2024 Ohio Oversize Permits and Regulations

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

Oversized and overweight loads must be accompanied by shipping permits during transport in Ohio. Wide Load Shipping is familiar with the DOT requirements and will help you acquire shipping permits for the transportation of your load. Below we have more information about permits, superloads, and pilot car requirements.

Oversize Load Limits in Ohio

Ohio maximum load limits until a trucking permit are required:

• Length: 53 feet.
• Height: 13’6 feet.
• Width: 8’6 feet.
• Weight: 80,000 pounds GVW.
• Overhang: 53 feet is the maximum length.

NOTE: Definitions of weights: Overall Spacing: Distance center to center, to the nearest foot between the extreme front and rear-most axles of the vehicle, combination of vehicles, or any internal axle grouping. Spacing: Distance center to center, to the nearest foot, to an adjacent axle.

Some divisible loads may be permitted to travel less than 150 miles. Transporting metal coils such as aluminum, copper, and steel has different laws; the basic info is that 3 (or fewer) coils are deemed “non-divisible loads.” 

When Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Are Required in Ohio

Heavy haul or oversize loads are required to be accompanied by an escort vehicle or pilot car if:

Length:

• 90 feet combined overall. Lead on 2 lanes and chase on 4 or more lanes. No mention of overhang (see: All heavy-haul shipping laws).

Width:

2 lane roads:

• 13 feet requires 1 pilot car.
• 14 feet and 6 inches require 1 pilot car and 1 escort vehicle.
• 16 feet requires 1 pilot car and 1 escort vehicle and 1 police escort.

4 lane roads:

• 13 feet requires 1 pilot car.
• 14 feet and 6 inches require 1 pilot car and 1 escort.
• 16 feet and 6 inches requires 1 pilot car and 1 escort and on some routes 1 police escort.

Height:

• 14 feet and 6 inches require 1 pilot car equipped with a high pole.
• 14 feet and 10 inches and over require 1 pilot car equipped with a height pole and 1 rear chase.
• Some routes may be required to be accompanied by 1 police escort.

NOTE: If you are required to have only 1 pilot car/escort because your shipment is only 13′ wide, but your shipment requires you to have 1 pilot car/escort because you are over 90′ in length you are considered a “combination” shipment and will be required to have 1 front and 1 rear pilot car/escort vehicle.

What’s the Cost of Trucking Permits In Ohio?

Below we have accurate costs of overweight and oversize permits in Ohio. Wide Load Shipping will help you acquire permits for your load. Call us today at (877) 792-5056.

• Oversize single trip permits: $65 one way and $100 return
• Oversize and overweight single trip permits: $135 one way and $200 return
• Oversize superload permits: $135 one way and $200 return
• Oversize and overweight superload permits: $135 one way and $200 return
• Single trip steel/aluminum coil permit: $65 
• Multi-state oversize single-trip permit: $65
• Multi-state oversize and overweight single-trip permit: $135
• Emergency single trip permit: $250 one way and $365 return
• 90-day oversize permits: $250 one way and $375 return
• 90-day oversize and overweight permits: $500 one way and $750 return
• 90-day steel/aluminum coil permit: $125 
• 90-day Michigan legal permit: $125 one way and return
• Continuing annual oversize permit: $970 one way and $1170 return
• Continuing annual oversize and overweight permit: $1970 one way and $2970 return
• Continuing annual steel/aluminum coil permit: $470 one way and $470 return
• Continuing annual Michigan legal permit: $470 one way and $470 return
• Continuing 45-day international sealed container permit: $250
• Annual boat blanket permit: $100 two way
• Annual construction equipment blanket permit: $100 two way
• Annual farm equipment blanket permit: $100 two way
• Annual manufactured building blanket permit: $100 two way
• Annual marina blanket permit: $100 two way
• Revisions: $10 for all permits and $50 for superload permits

OHIO TURNPIKE

• Oversize permits (overlength, overwidth, or overlength): $25
• Overweight permits up to 120,000 pounds: $135
• Overweight permits over 120,000 pounds: $135 plus a ton per mile
• Ohio state highway patrol escort inspection fee for every patrolman: $60

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Cities in Ohio;

Columbus, OH; Cleveland, OH; Cincinnati, OH; Toledo, OH; Akron, OH; Dayton, OH; Parma, OH; Canton, OH; Youngstown, OH; Lorain, OH; Hamilton, OH; Springfield, OH; Kettering, OH; Elyria, OH; Lakewood, OH; Newark, OH; Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Middletown, OH; Dublin, OH; Beavercreek, OH; Mentor, OH; Euclid, OH; Mansfield, OH; Cleveland Heights, OH; Strongsville, OH; Fairfield, OH; Findlay, OH

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Counties in Ohio;

