2020 Nevada state shipping laws, regulations, rules, limitations for oversize and heavy-haul trucking permits.

The great state of Nevada state seal.

Please share your knowledge of Nevada state shipping regulations with other visitors below.

Locate oversize, heavy-haul trucking companies and pilot cars.

Nevada oversize, heavy-haul trucking companies and pilot cars for hire:

Nevada pilot cars and truck escorts.
Nevada oversize and heavy-haul trucking companies.

Do I need a trucking permit? Legal load limits.

Nevada maximum load limits until a trucking permit is required:

Length: 75 feet maximum overall. Maximum trailer length is 53 feet.
Width: 8 feet 6 inches.
Height: 14 feet.
Weight: GVW 80,000 pounds. Single axle 20,000 pounds, tandem axles 34,000 pounds, tridem axles 42,000 pounds. Steer axle maximums require some math obviously. Here’s what the NVDOT says about it: “The maximum weight per tire, measured by pounds per inch of tire width, is 600 pounds per inch for the steering axle and 500 pounds per inch for all other axles, not to exceed the axle rating”. We say good luck with that, 12,400 pounds average???
Overhang: The maximum overhang allowed is 10 feet which overall must NOT exceed the maximum length of 75 feet.

Routine oversize and heavy-haul trucking permits.

These maximum dimensions/weights are considered routine oversize or heavy-haul trucking permits in NV:

Length: There really isn’t any routine maximum length. It all depends on proposed route and the state. After 105 feet in length it can get complicated.
Width: 17 feet. However some routes are restricted, see notes below;
Height: 16 feet.
Weight: Single axles 20,000 pounds, tandem axles 46,725 pounds, tridem axles 58,000 (to 59,000 see below) pounds. Determined by bridge formula, desired route, tire size and axle spacings especially for singles, tandems, tridums and quadem axles. Gross weights are: 5 axles 92,000 pounds with 70 feet minimum axle spacings, 6 axles 96,000 pounds with 70 feet minimum of axle spacings, 7 axles 101,000 pounds with 70 feet minimum of axles spacings, 8 axles 106,000 pounds with 70 feet minimum of axles spacings.
Overhang: No more than 15’ combined total but you want to check with them to make absolute sure as routing can effect this limit.
Notes: For weight restrictions Nevada has different routes marked. Choose the map you need for the entire state, western, eastern and southern restricted areas. You can also view a list. For purple, orange and green areas. Also, restrictions for width and weight are in effect on the following routes: route map, route list. Also note to get the extra 1,000 pounds as noted above (59,000 pounds on tridem configurations) you are allowed to use up to 2 tridem configurations only. Any additional tridem axle configurations will max out at 51,000 pounds. If you have tridem configurations on your tractor that will be counted as 1 of the 2. However, the distance between the steer axle and the center tridum axle must be a minimum of 18 feet. It is possible to to exceed this within reason but is reviewed case by case by the NVDOT permitting office.

Nevada superloads.

Requirements for extra-heavy or over-dimensional (superloads) in NV:

Nevada is picky about weights and heights. Rather than attempting to illustrate a list of items that may not apply we suggest if your shipment does not fall within the set maximums listed above it’s more than likely going to be considered a superload by NVDOT. The permitting process for superloads is different than the normal oversize or over-weight trucking permits in Nevada and must be fully drafted by the company or person requesting the permit. For instructions for the format your super-load application must be in see: Nevada-superloads.

NOTE: any special purpose or special needs loads that are outside of the normal permitting parameters will classify as a superload.

Legal travel times for oversize and heavy-haul loads.

Travel times and restrictions:

Remember to refer to your actual permit for travel times and restrictions. For Nevada daylight travel hours are defined as one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset with some restrictions;  under 12 feet wide, 110 feet long or 15 feet tall may also travel during night hours and on weekends as long as you are not on I-80 between Sparks, NV and the CA state border or on I-15 between Las Vegas and the CA state border. There are no weekday curfews for any cities and if your load is under 12 feet wide, 100 feet long or 15 feet tall you may travel on holiday. However, if your load is in excess of these dimensions  holiday travel restrictions are on the following days: New Years day, Memorial day, Independence day, Labor day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day. If a large event is predicted to create dense traffic they may restrict that date as well, ie: state fairs, etc.

When pilot cars or escort vehicles are required.

Heavy-haul or oversize loads may be required to be accompanied by a escort vehicle or pilot car if:

QUICK REFERENCE

Length:

• over 105 feet in length requires on escort. This applies to both 2 lane and 4 lanes roads.

Width:

2 lane roads:

• 12 feet requires 1 pilot car or escort.
• 14 feet requires 1 pilot car and 1 escort.
• 16 feet requires 3 total pilot cars and escort vehicles.
• 17 feet will require a review which will probably require 1 pilot car and 1 escort and 1 police escort.

4 lane roads:

• 14 feet requires 1 pilot car or escort.
• 16 feet requires 1 pilot car and 1 escort.
• 17 feet requires 1 pilot car and 1 escort and 1 police escort.

Height:

• if over 16 feet and 6 inches in height you will be required to have 1 pilot car equipped with a height pole.

