Iowa State Trucking Permit Information
IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF MOTOR CARRIER SERVICES
6310 SE CONVENIENCE BLVD.
ANKENY, IOWA 50021
Iowa State Trucking Permit Information website for Overweight, Wide Load and Oversize Transport: Click Here
PHONE: 515-237-3264
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M Saturday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
CENTRAL TIME
| LEGAL LIMITS | ALL HIGHWAY |
| Weight: | |
| Single | 20,000 |
| Tandem | 34,000 |
| Tridum | 42,000 determined by axle spacing |
| Gross Weight | 80,000 Federal Bridge Formula applies |
| Width | 8'6" |
| Height | 13'6" |
| Semi-trailers | 53' |
| *57' lowboy trailers used exclusively for the transportation of construction equipment when used in a truck-tractor semi-trailer combination. | |
OVERHANG
4' rear overhang must be flagged during the day and must have a light mounted
for night travel.
PERMIT LIMITS
ROUTINE ISSUE
| Weight: | Single |
20,000 |
| Tandem | 40,000 | |
| Tridum | 60,000 | |
| Quad | 80,000 | |
| Gross Weight: | 5 Axles | 92,000 |
| 6 Axles | 112,000 | |
| 7 Axles | 132,000 | |
| 8 Axles | 152,000 | |
| Length: | 120' | |
| Width: | 18' | |
| Road conditions, road width, traffic volume, weather conditions and roadside obstructions will be considered in determining if these maximums will be allowed and if allowed, how far they may travel. | ||
| Height: | 18' | |
PERMITS VALID FOR:
Single trip permits are valid for five (5) days.
OPERATING TIME
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, travel allowed 24 hours, 7 days on
vehicles not exceeding 11' wide, 100' long or 14'4" high, special lighting requirements required.
WEEKEND TRAVEL
Travel permitted Saturday and Sunday all day.
DIVISIBLE LOADS
Loads should be broken down as far as possible, may haul components on the same load as long
as the load does not cause the over dimension or overweight.
EXCEPTIONS
Blades, buckets and counterweights do not have to be removed when the load is just over
dimension, if the load is overweight, they must be removed and hauled separately.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO ORDER A WIDE LOAD, OVERSIZE AND HEAVY HAUL PERMITS:
Name of applicant, address, authority number DOT #, load description (tractor and trailer unit, year,
make, license number), tractor and trailer length, overall dimensions, gross weight, total number of
axles, overhang front and rear, registered weight, origin, destination and route. If overweight will
need axle weights, spacings and verification of registration.
ESCORTS FOR WIDELOAD AND OVERSIZED SHIPPING
| When Escorts are Needed | # Escorts | |
| On 2-Lane Highways: | ||
| Width exceeds 1/2 roadway width up to and including 14'6" | 1 | |
| On Interstate system: | ||
| Width exceeds 14'6" - 16'6" | 1 | |
| On All Highways: | ||
| Height exceeds 14'4" (height pole must be carried on the escort vehicle) |
1 | |
| Length exceeds 120' | 1 | |
| Either 1 escort - or 7" high and 7" diameter amber light of 100-candlepower with 360 degree visibility (or strobe light) Mounted on the towing unit is required when: | ||
| Height over 14'6" | 1 (must allow at least 3" clearance to actual height of restrictions on the route) |
|
| Applications for width over 16' | Needs detailed route survey | |
| Height over 17', must provide a letter from utility companies stating their knowledge of move and approval to disturb aerial lines across the route. If no aerial line exists, must have a statement that entire route has been checked and no utilities are affected. | ||
| Front-end projection exceeds 25' | ||
| Rear-end projection exceeds 10' (amber revolving light or strobe light must be on the rear of the load when rear-end projection exceeds 10') | ||
| Weight exceeds 80,000 lbs | ||
| Some super loads: Require Iowa DOT officer as escort - charge is $250/day maximum ($25 required time and $40/hr. for overtime). Need to schedule several days in advance. | ||
| Special lighting can be used in lieu of an escort if travel is on certain roads. For a list of these roadways, call 515-237-3274. | ||
Restricted Travel
Des Moines I-235 prohibited travel from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Monday through
Friday , roads must be clear and must have ¼ mile visibility in order to travel.
*CONTACT STATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RESTRICTED TRAVEL FOR WIDELOADS, OVERSIZED AND OVERWEIGHT PERMITTED CARGO.
SPRING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
At the discretion of the Motor Carrier Services Division
Super Loads, Overweight, Oversized, Wide Load
Loads 120' long, 18' high, 18' wide and over 156,000 lbs (20,000 lbs per axle maximum), a diagram
is required at the discretion of the department. Axle spacings are required.
Allow at least 2 days to process the application.
*CONTACT STATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR OVERSIZED, OVERWEIGHT AND WIDE LOAD
SUPER LOADS
