Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - West Virginia

General requirements

Reducible expectations	Divisible load permits are not available.
Permit timing	Self-issued on-line permits may be issued in just a few minutes. If the application must go to the permit office for review, normal issue time for an oversize/overweight single trip permit is within 24 hours of receipt of the application. Superload Permits may take 48 hours or more. As a best practice, apply well in advance.
Method of application	Permits are available on-line, by walk-in, or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	Payment for permits can be made by major credit card or escrow account or through a wire service company.
Electronic permits	Once a permit has been issued, it must be carried in the vehicle or combination to which it refers at all times during the move and be opened for inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of the commissioner of highways or the Public Service Commission.
Route surveys	An engineering analysis may be required demonstrating that the vehicle permitted does not adversely affect the designated routes.

Insurance requirements

Liability	Holders of permits must agree to compensate the Department of Highways for all damages or expenses incurred during movement under the permit. The Commissioner reserves the right to prescribe various conditions for movement under permits to assure against undue damage to road foundations, surfaces or structures. A bond or other security may be required as deemed necessary to compensate for damage during permitted moves.
Coverage	Insurance is not required to be on file with permit office (except for mobile home), however operators must obtain insurance comparable to the federal standards (between $750,000 and $5,000,000 depending upon commodity).

Available permits and fees

General
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	Overdimension, overweight, or superload base fee	$20
Single trip	Overweight ADD per ton/mile	$0.04
Annual	Blanket permit overdimension (basic fee)	$200
Annual	Blanket permit overdimension and overweight (basic fee)	$500
Annual	Blanket permit for seagoing containerized cargo for 1st 15 permits	$150
Annual	Blanket permit for seagoing containerized cargo for each additional	$15
Single trip	Mobile home	$20
Annual	Mobile home up to 14' wide	$200

Permit limitations

Permit limitations
Width	Limitation
4-lane road	15'
2-lane road	16'
General	Permits for wider movements may occasionally be issued, depending on routes to be traveled and other conditions
Overhang	15' front, 30' rear
Height	Above legal the person granted such permit shall give adequate notice to owners of overhead wires, cables, or other facilities which may be affected by the transportation authorized by the permit.
Length	Permits will only be issued if adequate clearances are available on the proposed routes
Weight	Limitations
Single trip	Maximum single trip permitted weights are: • 28,000 lbs single axle • 45,000 lbs tandem axles • 50,000 lbs tridem axles • 55,000 lbs quad axles • 120,000 lbs gross vehicle weight
Annual
Configuration	Limitations
Interstate and other divided routes	Maximums: • Height: 14' 6" • Width: 14' • Length: 95' • Overhang: 15' • GVW: 110,000 lbs
US and selected routes	Maximums: • Height: 14' • Width: 12' • Length: 75' • Overhang: 10' • GVW: 90,000 lbs
Other routes	Maximums: • Height: 13' 6" • Width: 12' • Length: 75' • Overhang: 10' • GVW: Legal weights
Axle limits	All routes: • Single axle for OW permit: 28,000 lbs • Tandem for OW permit: 45,000 lbs • Tridem for OW permit: 50,000 lbs • Single axle for OS permit: 20,000 lbs • Tandem for OS permit: 34,000 lbs
Overweight	Overweight loads operating under a blanket permit must be carried on a truck-tractor and trailer combination, not a single vehicle
Timber	Issued to transport logs, wood chips, timber, other natural raw wood, lumber, paper, wood veneer, wood pellets, or any other wood product of the forest, craft, or manufacturing.: Vehicle: Tractor -semitrailer with 6-axles • GVW: 94,000 lbs • Distance between the last drive axle of the tractor and the first trailer axle: 29' 6" (minimum) • Non-Interstate travel only Vehicle: 4-axle tractor with dual-axle pup • Steer axle 14,500 lbs • Drives 16,613 lbs each • Pup axles 14,830 each Vehicle: Tractor -semitrailer with 6-axles • GVW: 94,000 lbs • Distance between the last drive axle of the tractor and the first trailer axle: 29' 6" (minimum) • Non-Interstate travel only Vehicle: 4-axle tractor with dual-axle pup • Steer axle 14,500 lbs • Drives 16,613 lbs each • Pup axles 14,830 each
Sealed containerized cargo	For use with a vehicle hauling containerized cargo in a sealed, sea- going container to or from a seaport or inland waterway port that has or will be transported by marine shipment: • Vehicle: Tractor -semitrailer with 5-axles or more • GVW: 90,000 lbs • Single axle: 28,000 lbs • Tandem: 45,000 lbs • Tridem: 50,000 lbs

Signs

General sign requirement	Oversize mobile home movements must display signs at both the front and the rear. Sign requirements of other states are also acceptable.
Escort sign requirement	Must display on bumper or roof and be visible from front or rear.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	6' to 8' x 18"	Black, 10"	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	5' x 12"	Black, 10" with 1.5" brushstroke	Yellow

Lights

General light requirements	NS
Escort light requirements	Warning lights required.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	NS	NS
Escort light type and placement	Rotating or strobe amber yellow plastic, acrylic, or glass covered flashing light	Visible from at least 500' with a horizontal placement visible from all directions.

