North Carolina

Width

8'6" (8' on other roads)

Height

13'6"

Semi-trailer length

53' (48' on non-designated highways)

Max length

110' (60' on non-designated highways)

Legal overhang — front/rear

10'

Single axle

25,000 lb.

Tandem axle

50,000 lb.

Tridem axle

60,000 lb.

Max legal gross weight

80,000 lb.

Phone

888-574-6683

Fax

919-733-4740

Hours

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern

Website

ncdot.gov

For permitted loads over 12' wide: one front escort is required on two-lane/two-way highways; a rear escort is required on multi-lane highways, or as determined by the issuing agent. Loads exceeding 110' in length require a rear escort. Loads exceeding 14' wide on two-lane/two-way roads require a front and rear escort; loads exceeding 14'5" in height require a front escort with a height-pole indicator. An overall length of 150' or greater requires front and rear escorts, and weight over 149,999 lbs requires a front escort. Additional escorts may be required based on individual weight, width, length, height, weather, geography, or route. Pilot cars must be a truck of at least 1/4-ton rated capacity but no more than 17,000 lbs GVWR, or a passenger vehicle of at least 2,000 lbs gross weight, and escort operators must hold approved certification.

Maximum legal weights (gross determined by the extreme axle measurement per Federal Bridge Law): single axle 20,000 lbs, tandem axle 34,000 lbs, GVW 80,000 lbs.

Annual permit combinations with a minimum 51-foot wheelbase can qualify for movement up to 90,000 lbs (not authorized on posted roads or bridges); over 90,000 lbs requires a route-specific annual permit with exact origin, route, and destination.

If not proportionally registered under IRP, a trip permit must be obtained before entering any member jurisdiction and carried in the cab — otherwise full registration is required in that jurisdiction (trip permit operation is limited to interstate movement only in Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota). The fee for a North Carolina Temporary Trip Permit is $15 for 10 days. A carrier without an IFTA license needs a fuel permit for each state operated interstate, obtained before entering North Carolina — the North Carolina fuel permit is valid for 3 days and covers both interstate and intrastate movement; the 72-hour permit fee depends on the permit type(s) selected, with no refunds.

An officer may detain a vehicle exceeding the allowable weight until the overload is removed; refusing to allow weighing or to remove an overload is a misdemeanor. A general violation is an infraction, with a fine of $100–$500; permit violations carry civil penalties due at the time of inspection.

Permitted vehicles may travel Monday through Saturday, sunrise to sunset. No Sunday travel is permitted without a specific permit. Holiday travel is prohibited (for overweight loads exceeding 112,000 lbs, or any over-dimensional load) from noon the weekday before through noon the weekday after: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Red brake lights must be displayed on any rear overhang, headlights must be on during highway movement, and a red or amber light on the rear overhang must be visible from 200 feet or more. A banner totaling 7 feet wide by 18 inches high (may be in two sections for plate/decal visibility) is required on the front and rear bumpers of any combination permitted for more than 10 feet wide — black letters 10 inches high with a 1.5-inch stroke reading "Oversize Load" or "Wide Load" on a yellow background. Flags are required on all loads wider than 8'6" — red or orange, 18 inches square, at each corner and the widest point, or as specified on the permit.

Tires must be in good condition with at least 2/32 inch of tread remaining, measured with a gauge calibrated in 1/32-inch increments in two adjacent grooves around the tire's circumference. Pneumatic tires are required except by permit. Tire chains are permitted for safety in snow, ice, or similar conditions, as are safety, regular, and snow tires with studs projecting no more than 1/16 inch when compressed. A vehicle is disapproved if any tire has cuts or snags exposing the cords, or a visible bump, bulge, or knot related to tread/sidewall separation or partial structural failure.

Length

105'

Width

15'

Height

No set limit — determined by route

Cost

$100.00 per vehicle

Turnaround

1 week, mailed

Commodity specific

Truck specific

Route required

No

NCDOT's Work Zone Safety Program aims to reduce work zone injuries and fatalities through motorist education, awareness campaigns, and research/safety data. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, be prepared to act quickly and expect the unexpected, be patient and avoid passing others, don't wait until the last minute to merge, and be patient if a flagger stops you — the inconvenience is temporary.

A Single Trip Permit is required for 12-foot-wide units with an overhang exceeding a 3-inch gutter edge, 14-foot-wide units with roof overhang up to a total of 12 inches (not operating under an annual permit), 16-foot-wide units not operating under an annual permit (specific-area 16-foot moves require a route survey), units exceeding the legal 13'6" height, and any other mobile home movement not covered by an annual permit. Required information includes the last five digits of the serial number, ICC registration number for state-line crossings, and an exact route of travel. Fee: $12–$48 (state fee); valid 10 calendar days for one single trip. Maximum limits: width 15 feet (mobile homes may be permitted up to 16 feet), length 105 feet maximum, height per vertical clearance along the authorized route. Annual (Blanket) Permits may be issued for 12-foot-wide units not exceeding the legal 13'6" height; 14-foot-wide units with roof overhang up to 12 inches total (or 16-foot-wide units with a max 3-inch gutter edge) moving from a specified manufacturer to a specific retail sales center (up to 30 specific routes); or 14-foot-wide units with roof overhang up to 12 inches moving within a 25-mile radius from a specific dealer sales lot to a customer's homesite, another dealer, or out of state. Fee: $200 per vehicle, valid one year from the effective date. Overweight coverage: minimum 51-foot wheelbase combinations qualify for movement up to 90,000 lbs; over 90,000 lbs requires a route-specific permit.