Ohio oversize and overweight rules
The short answer
Last checked
Without a permit, a load in Ohio can be up to 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 80,000 lb gross, with the conditions in the legal limits table. The first pilot car is required for loads over 13 ft wide or over 90 ft long, and a height pole car for loads over 14 ft 6 in high, with the conditions in the pilot car table. It treats a load as a superload when it is over 14 ft wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 120,000 lb gross; the conditions in the axle and fee tables name other superload triggers.
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Legal limits without a permit
| Limit | Up to | Roads | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 inThe director can close designated state highways to vehicles this wide, so confirm your route is open to it. | All roads | R.C. 5577.05(B)(5) |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | All roads | R.C. 5577.05(D) |
| Length, semitrailer | 53 ftThe director can close designated state highways to this combination, so confirm your route first. | All roads | R.C. 5577.05(C)(3) |
| Length, whole combination | 65 ftApplies to combinations other than the semitrailer combinations in R.C. 5577.05(C)(3) and (4) and the transporters in R.C. 5577.05(E). | All roads | R.C. 5577.05(C)(6) |
| Length, single truck | 50 ftDoes not cover buses, motorhomes, or trailers and semitrailers, which follow their own length limits. | All roads | R.C. 5577.05(C)(8) |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | All roads | R.C. 5577.04(E) |
Source: R.C. 5577.05, R.C. 5577.04
Axle weight limits
| Axle or group | Without a permit | With a permit | Roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any single axle | 20,000 lb | 29,000 lbThis is the top single axle weight even for a superload. Under ODOT’s permit guide, Section 9, 29,000 pounds applies only when the next axle is over 16 feet away; closer axles are held lower. | All roads |
| 2 or more axles in a group, spread over 3 ft 4 in to 8 ft | 34,000 lbOff the Interstate a vehicle may instead follow the limits in R.C. 5577.04(D), whichever gives it the higher gross weight. | Not set | Interstates |
| 3 axles in a group, spread over 8 ft to 9 ft | 48,000 lbUnder R.C. 5577.04(D)(3), for an equalized three axle group with axles over 4 feet apart and at most 9 feet overall; gross is also held to 38,000 pounds plus 900 for each foot of overall spacing. | Not set | Roads other than interstates |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | Not a hard ceiling: heavier loads are superloads. ODOT runs the bridge analysis itself up to 250,000 pounds, and the Office of Structural Engineering handles anything heavier.120,000 lb | All roads |
| Per inch of tire width | 650 lb an inch | 800 lb an inch | All roads |
| 2 axles in a group, spread over 3 ft 4 in to 4 ft | Not set | Not a hard ceiling: over the limits in ODOT’s permit guide, Section 9, the load becomes a superload and needs a bridge analysis.36,000 lb | All roads |
| 2 axles in a group, spread over 4 ft to 8 ft | Not set | Not a hard ceiling: over the limits in ODOT’s permit guide, Section 9, the load becomes a superload and needs a bridge analysis.50,000 lb | All roads |
| 3 axles in a group | Not set | 60,000 lbNeeds every spacing over 4 feet; if any spacing is 4 feet or less, the limit is 47,000 pounds. Over the limits in ODOT’s permit guide, Section 9, the load is a superload. | All roads |
| 4 or more axles in a group | Not set | 80,000 lbNeeds every spacing over 4 feet; if any spacing is 4 feet or under, the limit falls to 60,000 pounds. For vehicles with more than 13 axles, ODOT may allow higher weights. | All roads |
The federal bridge formula applies to axle groups on interstates (R.C. 5577.04(B)(3) and (C)). “With a permit” lists the state’s permit figures; read each row’s condition, since some are review thresholds rather than limits.
Source: R.C. 5577.04, ODOT Operational Guide, Sections 2, 9 and 14
Pilot cars and escorts
Each row is one rule. A load can meet several; the permit lists the escorts for your move.
| Load | Roads | Front | Rear | Height pole | Police | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| over 90 ft longMeasured by permitted length; the director can attach additional escort requirements to the permit.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 2 | All roads | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 6 in wideForm OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 5 | All roads | 1 in front, 1 behind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 16 ft wideRequired on top of the private escorts for this width; officer count is unspecified, so plan on at least one.Operational Guide section 12, When an Escort is Required | All roads | police escort | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| over 14 ft 6 in highThe lead escort must carry a height sensing device, which ODOT says can be a simple pole.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 4 | All roads | 1 height pole car | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 10 in highThe height sensing device is carried by the lead escort, as it is for loads above 14 feet 6 inches.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 5 | All roads | 1 behind, 1 height pole car | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wide and over 90 ft longForm OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 6 | All roads | 1 in front, 1 behind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 6 in high and over 90 ft longThe height sensing device is carried by the lead escort, per the 14 feet 6 inches rule.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, items 4 and 6 | All roads | 1 behind, 1 height pole car | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wide and over 14 ft 6 in highThe height sensing device is carried by the lead escort, per the 14 feet 6 inches rule.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, items 4 and 6 | All roads | 1 behind, 1 height pole car | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wideOn multiple lane highways the single escort rides at the rear instead; the director can attach additional escort requirements to the permit.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 3 | Two-lane roads | 1 in front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wideOn two-lane highways the single escort is a lead escort instead; the director can attach additional escort requirements to the permit.Form OS-1A, Private Escort Vehicles, item 3 | Two or more lanes in your direction | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- The lead pilot car is the one that carries the height pole.
