Pennsylvania oversize and overweight rules
The short answer
Last checked
Without a permit, a load in Pennsylvania can be up to 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 80,000 lb gross. 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 16 ft wide, over 160 ft long or over 201,000 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 in | All roads | 75 Pa.C.S. § 4921(a) |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | All roads | 75 Pa.C.S. § 4922(a) |
| Length, single truck | 40 ftBoom vehicles may be up to 55 feet, while buses and motor homes may be up to 45 feet (§ 4923(a)(2)). | All roads | 75 Pa.C.S. § 4923(a)(1) |
| Length, semitrailer | 53 ftCovers one trailer pulled behind a truck or truck tractor, and the distance from kingpin to rear axle may not exceed 41 feet. | All roads | 75 Pa.C.S. § 4923(b.1)(1) |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | All roads | 75 Pa.C.S. § 4941(a) |
Source: 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4921 to 4923, 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4941, 4943 and 4944
Axle weight limits
| Axle or group | Without a permit | With a permit | Roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering axle | 20,000 lbThe limit drops to the manufacturer’s rated axle capacity when that rating is lower. | Not a weight limit: over 12,000 pounds on a truck tractor’s steering axle, a supplemental application (Form M-936AS) is due at least 3 work days before the move (67 Pa. Code § 179.8(4)(i)).12,000 lb | All roads |
| Any axle but the steering axle, when the gross is over 73,280 lb | 20,000 lbApplies only to a combination carrying more than 73,280 pounds, and it does not cover the steering axle. | Not set | All roads |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | Not a weight limit: over this, or over the general Table 8-1 gross for the combination, the move needs a supplemental application (Form M-936AS) and a bridge engineer’s review, up to the 201,000 pound ceiling.136,000 lb 201,000 lbIt is the top Table 8-1 maximum, which applies to a four-axle truck tractor with a four-axle semitrailer; anything heavier is a super load. | All roads |
| Per inch of tire width | 800 lb an inch | Not set | All roads |
| Any single axle | Not set | 27,000 lbHeavier axles can be authorized only as a super load, and the carrier must shore every bridge stressed beyond its operating rating. | All roads |
| Single axle standing alone | Not set | 27,000 lb | All roads |
| 2 axles in a group, spread 4 ft to 8 ft | Not set | Not a hard ceiling: above this Table 8-2 figure, a bridge engineer reviews the route (Form M-936AS), and axles may go up to 27,000 pounds each.52,000 lb (26,000 lb an axle) | All roads |
| 3 axles in a group, spread 8 ft to 16 ft | Not set | Not a hard ceiling: above this Table 8-2 figure, a bridge engineer reviews the route (Form M-936AS), and axles may go up to 27,000 pounds each.63,000 lb (21,000 lb an axle) | All roads |
| 4 axles in a group, spread 12 ft to 24 ft | Not set | Not a hard ceiling: above this Table 8-2 figure, a bridge engineer reviews the route (Form M-936AS), and axles may go up to 27,000 pounds each.72,000 lb (18,000 lb an axle) | All roads |
The bridge formula applies to axle groups on all roads (75 Pa.C.S. § 4943(b)(1)). “With a permit” lists the state’s permit figures; read each row’s condition, since some are review thresholds rather than limits.
Source: 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4941, 4943 and 4944, 67 Pa. Code § 179.8
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 longThe pilot car may pull ahead briefly to guide traffic around sharp or right-angle turns; a pilot car is also needed for rear overhang beyond 15 feet.§ 179.10(13)(i)(A) | All roads | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wide and over 120 ft longThe width pilot car leads on roads with one lane in your direction and follows on multilane highways; the length pilot car follows. The one pilot car allowance ends at 120 feet.Number of Pilot Cars Cheat Sheet | All roads | 1 in front, 1 behind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 6 in highThe pole car runs 1,000 to 3,000 feet ahead on all highways, and the permit holder must notify affected utilities at least 24 hours before. PennDOT’s guidance calls for two pilot cars if the load is also over 13 feet wide.§ 179.10(13)(i)(C) | All roads | 1 height pole car | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| over 18 ft wideA State Police escort is required: the certified escort vehicle can replace it only on highways with two or more lanes in one direction, up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long. The rule doesn’t state how many officers.Certified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, item 4 | All roads | 1 behind, police escort | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| over 260 ft longA State Police escort is required: the certified escort vehicle can replace it only on highways with two or more lanes in one direction, up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long. The rule doesn’t state how many officers.Certified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, item 4 | All roads | 1 behind, police escort | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| over 13 ft up to 16 ft wide and over 14 ft 6 in highHolds up to 16 feet wide. PennDOT’s guidance sets the full requirement for this pairing, so you do not add individual pilot cars for each dimension.Number of Pilot Cars Cheat Sheet, and Pilot Car Placement item 3 | All roads | 1 behind, 1 height pole car | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wideCovers roads with a single lane in the travel direction; if police escort the load too, the pilot car rides behind.