
Holidays | Permitted loads exceeding 14' wide, 16' high, or 110' long, may be prohibited from moving on • New Years • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor Day • Thanksgiving • Christmas | |||
Visibility | Prohibited when visibility is reduced to less than two-tenths of one mile or if the road surface is hazardous due to rain, wind, ice, sleet, or snow. |
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['Size and Weight Limits']
['Oversize and Overweight Movements']
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