2024 Rhode Island Oversize Permits and Regulations

Contact (877) 792-5056 for Oversize Permits in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island DOT has made it mandatory that oversize and overweight loads must be accompanied by shipping permits during transport. Wide Load Shipping team of specialists will help you acquire shipping permits to avoid fines. Below is more information about superloads, pilot car requirements, and limits.

Oversize Load Limits in Rhode Island

The following are the maximum legal load weight and dimensions limits in Rhode Island.

• Length: 53 feet.
• Width: 8’ 6 feet.
• Height: 13’ 6 feet.
• Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW.
• Overhang: 3′ in the front and 6′ from the rear.

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Information in Rhode Island

• Length: If the load is 75′ to 95′ on a 2-load road, you will need one rear pilot car (escort).
• Width: 10′ 6″ to 12′ wide on a 2 lane road requires 1 front pilot car. On a 4 lane road, up to 12′ wide requires no escorts. When the load is 12′ 1″ to 14′ wide 1 front and 1 rear pilot car (escort) is required on all 2 lane roads and 1 rear on all 4 lane roads. For loads 14′ 1″ – 15′ wide 1 front and 1 rear pilot car (escort) is required. 15′ 1″ to 16′ wide on 2 lane requires 2 front pilot cars (escorts) and 1 rear pilot car (escort). On 4 all-lane roads 1 front and 2 rear pilot cars (escorts) are required. If you do have a permit for weekend travel, you will be required to have a police escort. Districts and Parkways may require additional escorts as well. Vehicles traveling over 14′ wide will not be allowed to travel on Fridays except on Parkway. The maximum width allowed on the Parkway is 16′, and must be accompanied by a police escort if over 15′.
• Height: A front high pole card is required if the load height exceeds 15′.
• Weight: Check with the State to see if your weight class will require a pilot car/escort.
• Overhang: If the front overhang is over 10′ on 2 or 4-lane roads 1 front pilot car (escort) is required. If the rear overhang exceeds 10′ on a 2 or 4-lane road one rear escort is required.

What’s the Cost of Trucking Permits In Rhode Island?

Here are the costs of oversize and overweight permits according to Rhode Island DOT. To acquire the trucking permits for your load, call us today at (877) 792-5056.

• Single trip permit in Rhode Island: $20
• Annual trip permit in Rhode Island: $100

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Cities in Rhode Island;

Providence, RI;Warwick, RI; Cranston, RI; Pawtucket, RI; East Providence, RI; Woonsocket, RI; Newport, RI; Westerly, RI; Tiverton, RI; Warwick, RI; Cumberland, RI; Coventry, RI; North Providence, RI; South Kingstown, RI; Johnston, RI; West Warwick, RI; North Kingstown, RI; Newport, RI; Westerly, RI; Bristol, RI; Lincoln, RI; Smithfield, RI; Central Falls, RI; Portsmouth, RI; Burrillville, RI

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Counties in Rhode Island;

Providence County; Kent County; Washington County; Newport County; Bristol County

Oversize and Overweight Permit Limits in Rhode Island

• Length: Rhode Island makes a determination on each individual shipment depending on the proposed route and dimensions.
• Width: Rhode Island makes a determination on each individual shipment depending on the proposed route and dimensions.
• Height: Rhode Island makes a determination on each individual shipment depending on the proposed route and dimensions
• Weight: Rhode Island makes a determination on each individual shipment depending on the proposed route and total weight, which is usually determined by axle spacings. Typically 22,500 pounds per axle is permitted on 5 axles, 6 axles, or 7 axles, but this is all contingent upon actual spacings, weight, and routing. However, if your heavy haul shipment is over 200,000 pounds, you will be required to retain an outside engineering, firm to survey your proposed routes.
• Overhang: If in excess of 3 feet in the front or 6 feet from the rear of the trailer Rhode Island will make a determination on each individual shipment depending on the proposed route and dimensions.

Oversize Load Travel Times and Restrictions in Rhode Island

Travel is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. No weekend travel is permitted. No travel on major holidays and on Victory over Japan Day (2nd Monday in August). Movement may be restricted afternoon, the day before any holiday. Rhode Island Turn Pike middle lane maximum width allowed is 15’10”. The maximum width in the outside lane is 14’10”. If you need more information, please call the Turn Pike: 401-423-0800.