§ 179.10(13)(i)(B)(II) | Two-lane roads | 1 in front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 16 ft wideA State Police escort is required, since the certified escort vehicle can replace it only on highways with two or more lanes in one direction. The rule doesn’t state how many officers; the pilot car follows the load.§ 179.10(12)(i)(A) and (B), (13)(i)(B)(III), with the super load definition in § 179.1 | Two-lane roads | 1 behind, police escort | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| over 160 ft longA State Police escort is required: the certified escort vehicle can replace it only on highways with two or more lanes in one direction, up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long. The rule doesn’t state how many officers.§ 179.10(12)(i)(B) and (13)(i)(A) with the super load definition in § 179.1 | Two-lane roads | 1 behind, police escort | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| over 201,000 lb grossA State Police escort is required: the certified escort vehicle can replace it only on highways with two or more lanes in one direction, up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long. The rule doesn’t state how many officers.§ 179.10(12)(i)(B) with the super load definition in § 179.1 | Two-lane roads | police escort | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft longWhether the single pilot car leads or follows is up to the Department; PennDOT applies the rule to the load’s overall width, although the statute refers to body width.75 Pa.C.S. § 4962(f.2) | Two-lane roads | 1 in front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 13 ft wideCovers roads with two or more lanes in the travel direction; a police escort on the move keeps the pilot car behind as well.§ 179.10(13)(i)(B)(I) and (III) | Two or more lanes in your direction | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 16 ft wideOn top of any pilot cars, a PennDOT certified escort vehicle goes along. It stands in for the State Police escort only up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long, moving with traffic on a highway with two or more lanes your way. Wider, longer or against traffic, State Police must escort, and PennDOT may require them anyway.Not when the load is also over 260 ft longCertified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, item 3(a) | Two or more lanes in your direction | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 160 ft longOn top of any pilot cars, a PennDOT certified escort vehicle goes along. It stands in for the State Police escort only up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long, moving with traffic on a highway with two or more lanes your way. Wider, longer or against traffic, State Police must escort, and PennDOT may require them anyway.Not when the load is also over 18 ft wideCertified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, item 3(a) | Two or more lanes in your direction | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 201,000 lb grossOn top of any pilot cars, a PennDOT certified escort vehicle goes along. It stands in for the State Police escort only up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long, moving with traffic on a highway with two or more lanes your way. Wider, longer or against traffic, State Police must escort, and PennDOT may require them anyway.Not when the load is also over 18 ft wide or over 260 ft longThe condition says what goes alongCertified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, item 3(a) | Two or more lanes in your direction | See the source | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft longWhether the single pilot car leads or follows is up to the Department; PennDOT applies the rule to the load’s overall width, although the statute refers to body width.75 Pa.C.S. § 4962(f.2) | 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.
- When police escort the load, the pilot cars ride behind it.
Superloads
Pennsylvania treats a load as a superload when it is any one of these:
- over 201,000 lb gross
- over 160 ft long
- over 16 ft wide
Source: 67 Pa. Code § 179.10(12) and (13); § 179.1 (super load), PennDOT Bureau of Maintenance and Operations, Number of Pilot Cars Cheat Sheet, PennDOT Certified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, items 3 and 4, 75 Pa.C.S. § 4962(d), (f.2), (f.6), 67 Pa. Code § 179.1, definition of Super load
When you can travel
Holidays
All permitted movement (unless exempted or the permit says otherwise)
Not authorized on the holiday or the day before. Six holidays. 2026: Wed Nov 25 and Thu Nov 26 (Thanksgiving); Thu Dec 24 and Fri Dec 25; Thu Dec 31, 2026 and Fri Jan 1, 2027. Weekend bars run separately. Exemptions include defense moves, emergencies and PennDOT or State Police approval.
67 Pa. Code 179.10(7)(i)(D) and (7)(v)Dates computed
Weekends
All permitted movement
Not authorized Saturday after noon or on Sunday. Same exemptions as the holiday rule.
Night
All permitted movement
Not authorized from sunset to sunrise. In urbanized areas, movement from 3 a.m. to sunrise is allowed only with extra lighting visible from 1,000 ft and a pilot car escort. Defense and emergency exemptions apply.
