Pennsylvania State Trucking Permit Information


PENNSYLVANIA
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
CENTRAL PERMIT OFFICE
P.O. BOX 2671
400 NORTH ST. 6TH FLOOR
KEYSTONE BUILDING
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120

Pennsylvania State Trucking Permit Information website for Overweight, Wide Load and Oversize Transport: Click Here

PHONE: 717-787-5367
HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M
EASTERN TIME

LEGAL LIMITS DESIGNATED HIGHWAY ALL OTHER ROADS
Weight:
Steering axle 20,000 20,000
Single 22,400
If GVW is 73,280 or less 		22,240
If GVW is 73,280 or less
Tandem 36,000
If GVW is 73,280 or less 		36,000
If GVW is 73,280 or less
Tridum 42,500
If GVW is 73,280 or less 		42,500
If GVW is 73,280 or less
Gross Weight 80,000
Federal Bridge Formula applies above 73,290 lbs,
80,000
Width 8'6" 8'
8'6" non-divisible loads on highways having a lane width of 10' or more
Height 13'6" 13'6"
Length:
Semi-trailers 53' Same as designated highways (kingpin to center line of the rear axle group must not exceed 41')

OVERHANG
6' rear overhang may be exceeded for combinations carrying non-divisible loads not exceeding 70' in length.

PERMIT LIMITS

ROUTINE ISSUE

Weight:
Single
27,000
Tandem* 52,000
Tridum* 63,000
Quad* 72,000
Gross Weight:
 5 Axles 116,000 - 120,000
6 Axles 127,000 - 147,000
7 Axles 136,000 - 174,000
8 Axles 136,000 - 201,000
Over 201,000 is considered a super load
  *Weight range authorized subject to bridge engineering analysis
Length: The maximum is generally 120' except on 4-lane highways where 160' long will be permitted, more than 160' long is considered a super load
Width: 16' is generally the maximum
Height: 14'6"
If load exceeds any of these dimensions or weights, refer to the section on Super Loads.


PERMITS VALID FOR:
Single trip permits are valid for five (5) travel days.

OPERATING TIME
Sunrise to sunset in non-urbanized areas, urbanized areas travel restrictions shown on form M-938, if not oversize and if gross weight does not exceed 107,000 lbs vehicles operating at prevailing speeds may operate continuously except during Holiday periods or during inclement weather.

WEEKEND TRAVEL
Saturday sunrise until 12:00 noon, no Sunday travel except in non-urbanized areas, see form M-938 for hours of operation

DIVISIBLE LOADS
A permit will not be issued for a vehicle or combination of vehicles and load which can be reasonably dismantled, reduced, disassembled or rearranged so as not to exceed the legal size or weight limits, even if a vehicle or load cannot be brought within legal limits, it shall be dismantled, reduced, disassembled or rearranged as much as practical. A limited number of overweight annual divisible load permits are available for travel upon interstate highways (i.e. flat rolled steel coils, raw milk, domestic animal feed)

EXCEPTIONS
Removable parts must be removed if any axle weight requires bridge engineering analysis. In lieu of removing parts, additional axles/dollies may be used to reduce all axles below bridge analysis thresholds. A dozer with an attached blade in excess of 12' in width, but no wider than 15' may be hauled on a highway if a traffic protection guide rail device is securely fastened to the dozer and if no axle weight exceeds bridge analysis thresholds (i.e. 26,000 lbs tandem, 21,000 lbs tridum, 18,000 lbs quad.)

