Montana State Trucking Permit Information
MONTANA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MOTOR CARRIER DIVISION
2701 PROSPECT AVENUE
HELENA, MONTANA 59620
Montana State Trucking Permit Information website for Overweight, Wide Load and Oversize
Transport:
Click Here
PHONE: 406-444-7262
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M
MOUNTAIN TIME
| LEGAL LIMITS | DESIGNATED HIGHWAY | ALL OTHER ROADS |
| Weight: | ||
| Single | 20,000 | 20,000 on secondary |
| Tandem | 34,000 |
34,000 |
| Tridum | 42,000 | 42,000 |
| Gross Weight | 80,000 Federal Bridge Formula Applies |
80,000 |
| Width | 8'6" | 8' 6" |
| Height | 14' | 14' |
| Semi-trailers | 53' | 53' |
OVERHANG
3' front, 4' rear
PERMIT LIMITS
ROUTINE ISSUE
| Weight: | Single |
Depends on axle spacings, 20,000 |
| Tandem | Depends on axle spacings, 48,000 | |
| Tridum | Depends on axle spacings, 51,750 | |
| Quad | Depends on axle spacings, 55,440 | |
| Gross Weight: | 5 Axles | 107,000 |
| 6 Axles | 110,000 | |
| 7 Axles | 114,200 | |
| 8 Axles | 126,000 | |
| Length: | 150' | |
| Width: | 18' | |
| Height: | 17' | |
| If load exceeds any of these dimensions or 180,000 lbs., refer to the section on Super Loads. | ||
PERMITS VALID FOR:
Single trip permits are valid for three (3) consecutive days.
OPERATING TIME
Continuous travel is allowed for loads that are not exceeding 10' in width; 14'6" high, 110' in length
with overhang, 110'0 in length without overhang on non-interstate. Non-reducible loads 10'0" or
less may travel on the interstate systems.
Daylight Travel - Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)
Travel is allowed during the hours of daylight, Monday through Friday for vehicles over 10'
but not exceeding 18' wide or 120' long or 18' high (over 17' high must have Helena approval), travel
IS NOT allowed on Saturday, Sunday, Holidays and Holiday weekends (exception implements of
husbandry)
WEEKEND TRAVEL
Daylight Travel - 7 days a week (excluding holidays)
Travel is allowed during the hours of daylight, 7 days a week (excluding holidays and holiday
weekends and Red Routes), providing the vehicle or load does not exceed 18' wide, 120' long or
18' high (over 17' high must have Helena approval), vehicles hauling hay which exceeds 14'6" to 15'
high and single vehicles exceeding 55' long are restricted to daylight travel.
DIVISIBLE LOADS
Divisible loads may be permitted up to and including 14'6" high. These loads cannot exceed axle
weights of 20,000 lbs, 34,000 lbs or 42,000 lbs even if gross weight is over 80,000 lbs.
Permits may be issued to haul reducible loads up to and including 9' wide, baled hay and hay racks
may be permitted up to and including 9'6" wide. Travel is allowed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
on all highways including "red routes"* and on holidays and holiday weekends.
Loads exceeding 9' wide must be non-reducible. The only exception is baled hay, round bales and
hay racks which may be hauled up to and including 12' wide. All travel is limited to daylight hours
only. All restrictions for 12' wide loads apply to baled hay.
Permits may be issued to haul reducible loads up to and including 95'. If there is any overhang
then travel is restricted to daylight hour, 7 days a week except on "red routes" and holidays and
holiday weekends.
If there is no overhang travel is allowed 24 hours, 7 days a week on "red routes", holidays and
holiday weekends.
Loads exceeding 120' length are not allowed to travel on Saturday, Sunday or holidays, holiday
weekends or on "red routes" after 3:00 p.m. on Friday until sunrise on Monday.
*Red routes refer to special restrictions indicated on the state's "Red Route Map". This map may
be obtained by calling the state of Montana at 406-444-6130.
EXCEPTIONS
Blades and buckets may be hauled attached as long as the equipment is part of the load.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO ORDER A WIDE LOAD, OVERSIZE AND HEAVY HAUL PERMITS:
Name and address of applicant, PSC or insurance company, power unit serial number, year, make,
license number, dimensions, destination, start date and routes, US DOT number, FEIN number.
ESCORTS FOR WIDELOAD AND OVERSIZED SHIPPING
| When Escorts are Needed | # Escorts |
| On Interstate: | |
| Width over 166" | 1 Rear |
| Width over 120' | 1 Rear |
| On 2-Lane or Multi-Lane Non-interstate: | |
| Width over 12'6" up to 14' | 1 Front |
| Width main body of load OVer 14' or overall width is over 15' | 2 (Front & Rear) |
| Length over 110' | 1 Rear |
| If escort is required on non-interstate only (i.e. load dimensions not over 16' wide or 120' long) the load may travel within a 2-mile radius on interstate interchange without an escort | |
| Width over 10' and not equipped with lights and signs state requires | 2(Front & Rear) |
| Height over 17' (before permit application) | Route Survey |
| Convoys:* | |
| No more than 5 O/O loads needing escorts may convoy if width not over 14' (or 15' w/projections and not over 120' long | 2 (Front & Rear) |
| No more than 5 vehicles | 2 (Front & Rear) |
| *For convoys, escort must have sign stating: "Oversize Load, Convoy Follows (# of vehicles)" | |
Restricted Travel
Travel not allowed after 3:00 p.m. on Friday to sunrise on Monday on highways indicated on the
"red route" map. A special permit is required to travel through Billings. Restrictions will be listed
on the permit. Each city determines its own restricted hours.
*CONTACT STATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RESTRICTED TRAVEL FOR WIDELOADS,
OVERSIZED AND OVERWEIGHT PERMITTED CARGO
SPRING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Normally from February 1 through June 31, frost law is set by the Maintenance District 406-444-6157,
speed limit and weight limit restrictions can be applied during frost laws, usually 8 tons on single axle,
16 tons tandem axle and 600 lbs on steering axle
Overweight, Oversized & Wideload SuperLoads
oads in excess of routine issue limits shall submit an application including drawings, axle spacings
and tire sizes to the state.
Processing will take anywhere from two weeks to a month to receive permit.
*CONTACT STATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR OVERSIZED, OVERWEIGHT AND WIDE LOAD
SUPER LOADS