Flags

	Size	Placement
General Flags	18" Square	(6) flags must be displayed: 1 on each side of the front bumper of the power unit or towing vehicle and 1 on each top corner of the load.
Escort Flags	18" square	(2) mounted at 40 to 70° angle on roof rack, or on all 4 corners of vehicle.

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
8" x 12"	Both sides of vehicle	Name of the company, owner, or driver of the escort vehicle, along with the phone number of the owner or driver.

Escort/Flagperson requirements

Overwidth

Overall Width	Highway Lanes	Escort Vehicle Required with OVERSIZE LOAD Sign	Days of Travel
* Districts and Parkway may require additional escort or time restrictions West Virginia Parkway Authority: Loads greater than 16 ft wide must be able to clear 2 ft 9 in. high concrete barriers. *Loads more than 16 ft wide may move only on Sunday morning until noon.
10 ft 6 in. to 12 ft	2 lane	At front	7 days
10 ft 6 in. to 12 ft	4 lane	None	7 days
12 ft 1 in. to 14 ft	2 lane	At front and rear	7 days
12 ft 1 in. to 14 ft	4 lane	At rear	7 days
14 ft 1 in. to 15 ft*	2 lane	At front and rear	Monday - Friday**
14 ft 1 in. to 15 ft*	4 lane	At front and rear	Monday - Friday
15 ft 1 in. to 16 ft	2 lane	Two front and one rear	Monday - Friday
15 ft 1 in. to 16 ft	4 lane	One front and two rear	Monday - Friday
16 ft 1 in. and above	2 lane and 4 lane	As required by permit	Sunday***

Overlength

Length	Highway Lanes	Escort Vehicle Required with OVERSIZE LOAD Sign	Days of Travel
Pole or extendable trailer can legally carry a load of 80 ft in length (without permit) providing load is not overweight. Escorts are not required but are encouraged for safety. Districts and Parkway Authority may require additional escorts. *No escort required until overhang exceeds 10 ft front or rear.
75 ft to 95 ft*	2 lane	At rear	Monday - Friday
75 ft to 95 ft*	4 lane	None	7 days
95 ft 1 in. to 100 ft*	2 lane	At front and rear	Monday - Friday
95 ft 1 in. to 100 ft*	4 lane	At rear	Monday - Friday
100 ft 1 in	2 lane	At front and rear	Monday - Friday
100 ft 1 in	4 lane	At front and rear	Monday - Friday
Front overhang exceeds 10 ft**	2 lane	At front	Monday - Friday
Front overhang exceeds 10 ft**	4 lane	At front	Monday - Friday
Rear overhang exceeds 10 ft**	2 lane	At rear	Monday - Friday
Rear overhang exceeds 10 ft**	4 lane	At rear	Monday - Friday

Overheight

When height exceeds 15 feet:

Highway Lanes	Escort Vehicle Required with OVERSIZE LOAD sign	Days of Travel
*Parkway (I-77/64) maximum height Yeager Bridge 15 ft 10 in. 16 ft in center of bridge.
2 lane	Front pole car required	Monday - Friday
4 lane	In addition to any other escort	Monday - Friday

Escort requirements are stated within the permit. These requirements are the policy of the WV Division of Highways. Districts and Parkway Authority may require additional escort or movement requirements, but never less than those listed above.

Flagperson requirements

When one-way or narrow bridges or other restrictive structures are encountered along the highways during an oversize move, the driver of an escort vehicle must act as a flagperson if oncoming traffic is present. Such a flagperson must assure the safe passage of the overdimensional vehicle and other traffic over or through the constricted area.

Escort car/Company requirements

The applicant for any special permit is responsible for the conditions and requirements for any front or rear escort vehicle as follows:

Vehicle must weigh more than 2,000 pounds, have a GVWR less than 26,000 pounds, and be properly licensed;
Identification signs showing the name of the company, owner, or driver of the escort vehicle, along with the phone number of the owner or driver, must be displayed on both sides of vehicle. The signs must be at least eight inches by 12 inches;
Must have two red or safety orange flags, at least 18 inches square, mounted at 40 to 70 degree angle on roof rack, or on all four corners of vehicle; and
All for-hire escort vehicles must contain:
- A CB radio, or other two-way communication device;
- Two five-pound fire extinguishers (type A-B-C);
- A sign with a handle and word STOP on one side and SLOW on the other (18 inches in diameter with six-inch letters);
- An orange safety vest, shirt, or jacket;
- An 18-inch red hand-held flag;
- Two OVERSIZE LOAD banners (yellow with black lettering); and
- Three reflecting triangles or 18-inch traffic cones.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

Escort cars must be equipped with either a rotating or strobe amber yellow plastic, acrylic, or glass covered flashing light, visible from at least 500 feet that has a horizontal placement visible from all directions.

Escort cars must display bumper or roof mounted yellow five-foot by 12-inch signs reading OVERSIZE LOAD with black letters 10 inches high, 1¹/₂-inch wide brush stroke, visible from front or rear.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	All movement by permit must be made between sunrise and sunset. Approved exceptions will be noted on permit.
Weekend	As a general rule, vehicles under special permit with loads wider than 14' may not be moved on Saturdays, Sundays
Holidays	Generally, vehicles under special permit with loads wider than 14' may not be moved on legal holidays.
Visibility	Prohibited when road surfaces are hazardous due to ice or snow, or when driving conditions are rendered dangerous by reason of fog, snow, excessive rain, etc.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - West Virginia