Cities and rush hour
urbanized areas (statewide; Fort Pitt, Squirrel Hill and Liberty Tunnels in Allegheny County)
All permitted movement in urbanized areas, 7 days a week outside holiday periods
Authorized only 3 to 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to sunset. Through the Fort Pitt, Squirrel Hill and Liberty Tunnels in Allegheny County, only 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rule does not name cities.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Permit feeFee schedule page 3, row 66 A Vehicle (Oversize), Single Trip | Every single trip permit | $46 |
| Permit feeFee schedule page 3, row 66 A Vehicle (Oversize), Single Trip | over 14 ft wide | $97 |
| Ton mile feeFee schedule page 3, row 66 A Vehicle (Oversize), Single Trip | over 80,000 lb gross | Not computed here, see the source |
| Superload feeFee schedule page 3, row 64 Super Load, Single Trip | over 201,000 lb gross | Not computed here, see the source |
| Superload feeFee schedule page 3, row 64 Super Load, Single Trip | over 160 ft long | Not computed here, see the source |
| Superload feeFee schedule page 3, row 64 Super Load, Single Trip | over 16 ft wide | Not computed here, see the source |
Source: PennDOT hauling permit fee schedule, load types 57 to 68 (single trip)
Where to apply
Pennsylvania issues permits through Automated Permit Routing/Analysis System (APRAS). Start from the agency’s permit page, which leads to it.
What the rules don’t say
Where the sources are silent or say two things. Ask the state before you rely on these.
Legal limits
- Confirm the combined length limit for loads beyond a 53 foot semitrailer, and which roads fall under the designated truck network in 75 Pa.C.S. § 4908, with PennDOT before dispatching.
Axle weights
- Bridge Formula B applies only to combinations registered and carrying over 73,280 pounds. Lighter vehicles follow the spacing-based axle table in 75 Pa.C.S. § 4943(a)(2), from 18,000 to 22,400 pounds depending on distance to the nearest axle, so confirm the limit for your spacing.
- Gross weight for single vehicles and smaller combinations ranges from 38,000 up to 80,000 pounds, depending on vehicle type and axle count (§ 4941). Confirm which limit fits your equipment.
- Class 17 and 20 trucks have separate tandem limits off the Interstate under § 4943(b)(3): 21,400 pounds on a tandem and 60,000 on three tandems. Confirm if your registration class applies.
- Permit gross weight depends on how many axles the tractor and trailer each have (67 Pa. Code § 179.8 Table 8-1, 66,000 to 201,000 pounds). Confirm the general and maximum gross for your exact axle split.
- Special mobile equipment may carry up to 50,000 pounds on one axle after a bridge engineer review, and tire loading up to 1,000 pounds per inch of width is possible by permit under § 4944. Ask PennDOT how these are approved.
Pilot cars and superloads
- These escort rules cover state highways under a PennDOT permit, and the permit can add more. The permit is not valid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike unless the Vehicle Code allows it, and local roads need local permission, so check with the Turnpike Commission and local authorities.
- PennDOT’s guidance sheet calls for two pilot cars when a load is both wider than 13 feet and longer than 120 feet, but the regulation alone points to one following car on multilane roads. Confirm the count on your permit.
- Escorts can also depend on route or conditions: overweight bridge crossings, oversize moves through urbanized areas after dark (front and rear), loads too slow for 40 mph on limited access highways, and rear overhang past 15 feet. Check your permit.
- Mobile and modular homes over 14 feet wide need a lead and a following pilot car under 75 Pa.C.S. § 4973(d), and site-built buildings over 16 feet wide need a police escort. Confirm the load type before quoting.
- A super load (over 201,000 pounds gross, 160 feet long or 16 feet wide) needs a police escort, and since 2015 one PennDOT certified escort vehicle in addition to the normal pilot cars (75 Pa.C.S. § 4962(f.6)).
- PennDOT’s policy lets the certified escort stand in for State Police only on highways with two or more lanes your way, up to 18 feet wide and 260 feet long, moving with traffic, and PennDOT and the State Police can still call for a police escort. Buildings moved under permit are not super loads.
- The regulation dates from 1993 and PennDOT plans a rewrite, targeted for fall 2027. PennDOT’s pilot car sheet says a single pilot car follows the load, while the regulation puts it in front on a road with one lane in your direction; confirm placement on your permit.
Permit fees
- PennDOT’s fee table splits its tiers at 14 feet wide without saying which tier a load of exactly 14 feet pays. Confirm that case before quoting.
- The overweight charge is 4 cents for each ton and mile on weight above registered gross (or legal gross if lower), over Pennsylvania miles, with whole tons counted upward. An older PennDOT manual says 3 cents, so confirm the rate and your registered weight.
- Manufactured housing has its own fees, $53 for loads to 14 feet wide and $103 for wider ones on the current permit form, with no ton mile charge. Confirm the fee for these loads.
- Super loads pay a $68 preliminary review plus $12 per county, and PennDOT says further charges are possible. The number of counties comes from your route.
- Government, military and PennDOT contract moves are free or at the base fee, while seasonal and annual permits and refund processing ($52) are priced separately. Ask about these before quoting.
