New York

Width

8'6" (8' on undesignated roads)

Height

14'

Semi-trailer length

57'6" (65' on non-designated highways)

Overhang — rear

7'

Single axle

21,000 lb.

Tandem axle

34,320 lb.

Tridem axle

34,320 lb.

Max gross weight

80,000 lb.

Phone

518-485-2999

Fax

518-457-9910

Hours

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern

Website

dot.ny.gov/nypermits

Loads under 12' wide, 80' long, and 14' high generally need no escort (exceptions apply for slow-moving vehicles, bridge speed restrictions, or overhangs greater than 10'). On two-lane roads, a load exceeding 12' wide, 80' long, and/or 14' high needs a front escort (overheight loads need the front escort equipped with a height pole 3 inches higher than the load). A rear escort is required on highways of more than two lanes for the same thresholds, or when a bridge speed restriction or overhang over 10' applies (two escorts may be needed on two-lane roads). Loads over 16' wide on two-lane highways, 18'+ wide on four-lane highways, or 100'+ long on two-lane highways (160'+ on four-lane) require three escort vehicles (two front, one rear). All escort drivers in New York must be certified regardless of state of residency. Police escorts are required when a load exceeds 140' long on two-lane highways (200' on multi-lane), exceeds 16' wide on two-lane highways (18'+ on four-lane), exceeds 200,000 lbs, or must cross a structure's centerline.

Maximum legal weights on state and designated highways: 800 lbs per inch of tire width (or manufacturer's rating), 11,200 lbs per wheel, 22,400 lbs on one axle, 36,000 lbs on two axles less than 8 feet apart (axles less than 46 inches apart count as one axle), 40,000 lbs on two consecutive axles 8–10 feet apart, and 80,000 lbs total on all axles. For vehicles under 71,000 lbs total gross weight, the higher of 34,000 lbs plus 1,000 lbs per foot beyond the foremost-to-rearmost axle distance, or the Federal Bridge Formula, applies.

Downstate permit types (Types 2, 2A, 4, 6B) require Downstate Grandfather Rights and apply only in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, with GVW maximums ranging 79,000–120,000 lbs depending on type. All Divisible Load Overweight permits are "R" (Restricted) — vehicles may not cross bridges posted "No Trucks with R Permits" unless the bridge is officially "Waivered" (allowing Types 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 4, or 8 up to 102,000 lbs), and no permitted vehicle may cross a Load Posted bridge above its posted limit. Vehicles that are model year 2006 or newer (or any vehicle applying for a Type 9 permit, regardless of model year) must meet Infrastructure Friendly Vehicle requirements — steerable/trackable lift axles, two tires per side on non-lift axles, weight distributed so no axle in a group carries less than 80% of any other axle in the group, and lift-axle air controls located outside the cab.

In lieu of an IFTA license, decals, and filing a return, a Fuel Use Tax trip permit ($25.00, valid 72 hours) can be ordered through a service bureau (which may charge an additional fee) — no more than 10 may be purchased per calendar year. All vehicles 18,000 lbs and over must have a New York Highway Use Tax (HUT) permit (temporary, convertible to permanent). Tractor-trailer units transporting fuel need an AFC permit for the trailer plus a HUT for the power unit; straight trucks transporting fuel need only an AFC permit.

If your truck's weight exceeds the maximum granted by your permit, New York law may treat the load as though it were never permitted at all.

A permit authorizes movement for a specific period on "permissible hauling days" — any normal working day, Monday through Friday, during daylight hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset) in favorable weather. No movement is allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or after noon on the preceding working day. Night travel is not allowed unless otherwise specified. Loads within 12' wide, 85' long, legal height, and able to maintain normal highway speed may be authorized to move from 1/2 hour before sunrise until noon on Saturday (unless that Saturday is a holiday). Overweight-only moves within 125% of legal weight (per §385 NYVTL) that maintain traffic flow speed are not restricted by time or day.

Loads over 12' wide or over 65' long require warning signs — 7' long, 18" high, black 10-inch letters with a 1.41-inch stroke on a "Highway Yellow" background. Red or orange fluorescent flags at least 18" square are required on extremities and protrusions/extensions. One amber revolving light is required on top of the towing vehicle at all times; at night, uniform loads need amber lights at the forward corners/extremities and red lights at the rear corners. Load extensions on the sides need amber lights; a rear overhang of 2' or less needs red lights at the corners, while an overhang of 2'–6' needs red corner lights plus amber lights every 6 feet.

Metal studded tires may be used if the stud diameter does not exceed 3/8 inch, protrusion does not exceed 3/32 inch beyond the tread, and contact area does not exceed 0.75% of total nominal contact area — not permitted May 1 through October 15. Maximum weight per inch of tire width (loaded) is 800 lbs, maximum weight on any one pneumatic tire is 11,200 lbs, maximum weight on any one axle is 22,400 lbs, and maximum weight on two consecutive axles less than 8 feet apart is 36,000 lbs.

NYSDOT will issue a blanket permit to certain types of businesses allowing them to exceed axle and GVW limits by up to 125% of normal limits, for periods of 1 month up to 1 year; emergency blanket permits are also available for emergency conditions.

Length

No set amount — determined on an individual basis

Width

No set amount — determined individually (NY Thruway max 16' wide)

Height

14' and over (over 13'6" on the Thruway) requires a route survey

Cost

$360.00–$900 annually depending on commodity, plus trailer fees up to $20.00 each

Turnaround

1 business day

Route required

Yes

Temporary traffic control aims to provide a safe work area for roadway workers while facilitating safe, orderly traffic flow. Safety should be a high-priority element of every project from planning through maintenance, inhibiting traffic movement as little as possible while providing clear, positive guidance to drivers.

A "14'0" Wide and Less" permit authorizes movement of mobile/modular housing up to 14' wide between specific places by approved routes (a "round trip" covers the same or an unladen load back to origin). Limits: 14'0" wide, 160'0" combination length, 80'0" max home length, 14'6" high, and 80,000 lbs (may not exceed legal weights including axle groupings). Valid for 5 permissible hauling days and can be amended once. Fees: $40.00 mail-in/CPO walk-in, $60.00 regional office, $40.00 permit service (plus service charges), $10.00 amendment fee. A "16-Foot Manufactured Home" permit authorizes 14'1"–16'0" wide units (including eave overhangs) with the same 160'0" length, 14'6" height, and 80,000 lb limits, same validity and fees. A surety bond of $10,000.00 per move or $25,000.00 per company must be on file at the Central Permit Office.