INFORMATION NEEDED TO ORDER A WIDE LOAD, OVERSIZE AND HEAVY HAUL PERMITS:
Applicant's name and address, load description, vehicle description, tractor unit, trailer license, trailer length, overall dimensions, total number of axles, overhang front and rear, gross weight, origin and destination routes. Routes Form M-936A is required from all applicants, Form M-936AS is also required if any weight exceeds bridge analysis thresholds. Form M-938 must be carried by driver. (Forms may be obtained from the state)

ESCORTS FOR WIDELOAD AND OVERSIZED SHIPPING

When Escorts are Needed: # Escorts
On 2-Lane Highways:  
Width over 13' 1 Front (Rear if multi-lane hwy, Front if 2-lane hwy)
Width over 16' Police Escort
Length over 90' 1 Rear
Length over 160' Police Escort
Rear overhang over 15' 1 Rear
Height over 14'6" (w/high pole)
Public utilities shall be notified by permittee at least 1 day prior to move to arrange relocation of affected wires 		1 Front
Overweight > 201,000 lbs Police Escort
Overweight if permit requires load to travel at reduced speeds over bridges 1 Rear
Overweight if permit requires load must be only vehicl on a bridge or to occupy more than 1 lane to cross on 2-directional bridge 2 (Front & Rear)
If bridge supports only 1 lane of traffic 1 Rear
Urban Areas:
Oversize load allowed to run 3:00 a.m. to sunrise 2 (Front & Rear)
Permitted load not able to run 40 mph on limited access highways allowed only between 9am to 4pm 1 Rear
Non-Urbanized Areas:  
Permitted load unable to maintain 40 mph on limited access highways 1 Rear
Police Escort:
24 hour advance notice is required for police escort Cost of police usually $2.00/mile+$50.00 setup fee + overtime Police escort may be required during the period while any Provision of the act is being contravened (broken)

Also may be required if conditions warrant them Escorting by Dept. Personnel may be required if conditions warrant

Convoys are prohibited: Except for military convoys, oversize loads shall not travel within 1,000' of another permitted oversize load traveling in the same directions


Restricted Travel

Permission must be obtained from local authorities for the use of local roads and streets. Movement will be restricted during unfavorable weather or road conditions (snow, ice, driving rain, fog) or other atmospheric conditions which restrict visibility to less than 1,000' or winds sufficient to cause the wheels of the semi to deflect more than 6".

Movement under permit in urbanized areas is authorized 7 days a week only during the following time periods: 3am - 7:30 am, 9am - 4pm and 7pm to sunset. Movement is restricted to the hours of 9am - 4 pm through Fort Pitt, Squirrel Hills and Liberty tunnels in Allegheny County.

Oversize movements are not authorized to travel along traffic Route 209 in Monroe and Pike Counties between I-80 and the PA-NY boundary line except for deliveries within these two counties, authorized by the National Park Service (Delaware Water Gap), 717-588-6344.

The permitted vehicle shall not allow traffic to build up to the rear in excess of six vehicles.

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE 717-939-9551
The legal dimensions for vehicles using the turnpike are as follows:

Length: 85'
Height 13'6"
Width: 10'
Overhang: 5' front, 5' rear
Weight: 125,000 lbs

To exceed these dimensions a permit must be obtained from the Turnpike Authority. 717-939-9551 x2980.
Maximum width permitted is 11'6" and weight is 125,000 lbs GVW.
Escort vehicles are required for vehicles which exceed 90' long and 11' wide.
Escorts must have a flashing beacon light on the roof of the vehicle.
Oversize load signs are required on all over width and over height vehicles.
Loads larger than this may be approved pending engineering review.

*CONTACT STATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RESTRICTED TRAVEL FOR WIDELOADS, OVERSIZED AND OVERWEIGHT PERMITTED CARGO

SPRING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
As posted on highways in advance of restricted highway sections.

Overweight, Oversized & Wideload SuperLoads
Vehicles or loads exceeding 160' long, 16' wide and/or 201,000 lbs must submit to the Central Permit Office a preliminary application including justification three weeks in advance of movement. Cost for application is $50 plus $10 for each district traveling through. Applicant must furnish additional justification as to why sizes and weights cannot be reduced. A letter must be included from the manufacturer and may be required from either the rail or barge company depending on origin or destination. Must supply written permission from cities which the proposed movement will pass Application for permit and police escort must be submitted 48 hours in advance of anticipated move date.

*CONTACT STATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR OVERSIZED, OVERWEIGHTAND WIDE LOAD SUPER LOADS