- The fee schedule is dated each July 1 and has been revised then in the past, so confirm current fees with the permit office before quoting.
Where to apply
- Start from PennDOT’s special hauling permit page and confirm which online system currently takes applications.
Questions about Pennsylvania
- When do I need an oversize permit in Pennsylvania?
- Without a permit, a load in Pennsylvania can be up to 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 80,000 lb gross. 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 a Pennsylvania oversize permit cost?
- On the fee schedule we checked, a single trip permit starts at $46. 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 Pennsylvania?
- 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 Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania treats a load as a superload when it is over 16 ft wide, over 160 ft long or over 201,000 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 Pennsylvania?
- At night: Not authorized from sunset to sunrise. In urbanized areas, movement from 3 a.m. to sunrise is allowed only with extra lighting visible from 1,000 ft and a pilot car escort. Defense and emergency exemptions apply. On weekends: Not authorized Saturday after noon or on Sunday. Same exemptions as the holiday rule. Rush hour and city curfews also apply; they are listed on this page.
- Can oversize loads move on holidays in Pennsylvania?
- Not authorized on the holiday or the day before. Six holidays. 2026: Wed Nov 25 and Thu Nov 26 (Thanksgiving); Thu Dec 24 and Fri Dec 25; Thu Dec 31, 2026 and Fri Jan 1, 2027. Weekend bars run separately. Exemptions include defense moves, emergencies and PennDOT or State Police approval. This applies to all permitted movement (unless exempted or the permit says otherwise).
Sources
- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, Chapter 49: Size, Weight and Load75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4941, 4943 and 4944Pennsylvania General Assembly, Legislative Reference Bureau. Read .
- 75 Pa.C.S. Chapter 49, Subchapter B: Width, Height and Length75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4921 to 4923Pennsylvania General Assembly. Read .
- 67 Pa. Code § 179.8: Permit application procedure (Tables 8-1 and 8-2)67 Pa. Code § 179.8Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (published in the Pennsylvania Code by the Legislative Reference Bureau). Read .
- 67 Pa. Code Chapter 179, Oversize and Overweight Loads and Vehicles (section 179.10 General conditions; section 179.1 Definitions)67 Pa. Code § 179.10(12) and (13); § 179.1 (super load)Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (published in the Pennsylvania Code by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau). Read .
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 4962, Conditions of permits and security for damages (Vehicle Code)75 Pa.C.S. § 4962(d), (f.2), (f.6)Pennsylvania General Assembly (Vehicle Code, Title 75). Read .
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3108, Drivers of certified escort vehicles (defines super load)75 Pa.C.S. § 3108(c)Pennsylvania General Assembly (Vehicle Code, Title 75). Read .
- PennDOT Form M-938, Section 179.10 General Conditions (11x17)PennDOT Form M-938, Section 179.10(12) and (13)Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Read .
- PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars Cheat SheetPennDOT Bureau of Maintenance and Operations, Number of Pilot Cars Cheat SheetPennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Maintenance and Operations. Read .
- PennDOT Publication 31, Special Hauling Permit ManualPennDOT Publication 31, chapter 2 (section 2.2 application review) and chapter 4 (section 4.1, item 1 State Escorts)Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Central Permit Office. Read .
- PennDOT Certified Escort Policy for Superload MovesPennDOT Certified Escort Policy for Superload Moves, items 3 and 4Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Central Permit Office. Read .
- 67 Pa. Code § 179.1, Definitions (Pennsylvania Code, Department of Transportation, Chapter 179 Special Hauling Permits)67 Pa. Code § 179.1, definition of Super loadPennsylvania Department of Transportation (rule); published by the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. Read .
- 67 Pa. Code § 179.8, Permit application procedure67 Pa. Code § 179.8(4)(iii)Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation (Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin). Read .
- 67 Pa. Code § 179.9, Issuance of permits67 Pa. Code § 179.9(e)Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation (Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin). Read .
- PennDOT Permit Fees, effective July 1, 2025PennDOT hauling permit fee schedule, load types 57 to 68 (single trip)Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Read .
- PennDOT Form M-936A, Oversize/Overweight Application for Special Hauling Permit (Permit Fees section)PennDOT Form M-936A, Permit Fees sectionPennsylvania Department of Transportation. Read .
- 67 Pa. Code 179.1, Definitions (Chapter 179, Oversize and Overweight Loads and Vehicles)67 Pa. Code 179.1, definition of Super loadPennsylvania Department of Transportation (published by the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin). Read .
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation page naming the permit systemPennsylvania Department of Transportation, permit system pagePennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania before you travel.
Bordering states
- Delaware, coming soon
- Maryland, coming soon
- New Jersey, coming soon
- Crossing into New York? See New York rules
- Crossing into Ohio? See Ohio rules
- West Virginia, coming soon
More guides: all states and the rules library.
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