Superloads
Ohio treats a load as a superload when it is any one of these:
- over 120,000 lb gross
- over 14 ft wide
- over 14 ft 6 in high
Source: Form OS-1A Rev. 01/18, Private Escort Vehicles, items 2 to 6; drivers must carry it under Ohio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-04(A)(2), Operational Guide section 12 (Operational Requirements), Escorts, When an Escort is Required
When you can travel
Holidays
Special Hauling Permit loads (legal-dimension overweight loads excepted)
Barred from noon the day before until half an hour before sunrise the day after the holiday or holiday weekend. Six holidays. 2026: Thanksgiving noon Wed Nov 25 to Fri Nov 27 sunrise; Christmas noon Thu Dec 24 to Sat Dec 26, or to Mon Dec 28 if treated as a holiday weekend; New Year 2027 noon Thu Dec 31 to Sat Jan 2, same caveat.
ODOT Special Hauling Permit form OS-1A, Days/Hours of Operation item 2Dates computed
Weekends
Loads over 12 ft wide
No movement Sat from 3 p.m. to half an hour before sunrise Sun, Sun from 3 p.m. to half an hour before sunrise Mon, and Fri from 3 p.m. to half an hour before sunrise Sat from April 1 through Nov 30. These add to the holiday and county rules.
ODOT Special Hauling Permit form OS-1A, Days/Hours of Operation item 4
Night
Permitted loads not covered by the holiday, county and weekend rules
Daylight only, any day: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Legal-dimension overweight vehicles are excepted; specially authorized night moves need extra lighting.
ODOT Special Hauling Permit form OS-1A, Days/Hours of Operation items 1 and 5
Cities and rush hour
Butler, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Geauga, Hamilton, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Montgomery, Pickaway, Stark, Summit, Union, Warren and Wood counties
Loads over 12 ft wide in listed Ohio counties
No movement Mon to Fri 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m. Counties: Butler, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Geauga, Hamilton, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Montgomery, Pickaway, Stark, Summit, Union, Warren and Wood.
ODOT Special Hauling Permit form OS-1A, Days/Hours of Operation item 3
Every state on one page: holiday, weekend, night and city restrictions by state. For this year’s holiday, see Thanksgiving 2026 restrictions.
Single trip permit fees
Within each kind of fee the largest that fits your load applies, and the kinds add up.
| Fee | When it applies | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Processing feeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A) | Every single trip permit | $20 |
| SurchargeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A)(1)(c)(i) | over 8 ft 6 in wide | $55 |
| SurchargeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A)(1)(c)(i) | over 13 ft 6 in high | $55 |
| SurchargeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A)(1)(d)(i) | over 14 ft wide | $125 |
| SurchargeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A)(1)(d)(i) | over 14 ft 6 in high | $125 |
| SurchargeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A)(1)(a)(i) and (B) | over 80,000 lb gross | $125 |
| Overweight mileage feeOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A)(1)(b)(i) | over 120,000 lb gross | Not computed here, see the source |
Where to apply
Ohio issues permits through Ohio Hauling Permits System (OHPS). Apply at haulingpermits.transportation.ohio.gov.
What the rules don’t say
Where the sources are silent or say two things. Ask the state before you rely on these.
Axle weights
- Off the Interstate, Ohio Revised Code 5577.04 lets a vehicle use whichever of two limit sets gives the higher gross weight. Confirm which set the permit office applies to your configuration and route.
- Spacing-based limits for closely spaced axles, and the reduced weight tables for loads at 110% to 150% of legal, can be lower than the maximums quoted. Ask for the limit that fits your exact axle layout.
- The permit maximums (29,000 pounds single, 50,000 tandem, 60,000 tri-axle, 80,000 quad-axle) are ceilings, not guaranteed grants. Over those, or over 120,000 pounds gross, the load is a superload and gets individual review.
- ODOT voids a permit if a granted axle or group weight is exceeded by more than 2,000 pounds. Confirm tolerances, steering axle tire-width limits and load-equalizing requirements before dispatch.
- Thaw-season weight reductions of up to 25% on state highways, and lower limits for solid-tired vehicles, can apply. Check for active restrictions on your route.
Pilot cars and superloads
- Ohio’s rule doesn’t set escort numbers. The Director decides case by case and writes the requirement on the permit, so the permit itself is the final word, even where ODOT’s standard provisions suggest a usual trigger.
- ODOT’s published guide mentions a police escort for loads over 16 feet wide, but the standard permit provisions list no police threshold. Confirm with the permit office whether law enforcement will be required.
