North Dakota

Width

8'6" (8' on other roads)

Height

14'

Semi-trailer length

53'

Max length (combinations)

75'

Legal overhang — front/rear

10'

Single axle

20,000 lb.

Tandem axle

34,000 lb.

Tridem axle

48,000 lb.

Max legal gross weight

80,000 lb.

Phone

701-328-2621

Fax

701-328-1642

Hours

7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Central

Website

nd.gov/ndhp

All movements exceeding 14'6" wide, 18' high, or 120' overall length require an official escort or approved pilot car. Movements not exceeding 16' wide may instead use a lighted rotating or flashing amber light visible front and rear for a minimum of 500 feet (on four-lane divided highways, no pilot car is required for movements not exceeding 16' wide). Loads over 16' wide need one pilot car preceding at 300–700 feet and one following at 300–700 feet on two-lane highways, or one pilot car following at 300–700 feet on four-lane divided highways. Loads over 18' wide may also be subject to a Highway Patrol escort if deemed necessary by the regional commander, in addition to private pilot cars. Pilot cars must be a passenger vehicle or 2-axle truck operated as a single unit, with a sign at least 12" high by 60" long reading "OVERSIZE LOAD" in black letters on a yellow background, flashing amber lights on both ends of the sign (or one centrally mounted revolving amber light), and radio communication with the escorted vehicle.

Maximum gross vehicle weight on the Interstate is 80,000 lbs, determined by the formula W = 500(LN/(N−1) + 12N + 36), where W is the maximum weight on a group of two or more axles, L is the distance in feet between the extremes of the group, and N is the number of axles — except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may each carry 34,000 lbs if the overall distance between the first and last axles is at least 36 feet. On highways other than the Interstate, maximum gross vehicle weight is 105,500 lbs unless otherwise posted; on all other highways it is 80,000 lbs unless designated for more, not to exceed 105,500 lbs.

Steering axle weight follows the manufacturer's rating, not exceeding 20,000 lbs on the Interstate, Defense Highway system, or ND state highway system, and no tire may exceed 550 lbs per inch of tire width. Single axle maximum is 20,000 lbs (axles 40 inches or less apart count as one axle; axles 8 feet or more apart count individually — the gross weight of two individual axles may not exceed 40,000 lbs on non-Interstate highways, subject to the weight formula on the Interstate). Tandem axle gross weight may not exceed 34,000 lbs on non-Interstate highways (per formula on the Interstate). A group of three or more axles may not exceed 48,000 lbs on non-Interstate highways (per formula on the Interstate), with tire weight capped at 550 lbs per inch of width.

Max permit — single axle

22,000 lb.

Max permit — tandem axle

40,000 lb.

Max permit — GVW

150,000 lb.

Permit rules allow 600 lbs per inch of tire width on the steering axle when the axle rating exceeds 20,000 lbs and travel is on the Interstate, when hauling for the US Department of Defense on designated Defense Highways, or when traveling on a state highway; single and tandem axle weights may not exceed 600 lbs per inch of tire width, and groups of three or more axles are capped at 550 lbs per inch. For groupings of four or more axles, no axle may exceed 19,000 lbs; a group of five axles is capped at 85,000 lbs gross, and a group of six axles at 102,000 lbs gross.

A Fuel Permit ($15, valid 72 hours or until the vehicle leaves the state, whichever comes first, one trip only) is available in lieu of an IFTA license for non-resident carriers meeting certain axle/weight thresholds; several categories of vehicles and carriers are exempt (IFTA-licensed vehicles, ND base-licensed vehicles, small single units, Minnesota-registered vehicles within a 20-mile free zone, certain farm-registered vehicles, tourists, and household-goods relocation, among others). A Trip Permit ($20, valid 72 hours/3 days) is required in lieu of ND registration for non-resident carriers meeting similar thresholds, with a comparable set of exemptions for tourists, reciprocal-agreement vehicles, and small single units.

Operating without a required permit carries a $100 fee (operator or owner); other violations without a specific penalty carry a $20 fee. An over-dimensional and/or overweight citation carries $20 plus $100. Overweight fines are assessed for over-axle, over-gross, exterior bridge, or interior bridge length violations — whichever produces the greater fine — and drivers may not shift a load to avoid an over-axle citation.

Travel is permitted sunrise to sunset for all vehicles exceeding 10' wide. Single-trip overwidth permits exceeding 16' will not be issued authorizing movement Saturday after noon, all day Sunday, or on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day — no overwidth permit exceeding 16' is valid from noon the day before a holiday until sunrise the day after.

Vehicles traveling 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise must carry SAE-approved Class 1 lights and reflectors — clearance lights marking the outermost portion of the vehicle/load beyond 8'6", and one rotating or two flashing amber lights above the cab visible from at least 500 feet. Loads exceeding 75' long and/or 8'6" wide must display an "Oversize Load" sign on the front and rear — 5' long, 12" high, black 8-inch letters on a yellow background. All over-dimensional vehicles/loads must display at least 18-inch square red or bright orange flags on the traffic side, front and rear.

Tire chains may be used when necessary for hazardous weather, provided they don't damage the highway surface. Pneumatic tires with metal studs projecting no more than 1/16 inch above the tread are permitted October 15 through April 15. Tire size is limited to 44 inches tall for vehicles 7,000 lbs and under; all tires must be in safe operating condition with no bulges or exposed cords, and front tires must measure at least 60% of the tread width of the rear tires.

Active. Coverage: state highways only (full network) — local roads are not covered.

Length

120'

Width

18'

Height

18'

Cost — Seasonal (Annual)

$50.00

Turnaround

1 business day, online

Commodity specific

Truck specific

A multi-trip permit may be issued for non-divisible loads up to 150,000 lbs, subject to higher fees. State law authorizes the State Highway Patrol and local authorities to adopt rules governing oversize/overweight vehicle movement.

Speed Check: slow down approaching a work zone and follow posted limits even if no workers are present. Space Check: leave at least two seconds between you and the car ahead, and don't pass on the shoulder. Stress Check: plan your route around known construction, expect delays and leave extra time, check the North Dakota DOT Travel Information Map, and avoid distractions like cell phones.

A Single Trip Permit is required for movement of an oversize manufactured home, valid 3 days, and a paper copy must be in the driver's possession before movement. Online purchase requires power unit details (year, make, serial number, license/state, registered and rated GVW), insurance coverage on the power unit (minimum $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, $50,000 property damage), manufactured home details (year, make, serial number, hub number when applicable), axle information if a weight is requested, route of travel, start date, and owner information when the home originates or is destined for North Dakota. The online system accepts up to 18 feet overall width, 18 feet overall height, 200 feet length, and 150,000 lbs GVW.