The following information about New York Oversize Permits is for informational purposes only. It’s important to always read your permits and provisions sheets carefully as we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. If you have any questions or need assistance, you can contact the following number.

New York DOT #: 888-783-1685

New York Oversize Permits Duration

Oversize permits in New York are valid for five travel days. A New York City permit is effective for a specific several-hour period, either during the day or night, depending on dimensions and routes. Typically, New York Thruway permits are issued for one to three days.

Operating time

Travel is permitted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, Monday through Friday, with the option to travel on Saturday until noon, provided the vehicle is not over 12 feet wide, 85 feet long, is of legal height, and can “maintain traffic flow speed.” This includes I-84 and other New York Thruways. Overweight-only vehicles up to 96,000 pounds may travel 24/7. Movement is restricted on major holidays and Friday afternoons before some holiday weekends. In New York City, night travel may be allowed or required, depending on the dimensions of the load.

Restricted travel

For vehicles measuring 14 feet wide, 14 feet high, and 90 feet long, travel through business districts is not permitted between 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. For those with dimensions of 16 feet wide, 15 feet high, and 100 feet long or greater, state travel is restricted between 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. No travel is allowed on major holidays, with a usual shutdown at 12:00 Noon the day before a holiday or holiday weekend. New York City has more stringent regulations, and additional time restrictions may be specified on permits for local areas.

New York City:

A separate permit is required, and travel restrictions are extensive with expensive permits and escorts. Permits for the city are issued for either nighttime or daytime travel, not both. For widths exceeding 10 feet, except on Interstates and truck routes, a night move is mandated from 10:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 12:01 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Friday night-Saturday morning (after midnight) and Sunday night-Monday morning. On Interstates and the George Washington Bridge, widths over 10 feet and less than 12 feet may travel Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Gross weights exceeding 80,000 pounds must be moved at night, and a route survey is necessary to obtain the permit (Note: NYC DOT may require night travel for smaller loads). Special permission may also be required for bridges entering NYC.

NY Thruway:

A separate permit is required for travel on the Thruway, which encompasses I-87 (NYC to Albany), I-95 (NYC to Connecticut), I-287 (connecting I-87 with I-95), I-90, and I-190 (connecting Buffalo with Niagara Falls). Loads exceeding a height of 13 feet 6 inches are not permitted on the Thruway.

Get Permit Now

Call (832) 454-5883 For Permit Consultation

Legal Dimensions for New York Oversize Permits

Length:

  • 53′ semi-trailer on Designate Highway system and NY Access Highways
  • 48′ trailer and 65′ overall length on non-qualifying highways, in NYC and on NY Thruway
  • Trailers that exceed 48 feet must have a kingpin setting of 43 feet or less, measured from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle.

NYC:

  • Semi-trailers measuring 53 feet and units longer than 65 feet overall are only legally allowed on I-95, I-295, and I-495 when traveling from the George Washington Bridge to Long Island.
  • Otherwise, 55′ is legal length in NYC

Width:

8′-6″ (8′ in NYC and roads with less than 10′ wide travel lanes)

Height:

13′-6″

Weight:

80,000 Gross

  • Single – 22,400
  • Tandem – 36,000
  • Tridem – 54,000

Note: Axles less than 46″ apart are considered as one axle.

Over Length Permit Exemptions:

Permits are not necessary for loads consisting of poles, girders, beams, columns, or similar objects if only the legal length limit is exceeded. However, this exemption may not be applicable in the New York City area.

Routine Permits Limits

Length:

No set amount: state determines on individual basis.

Overhang:

  • The maximum rear overhang should not exceed one-third of the length of the load, and two-thirds of this overhang must be supported on the trailer bed.
  • Front overhang may not exceed 15′

Width:

The specific width is not pre-established; it is determined on an individual basis by the state. However, on the NY Thruway, the maximum allowable width is 16 feet.

Height:

14′ and over (over 13′-6″ on Thruway) requires a route survey.

Weight:

  • Gross Weights
  • 5 axles – 120,000
  • 6 axles – 130,000
  • 7 axles – 140,000
  • Axle Weights
  • Single – Depends on route and tire size
  • Tandem – 50,000
  • Tridem – 60,000
  • Quad – depends on route/tire size

Registration is required for at least the amount of weight being permitted in New York.

Superloads

Any vehicle or combination which is:

  • over 16′ wide
  • 16′ or greater in height
  • Over 160′ in length
  • 200,000 pounds or greater in gross weight

is treated as a superload. At least two weeks are required for approval.

New York Oversize Permits

Escort Conditions for New York Oversize Permits

Length:

  • 80′ to 99′-11″ – one escort
  • 100′ and over – two escorts, three on two-lane highways
  • 160′ and over – three escorts

New York City:

  • Over 65′ long – one escort
  • Going to Long Island requires 2 escorts

Overhang:

Over 10′ front or rear overhang – one escort.

Width:

  • Over 12′ – one escort
  • 16′ and over – at least two escorts (three may be required)
  • Over 16′ – police escort
  • Over 15′ on NY Thruway also requires Thruway Traffic Safety Supervision Escort

New York City:

  • Over 11′ – one escort
  • Over 14′ – two escorts

Height:

  • 14′ and over – one escort with pole, and a route survey is needed to apply for permit
  • Over 15′ may need to provide a bucket truck
  • Over 16′ – police escort
  • On Long Island, escort required for over 13’6 high

Weight:

For loads exceeding 200,000 pounds, a police escort is mandatory. Additionally, a police escort is required whenever a vehicle needs to centerline a bridge or highway. If the permitted vehicle cannot maintain normal highway speeds (within 20 mph of the posted speed), an escort is also necessary.

Route Surveys

Length:

  • NY State: 100′ and over requires route survey to order a permit
  • New York City: over 80′

Width:

  • NY State: 16′ and over requires route survey to order a permit
  • New York City: Over 12′

Height:

  • NY State: 14′ and over – route survey required to order a permit
  • New York City: over 14′

Bridges

The toll for most legal weight loads is $30.00. State bridges, such as the George Washington Bridge, charge the toll only one way if the vehicle is coming out empty, while city bridges charge the toll in both directions. Bridge permits are required for certain loads.

Signs & Flags:

For all oversized loads, including high loads, “Oversize Load” signs are mandatory at the front and rear. Red or orange fluorescent flags (18 inches square), mounted on staffs, are required at all corners at the extremities of the load or trailer for any overwidth or overlength load. During night moves, amber warning lights should be used at the front or side in place of flags, and red warning lights at the rear. If the overhang is 4 feet or more, flags on staff at the end of the load or lights at night are required (two flags at the extremities of overhang if the width of overhang is more than 2 feet).

All headlights and external lights must be turned on for wide, high, or overlength loads. For wide or high loads (over 8 feet 6 inches wide or 13 feet 6 inches high), the power unit must have a minimum of one amber light (6 inches minimum to 9 inches maximum in size) located on top of the vehicle and visible in a 360-degree radius. In New York City, loads over 10 feet wide must have two flashing yellow lights at each end of the load; loads over 14 feet wide require two steady yellow lights attached to the rear of the load.

NYC Note:


Loads entering or traveling through New York City necessitate a permit and one escort if the overall length exceeds the legal limit of 65 feet. This requirement applies even when the trailer is empty after delivering a load in the NYC area.