Michigan

Width

8'6" (8' on non-designated highways)

Height

13'6"

Length — truck-semi-trailer

65'

Legal overhang — front

3'

Legal overhang — rear

Any length up to the legal max vehicle length (over 4' requires a 12-inch red flag by day and a red light/lantern at night)

Single axle

20,000 lb.

Tandem axle

34,000 lb.

Max gross weight

80,000 lb.

Phone

517-241-8999

Fax

517-373-2209

Hours

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern

Website

michigan.gov/mdot

12'–14' wide requires 1 escort; over 14' wide requires 2 escorts (front and rear). 90'–100' long requires 1 rear escort; over 100' requires 2 escorts (front and rear). Over 14'5" high with a high pole requires 1 front escort; over 15' high with a high pole requires 2 escorts (front and rear). Overhang over 15' requires 1 rear escort. Escort vehicles must be a passenger car or pickup truck with at least one flashing or rotating light on top of the cab.

The Bridge Gross Weight Formula applies to vehicles on Interstate and specially designated highways that stay within 80,000 lbs and the formula's maximum.

Maximum per wheel is 700 lbs per inch of tire width. Seasonal weight limits may apply. Log trucks may exceed the federal 34,000 lb tandem-axle limit by 1,500 lbs; between September 15 and March 15, qualifying cotton trucks may exceed it by 6,000 lbs.

Michigan operators eligible for apportioned registration need a trip permit to enter any IRP jurisdiction unless already apportioned with that jurisdiction on their cab card. Out-of-state operators in Michigan need a 72-hour reciprocity permit ($20) for a power unit registered in a non-reciprocal jurisdiction, exceeding its max GVW while in Michigan, or from an IRP jurisdiction without an IRP plate. A Temporary Fuel permit ($20, valid 5 consecutive days) is available in lieu of IFTA licensing through a permitting service (additional fee applies), limited to 3 per calendar year.

A civil fine of up to $500 applies for overweight operation. A misload of 4,000 lbs or less on one or more axles may carry a $200-per-axle misload fine (up to 3 axles); a misload of 4,000–8,000 lbs may carry a $400-per-axle fine (up to 3 axles). Failing to stop or bypassing a weigh station is a misdemeanor.

Permits are issued for daylight hours only (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset), Monday through Friday. Permits will not be issued for movement from noon the day preceding through daylight the first day after: New Year's Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, or Christmas Day. Weekend movement is permitted for loads not exceeding 10' wide, 14' high, and 90' long — mobile/modular homes are not eligible for weekend movement.

"Oversize Load" signs are required front and rear for any over-dimensional load. Red or orange flags at least 18" square are required at each of the four corners of the vehicle/load and at the widest point on each side. A rear overhang of 4' or more requires a flag for daytime running and a red light or lantern at night.

A pneumatic tire with embedded wire of .075 inches diameter or less is permitted if the metal-to-road contact does not exceed 5% of the total tire contact area (20% during the first 1,000 miles of use). Michigan rules may separately address winter conditions in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula regarding studded tires and traction devices. A vehicle weighing 10,000 lbs or more must have 4/32 inch of tread on the front wheels and 2/32 inch on the rear.

Inactive — all seasonal weight restrictions were lifted statewide as of May 15, 2026 at 7:00 AM (Bulletin #8), and the 2026 spring restriction season is complete. Coverage was limited to state trunkline highways (I, M, and US designations); local roads are not covered by this bulletin.

Length

150'

Width

16' (or 14' during spring thaw restrictions)

Height

15' (shipper/driver responsible for finding safe routes above 13'6")

Weight

Depends on configuration

Cost — Oversize

$30 per 12-month period

Cost — Overweight

$100 per 12-month period

Turnaround

15–21 business days

Sign up for MDOT work-zone safety email updates. Preset radio, navigation, and climate control before driving, and don't reach for items while moving. Speeding in a construction zone results in doubled fines, more points on your Michigan license, increased insurance rates, and possible jail time. Stay alert and give commercial trucks extra room.

A special permit is not required to move a mobile home on Michigan state trunkline highways if it does not exceed 8'6" wide, 12'6" high, 45' body length, and 60' overall length including the towing vehicle. Special permits will not be issued if the home exceeds 16' wide (not including 6" eaves), 15' high, 80' actual body length, or 105' overall length including the towing vehicle.