- A superload can be triggered by axle or axle group weight as well as gross weight, width or height. For superloads, escort type and count are set after bridge analysis, and ODOT or State Highway Patrol escorts may be required at some bridges.
- Extra escorts can be added where delay, hazard or road damage is likely, or where 8 feet of clear pavement cannot be kept for oncoming traffic. How a three-lane undivided road is treated is not stated.
- The Ohio Turnpike issues its own permits, and county, township and city roads need local permits. Marina and some equipment permit types have their own escort terms.
Permit fees
- The published rule counts the $20 processing fee and one surcharge. Return-trip fees, emergency trips ($240 outbound, $115 return) and steel or aluminum coil permits are priced separately, so ask for the total for your trip pattern.
- Boat, construction equipment, farm equipment, manufactured building and marina permits are listed at $80. The rule does not make clear whether the $20 processing fee is added on top.
- The rule sets surcharges only for width, height and overweight. Confirm what applies to a load that is long but otherwise within width, height and weight limits.
- Loads over 120,000 pounds gross also pay 4 cents per ton over 60 tons for each mile in Ohio, and the department can charge its direct cost for special traffic control or engineering analysis. Neither amount is fixed, so ask for an estimate.
- Continuing and annual permit fees, and any separate superload or engineering fee, are not stated. Confirm them with the permit office before quoting a customer.
Questions about Ohio
- When do I need an oversize permit in Ohio?
- Without a permit, a load in Ohio can be up to 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 80,000 lb gross, with the conditions in the legal limits table. Loads past these figures generally need a permit from the state; see the legal limits table for the exceptions and for length, which depends on the vehicle.
- How much does an Ohio oversize permit cost?
- On the fee schedule we checked, a single trip permit starts at $20. Some charges are not computed here; the fee table names them. The estimator on this page adds up the fees for your load.
- When do you need a pilot car in Ohio?
- The first pilot car is required for loads over 13 ft wide or over 90 ft long, and a height pole car for loads over 14 ft 6 in high, with the conditions in the pilot car table. How many cars, and whether they lead or follow, depends on the road; the pilot car table lists each rule.
- What is a superload in Ohio?
- Ohio treats a load as a superload when it is over 14 ft wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 120,000 lb gross. The conditions in the axle and fee tables name other superload triggers. The superloads list on this page gives each threshold with its source.
- When can oversize loads travel in Ohio?
- At night: Daylight only, any day: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Legal-dimension overweight vehicles are excepted; specially authorized night moves need extra lighting. This applies to permitted loads not covered by the holiday, county and weekend rules. On weekends: No movement Sat from 3 p.m. to half an hour before sunrise Sun, Sun from 3 p.m. to half an hour before sunrise Mon, and Fri from 3 p.m. to half an hour before sunrise Sat from April 1 through Nov 30. These add to the holiday and county rules. This applies to loads over 12 ft wide. Rush hour and city curfews also apply; they are listed on this page.
- Can oversize loads move on holidays in Ohio?
- Barred from noon the day before until half an hour before sunrise the day after the holiday or holiday weekend. Six holidays. 2026: Thanksgiving noon Wed Nov 25 to Fri Nov 27 sunrise; Christmas noon Thu Dec 24 to Sat Dec 26, or to Mon Dec 28 if treated as a holiday weekend; New Year 2027 noon Thu Dec 31 to Sat Jan 2, same caveat. This applies to special Hauling Permit loads (legal-dimension overweight loads excepted).
Sources
- Ohio Revised Code 5577.04: Maximum axle load, wheel load, gross weights, for pneumatic tired vehiclesR.C. 5577.04Ohio General Assembly, Legislative Service Commission. Read .
- Ohio Revised Code § 5577.05: Prohibition against violation (dimensions)R.C. 5577.05Ohio General Assembly. Read .
- ODOT Operational Guide for Vehicles Operating with a Special Hauling PermitODOT Operational Guide, Sections 2, 9 and 14Ohio Department of Transportation, Special Hauling Permit Section. Read .
- ODOT Form OS-1A, Limitations/Provisions on the Use of a Special Hauling PermitForm OS-1A Rev. 01/18, Penalties for Violation, items 1 and 2Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Highway Management, Special Hauling Permit Section. Read .
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5501:2-1-04, Conditions on permitted movementsOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-04(A)(2) and (L)Ohio Department of Transportation (Director of Transportation). Read .
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5501:2-1-05, Schedule of fees and payment procedureOhio Adm.Code 5501:2-1-05(A), (B) and (E)Ohio Department of Transportation (Director of Transportation). Read .
- Ohio Department of Transportation page naming the permit systemOhio Department of Transportation, permit system pageOhio Department of Transportation. Read .
Found something wrong or out of date? Report an error to hello@thirteensix.com.
This page is a dated summary in our own words, not legal advice. The permit the state issues governs your move, and states change their rules; check with Ohio before you travel.
Bordering states
- Crossing into Indiana? See Indiana rules
- Kentucky, coming soon
- Michigan, coming soon
- Crossing into Pennsylvania? See Pennsylvania rules
- West Virginia, coming soon
More guides: all states and the rules library.
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