DETAILED REFERENCE

Length: If shipment is over 110 feet in length you are required to have 1 pilot car behind the shipment.
Width: If your shipment is over 12′ wide on up to a 3 lane road you are required to have 1 escort vehicle in the front of your shipment. If over 14′ wide on up to a 3 lane road you are required to have 1 escort in the front and 1 pilot car in the rear of the load.  If over 14′ wide on a 4 lane road you are required to have 1 rear escort. If over 16′ you are required to have 1 front pilot car and 1 rear escort on 4 lane and all other roads.
Height: Loads that are in excess of 15′ 6″ are required to have a front high pole pilot car at all times.
Weight: Pilot cars and escorts are usually not required on shipments over weight that are able to maintain the minimum posted speed requirements. If you are not able to maintain minimum speeds you will be required to have a minimum of a rear escort vehicle if travelling in urban and some rural areas.
Overhang: If in excess of 25 feet you will be required to have a minimum of 1 pilot car.
Notes: Some routes are completely restricot car.ted. If in the Hoover dam vicinity shipments are not permitted for anything over 10 feet in width but if 10 feet will require 1 pilot car and 1 escort.

Pilot car and escort vehicle requirements, certifications.

In order to operate a pilot car or escort vehicle in the state of Nevada you are required to have a minimum of the following:

First of all the state of Nevada requires that all pilot and escort vehicles be certified. If you are officially certified by another state then this is recognized by the state of Nevada as valid certification and you may operate within the state however, in order to have an amber light mounted to ANY vehicle you must first obtain a permit from the state which costs $2.00 per vehicle, per year. You can do that online by clicking here.
A pilot car or an escort vehicle is required to be equipped with a strobing or flashing amber light that is visible from a distance of no less than 500′ in daylight and from all 360 degree angles, mounted to the roof and above signs. The light must be a minimum of 50 candle power and if it is a rotating light must have a lens of no less than 5″ in diameter with a flash count or not less than 50 per minute. Any vehicle used for this purpose must be no less than 60″ in width, with a wheelbase of a minimum of 95″ with no more than 2 axles and a manufacturer’s gross weight of no more than 16,000 pounds.
Each vehicle must be equipped with a two way radio that is in constant contact with/to all parties involved in the shipment, 5 pound (minimum) fire extinguisher, 3 bi-directional 18″ road triangles, 1 stop/slow sign with 5′ pole handle, 1 hard hat, 1 reflective safety vest, a copy of the ANSI/ISEA manual which can be ordered online here for $30. Drivers must be a minimum of 18 years of age, have a valid drivers license, and must be flagger/flagman “capable or carrying out flagging responsibilities” (we strongly suggest a flagger safety class) of controlling traffic, wearing a approved safety yellow-green safety jacket or vest and equipped with a red flag and a stop/slow paddle of no less than 18″. Each vehicle should be equipped with proper signs that specify “oversize”,  “oversize load” or “wideload” as well as “long load” with black letters a minimum of 10″ in height with a letter thickness of no less than 1 5/8″ on a yellow background which are removed or covered while not in work transit mode. Pilot car and escort vehicles must have a placard on each side of the vehicle with the companies name and phone number clearly visible from a distance of no less than 50′.
Operators of pilot cars and escort vehicles will maintain a reasonable distance from the shipment which all depends on weather, traffic, road conditions and the speed you are travelling with reasonable distance defined by how much time it takes for the shipment driver to recognize your indications to stop, slow or pass as necessary.

Shipment, truck and trailer markings.

Truck, trailer and shipment required signs, banners and flags:

All trucking companies that are hauling oversize and overweight shipments must have a amber colored strobing or flashing light affixed to the top of the tractor trailer cab that is visible 360 degrees from a minimum distance of 500′. Signs that state the nature of the shipment; “oversize load” or “wideload” signs in the overall front and rear of the shipment. Signs will be no less than 7′ in width and 18″ in height with black lettering no less than 10″ in height with a lettering thickness of no less than 1 5/8″ thick on a yellow background. Signs must be mounted securely and free of any dirt or debris. Warning flags are to be used only in daylight hours and must be florescent orange in color with a minimum size distance of 18″ from one corner to the next corner and be placed at the outer most corners of the shipment as well as on any protrusions. IF the shipment is permitted to travel during night hours must have 2 constant display amber lights placed at the very most front extreme of the shipment,  two amber steady burning lights on the outer (side) center of the shipment and two red steady lit lights on the outer most rear of the shipment. THIS INCLUDES OVER-WEIGHT LOADS MOVING AT NIGHT.

Frost laws and restrictions for Nevada state.

Frost and thaw laws for Nevada:

Nevada is fairly elusive on frost and thaw law travel restrictions. They do provide a map but there is not much detail on it as far as the exact roads that must be travelled. You can view the frost law map or view this thaw law material published by the state DOT which does reference it as well. Then they also have some basic  shipment route information that references it as well for the state of Nevada.

Nevada DOT and permit contact information.

Physical address and contact information:
Nevada Department of Transportation
1263 South Stewart Street. Room 102
Carson City, NV  89712
Telephone help line: 775-888-7410 or 800-552-2127
Permit office hours: 7:30 AM – 4:45 PM (no permits after 4 PM) Pacific Time Zone
E-mail: overdimensionalpermitsoffice@dot.state.nv.us

Resources:
Order Nevada heavy haul and oversize trucking permits.
Nevada oversize and heavy-haul trucking laws.

Nevada cities serviced.