Overview
California Oversize Permit Requirements
Permit Office
| Office | California Department of Transportation |
| Address | Box 942874, Room 4105, Sacramento, California 94274-0001 |
| Contact | (916) 322-1297 |
| Hours | 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (PT) |
Permit Basics
| Permit validity | Single-trip permits are valid for seven (7) travel days. |
| Operating time | 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (PT) |
Dimensions & Weights
Legal limits
| Length | 135′. Steering axle may be required on longer loads. |
| Width | 15′. 16′ for mobile homes. |
| Height | Dependent on clearance. 3′ clearance required. If adequate clearance exists on routes, the state will issue permits. Written route surveys required for loads over 17′ high. |
| Axle / group | Spacing | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Steering axle | — | 12,500 |
| Single axle | — | 20,000 |
| Tandem | — | 46,000 |
| Tridum | Depends on axle spacings | 60,000 |
| Quad | — | N/A |
| Trunnion | 10′ wide axle | 60,000 lbs |
Escort Requirements
- Width over 12′ (depends on routes; may need escort for under 12′ width): one or two
- Length 120′ to 135′ (depends on location): 1 or more
- Length over 100′ in LA city / 100′ in LA county: 2 (Front & Rear)
- Overhang over 30′: 1
- Height 18′ or more requires utility clearance, route survey, etc.: 1 w/ High Pole
- For height under 18′: if high-pole escort is not required by permit but desired by trucking company due to load, state “a high pole esc. to be used” on permit application – else subject to possible fine.
- Fixed load-front overhang exceeds 25′ from bumper or, if no bumper, from front tires: 1 or more
- Crane’s boom or mast, drill rig or well service equipment extends over 25′ from front tires: 1 or more
- Rear projection over 25′ beyond trailer: 1 or more
- Not required for max. permittable rear boom overhang of 30′ measured from rear tire’s center. (Insurance company’s “exemption” letter is no longer valid.): 1 or more
- Truck crane rear boom overhang over 30′ beyond last point of support of vehicle bed: 1 or more
- Load width exceeds lane width and/or length and/or width of load and/or vehicle encroaches into adjacent lane (see chart): 1 or more
- Normally escorts are not required on urban freeway where right lane has been reduced to less than 12′ and load width is 11′ or 12′.
- Escorts for route “E” classification determined by district permit engineer.
- Rear overhang of any fixed driven or towed vehicle exceeds 30′ when measured from the centerline of the last axle: 1 or more
Notes
- No more than 2 tridum axle groups at 60,000 lbs.
- Gross Weight — 5 Axles: 112,500
- Gross Weight — 6 Axles: 117,450
- Gross Weight — 7 Axles: 158,000
- Gross Weight — 8 Axles: 181,300