Franklin County; Cuyahoga County; Hamilton County; Summit County; Montgomery County; Lucas County; Butler County; Stark County; Lorain County; Warren County; Lake County ; Mahoning County; Delaware County; Clermont County; Trumbull County; Medina County; Licking County; Greene County; Portage County; Fairfield County; Clark County; Wood County; Richland County; Wayne County; Miami County; Allen County; Columbiana County; Ashtabula County ; Geauga County; Tuscarawas County; Muskingum County; Ross County; Erie County; Hancock County; Scioto County; Belmont County; Jefferson County; Marion County; Athens County; Knox County; Union County; Washington County; Sandusky County; Huron County; Lawrence County; Pickaway County; Seneca County; Ashland County; Darke County

Oversize and Overweight Permit Limits in Ohio

Here’s the maximum weight your load can be, even with a permit in Ohio:

• Single Axle Weight Permits: 29,000 pounds
• Tandem axles Weight Permits: 36,000 pounds
• Tridem axles Weight Permits: 60,000 pounds
• Quadem axles Weight Permits: 120,000 pounds
• Five axle Weight Permits: 121,000 pounds
• Six axle Weight Permits: 128,000 pounds
• Seven axle Weight Permits: 135,000 pounds
• Eight axle Weight Permits: 174,000 pounds

Below are the maximum dimensions a load can be even with a permit in the state of Ohio:

• Max Length With Permit: 90 feet
• Maximum Width With Permit: 14 feet
• Maximum Height With Permit: 14’6 feet

NOTE: As long as the GVW is not over 120,000 lbs you can use a tridem or quadem setup but you are required to have a minimum of 4′ 1″ spacing in your axles. You can go up to 132,000 lbs on a 7, 8, or 9 axle setup for your steering configuration plus 2 tridem or quadem axle groups. Please see more in the superloads section below.

NOTE: Definitions of weights: Overall Spacing: Distance center to center, to the nearest foot between the extreme front and rear-most axles of vehicle or combination of vehicles, or any internal axle grouping. Spacing: Distance center to center, to the nearest foot, to an adjacent axle.

Learn More About Super Load Permits in Ohio

When is a load considered a superload in Ohio?

• Superload Weight: over 120,000 pounds of gross weight.
• Superload Length: over 160 feet long.
• Superload Width: over 18 feet in width.
• Superload Height: over 14’6 feet in height.

Legal Travel Times for Oversize and Heavy-haul Loads in Ohio

Travel times and restrictions in Ohio:

Basic travel times: The basic rule of one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset applies (for example, travel start time is at 1/2 hour before sunset on approved days). Ohio DOT regulations travel times are complicated due to population/traffic density considerations. ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR PHYSICAL PERMIT BEFORE COMMENCING MOVEMENT. If your shipment is over 12′ in width, you’re NOT allowed to travel in the list of counties within a 25-mile radius of the cities listed between the hours of 6:30 AM until 9 AM. From 4:30 AM until 6 PM Monday through Friday and on Fridays,  Saturdays, and Sundays, you may not travel after 3 PM during the days between April 1st and November 30th.

Holiday movement:

You can travel on the following holidays with the above rules in mind; Columbus day, George Washington’s birthday, Martin Luther King Day, and Veterans Day. You are prohibited from traveling on the following holidays;

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Pilot Car Certifications & Requirements in Ohio

Pilot car (escort vehicle) certifications and requirements of the Ohio DOT:

The Ohio DOT mandates pilot car and escort vehicles operating in the state of Ohio to have an amber light mounted on the vehicle’s roof. The amber light must strobe or flash and be visible from a 360-degree angle at no less than 500′. The vehicle is required to have a single roof-mounted sign or a front/rear sign (depending on if operating as a lead or chase vehicle) that is no less than 5′ in length and 12′ in height with letters no less than 8″ in height that is a minimum 1″ in thickness. The sign must be yellow with black lettering and state the nature of the loaded shipping, either “OVERSIZE LOAD” OR “WIDE LOAD.” All pilot cars or escort vehicles must be equipped with a CB radio or powerful 2-way communication device that enables them to constantly communicate with all parties working in the move. Pilot car vehicles must have a handheld paddle sign that states “STOP” on one side and “SLOW” on the other because traffic needs to be controlled.

NOTE: It is only our professional opinion that pilot cars also have a minimum of the additional items but are not required:  2 – 5 pound fire extinguishers type A, B, and C. A red safety colored flag with a handle no less than 18″ square, 3 reflective emergency road triangles or 18″ traffic cones, 8 burning road flares, 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).

Oversize Load Signs in Ohio

Truck, trailer, and shipment required markings with banners, signs, and flags by Ohio DOT:

A strobing or flashing amber light visible from 360 degrees from a distance of no less than 500 feet is required to be placed on the highest point of the tractor-trailer’s cab. Signs/banners that indicate the nature of the shipment, “OVERSIZE LOAD” OR “WIDE LOAD,” are required to be placed at the overall front and rear of the shipment. These banners must be yellow with black lettering, not less than 7′ in width and 18″ in height. Letters must be a minimum of 10″ in height with a 1 1/2″ line thickness. Safety flags must be mounted at the 4 outermost corners of the overall shipment, no less than 18″ in length in either direction and be safety red or orange. Additional flags are required if the shipment protrudes like an overhang. You may be required to place flashing or strobing amber lights on any protrusions.

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