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Requirements in Rhode Island

All pilot cars/escort vehicles must display a bumper or roof-mounted “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle. The sign must be at least 5′ long and 12″ in height, yellow with black letters no less than 10″ tall and 1 1/2″ in width. Vehicle must have 2 safety flags, red or orange, and be a minimum of 18″ of length and/or height mounted at a 40 to 70-degree angle on all 4 corners of the vehicle. Company identification signs must be placed on both sides of the pilot car (escort vehicle) displaying the company’s name and phone number and on both the vehicle’s left and right-hand sides. These signs must be no less than 8″ tall x 12″ wide, and identity writing must be legible. The vehicle must be equipped with a horizontally mounted rotating (or strobe) amber-colored flashing light, which must be visible from a 360-degree angle from a minimum of 500 feet. Vehicles must be equipped with a CB radio or 2-way communication device, 2 – 5 pound fire extinguishers type A, B, and C, a sign with the word “STOP” on one side and “SLOW” on the other with dimensions of no less than 18″ in diameter with a minimum of 6″ letters. A red safety-colored flag with a handle no less than 18″ square, 3 reflective emergency road triangles or 18″ traffic cones, 2 OVERSIZE LOAD banners (yellow with black lettering), and a safety colored (red, orange, yellow, or lime green) vest, jacket or shirt (used while directing traffic).

Heavy Haul Trucking and Oversize Load Permits Limitations in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of motor vehicles makes decisions on every shipment that exceeds the legal limits. It comes down to axle spacing, size, and proposed routing when it’s all said and done. Rhode Island has no set maximums, and the state will determine your routing based on your dimensions and weights.

Required Truck Flags, Signs, and Lights in Rhode Island

The word “OVERSIZE” load will be required on the front of the truck and the rear of the shipment. The sign must be a minimum of 7 feet long and 18 inches high. All letters must be black and on a yellow background. Each letter must be a minimum of 10 inches and 1 1/4 inches thick. Wash shipments will require at least two flags and up to Six Flags to be mounted at the widest extremity of the shipment and on all four corners of the shipment. The flags must be square with a minimum of 18 inches on each side. Flags must be either red-orange fluorescent in color or clean so they are visible. If you have 4 feet of overhang, flags will be required on each corner. Trucks must travel with headlights on low beams.

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Requirements in Rhode Island

No escort or pilot car is required if a shipment is less than 12 feet wide. Rear pilot cars or escort vehicles are required on shipments between 12 feet and 14’6″ wide front and rear pilot cars or escorts are required on all shipments over 14’6″ wide. If a shipment is over 80 feet long, one pilot car or escort is required for shipments over 80 feet to 90 feet long. Pilot cars or escort drivers are required on all shipments more than 90 feet in length. Escorts or pilot cars are required on any shipment with an overhang over 15 feet. If the shipment is over 14 feet tall, one escort or pilot car with a high pole is required. If the shipment exceeds 12 feet wide, pilot cars or escorts will be required on two-lane highways.

All pilot cars or escort vehicles will need to be, at minimum, the size of a compact car or larger. Pilot car drivers and escort drivers will need to maintain two-way radio communications at all times and within visible distance of the shipment. All escort vehicles and pilot cars must have amber lights operating above the highest point of the vehicle and be visible from the front and rear. Pilot and escort vehicles will also travel with their low-beam headlights on at all times. All pilot cars and escort vehicles must have their oversize load sign pointed in the applicable direction, whether they are leading or chasing.

Oversize and Overweight Trucking Times and Curfews in Rhode Island

No weekend travel is permitted. One half-hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Travel is prohibited on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Victoria Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas day. If a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is restricted as a holiday. The previous Friday is restricted to a holiday afternoon when a holiday falls on a Saturday. If a holiday falls during the week, travel is allowed until noon the day before the holiday. The state permit office will be closed on the holidays mentioned above and on Martin Luther King day and election day. However, travel will not be restricted on these additional days. There are restrictions within the state of Rhode Island: some routes designated as red routes restrict movements of any shipment over 12 feet wide between 7 and 9 AM and after 3 PM. Red routes are displayed on provisions sheets.

Rhode Island cities: Ashaway, Barrington, Bradford, Bristol, Central Falls, Cranston, Cumberland Hill, East Providence, Greenville, Harrisville, Hope Valley, Kingston, Melville, Narragansett Pier, Newport, Newport East, North Providence, Pascoag, Pawtucket, Providence, Tiverton, Valley Falls, Wakefield-Peacedale, Warwick, Westerly, West Warwick, Woonsocket.

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