New Hampshire

Width

8'6"

Height

13'6"

Semi-trailer length

53' (48' on non-designated highways)

Maximum length

110'

Legal overhang — front/rear

10'

Single axle

20,000 lb.

Tandem axle

34,000 lb.

Tridem axle

34,000 lb.

Max gross weight

80,000 lb.

Phone

603-271-2691

Fax

603-227-0979

Hours

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern

Website

nh.gov/dot

An escort vehicle is required for an oversize vehicle, object, or load if overall width is 12'0"–13'11", overall length is 90'0" or more, overall height is more than 14'0", or front/rear overhang is 15'0" or more. Two escort vehicles are required if width is 12'0" or more and rear overhang is 15'0" or more. A state police escort (plus any required non-police escorts) is required if the vehicle/load is 100'0" or more in length, though it may not be required if weather, visibility, traffic flow, or other conditions don't compromise safe movement. Two additional state police escorts may be required if overall width exceeds 14'0"; if the move requires a highway closure, three state police escorts are required in total. The permit office determines exact escort counts. Escort vehicles must maintain two-way radio contact and keep the permitted vehicle and other escorts in sight at all times, run headlights on low beam, and position one escort to precede on undivided highways and follow on divided highways (or one preceding and one following when two are required). If a bridge crossing on a two-way highway is 24'0" wide or less, the police escort stops all traffic while the load is on the bridge.

Other configuration limits: 2-axle truck 33,400 lbs; 3-axle truck 55,000 lbs (22,400 lbs/axle max); 4-axle truck 60,000 lbs (18,000 lbs/axle max). An OS/OW permit must be submitted to Bridge Design for review if any bridge on the route has a load posting or weight restriction, if axle spacing is under 4'0", or if any single axle exceeds 27,500 lbs, any tandem-group axle exceeds 25,000 lbs, any tridem-group axle exceeds 22,500 lbs, any quad-group axle exceeds 20,000 lbs, or a group has five axles — along with a series of maximum single-unit and combination-vehicle weight thresholds (from a 2-axle single unit over 55,000 lbs up to an 8-axle-or-more combination over 149,999 lbs) that also trigger bridge review.

72-hour Trip Permit

$15.00

72-hour Fuel Permit

$10.00

An overloaded vehicle carries a fine of up to $100 for a first offense, or up to $250 for a subsequent offense within the same registration year. Driving on a bridge posted for no trucks (an "excluded bridge") whose weight limit is exceeded can carry a fine of up to $400.

Travel is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, Monday through Friday. No OS/OW permit travel is allowed on weekends or New Hampshire state holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day).

Non-police escort vehicles must have a top-mounted flashing or strobe amber light visible for 1,000 feet in all directions, a two-way radio that can communicate with all vehicles (including police), and two "OVERSIZE LOAD" warning signs (front and back, or one above the roofline visible from both directions) — black letters at least 10 inches high with a 1.4-inch stroke on a yellow background, made of durable, moisture-resistant material, at least 5'0" wide by 12 inches high (shape may vary to fit the escort vehicle).

It is unlawful to drive a vehicle or trailer unless equipped with tires in safe operating condition. Minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 inch, measured in a major tread groove nearest the center at two points of the circumference not closer than 15 inches apart (for tires with tread running across the tire, or sipped tires where permitted, measurements are taken at or near the center at two points not closer than 15 inches).

Unknown — the NHDOT policy page confirms program rules and the weight limit formula, but does not include a real-time active/inactive declaration for the current season. Verify live posting status at newengland511.org before dispatch. Coverage is limited to posted sections of state highways only; local and municipal roads are not included.

Length

75'

Width

10'6"

Height

13'6"

Weight

Legal weight

Cost — statewide travel

$115.00

Cost — 100-mile radius (NH-based/registered carriers only)

$60.00

Turnaround

1 business day

In a work zone, normal speed limits may be reduced, lanes changed, and people/vehicles working near the road. Diamond-shaped orange warning signs are posted in advance — slow down and be alert. A "flagger ahead" sign means be prepared to slow, stop, or change lanes and obey the flagger's directions. Merge as soon as possible when indicated. Rear-end collisions are the most common work zone crash, so leave two seconds of braking distance, and keep a safe distance from barriers, trucks, equipment, and workers.

A single-trip permit is required for movement of manufactured housing, a modular building, or building components; movement of units exceeding 16'0" wide is not permitted. A 6-inch eave overhang is allowed on the right-hand shoulder side; any eave overhang on the left counts toward the maximum width. Conditions include: manufacturer's equipment capacity specs must not be exceeded; the towing vehicle for units over 10'0" wide must be a truck-tractor of at least 2-ton capacity with dual wheels on each side of the drive axle; all necessary operating safety equipment must be present; and moves are prohibited when ground wind velocity exceeds 25 mph. Units up to 110'0" long, 14'6" high, and up to 14'0" wide may move Monday through Friday (subject to holiday/weather suspension or permit notes). Units up to 110'0" long, 14'6" high, and 14'0"–16'0" wide are limited to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and restricted to highways with a minimum 24'0" pavement width and 8'0" paved shoulders from origin to delivery. Escorts and police escorts may be required based on overall length/width and the roads needed to deliver the unit, and the permit office may require additional escorts if traffic or weather conditions warrant it.