Heavy haul truck hauling an oversized load in Pennsylvania

Quickway Transports

Pennsylvania Oversize & Overweight Permits for Heavy Haul

Name: Quickway Transports
Address: 1271 West Main St, Riverhead, NY, 11901, US
Telephone: +1 (631) 898-4248

Pennsylvania permit rules, legal limits and escort triggers, and how we book heavy haul carriers for moves in and through the state.

Quick answer

What does an oversize permit cost in Pennsylvania?

PennDOT charges $46 for a single-trip oversize permit up to 14 ft wide and $97 above that, plus 4 cents per ton-mile for weight over the truck's registered gross. Permits are filed through APRAS, are good for one direction and five weekdays, and do not cover the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which issues its own Special Hauling Permits.

Updated November 2026 by the Quickway Transports broker team (FMCSA MC# 1245224).

Heavy Haul | PA

Heavy haul and oversize freight in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania links the Northeast to the Midwest. I-80 crosses the north of the state, I-76 and the Turnpike run between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, I-81 follows the eastern valleys and I-78 heads toward New Jersey. We book carriers for construction machines, steel and energy equipment, and plant machinery moving to or through the Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Allentown and Pittsburgh areas.

Two Pennsylvania rules catch shippers out. The Turnpike is a separate permit with its own lead times, so the shortest route on a map may not be the one the permit allows. And in mapped urbanized areas, permitted loads cannot move from 7:30 to 9 AM or 4 to 7 PM, which decides when a Philadelphia or Pittsburgh delivery can arrive.

Get a Quote +1 (631) 898-4248

What are the legal size and weight limits in Pennsylvania?

Under the oversize load regulations in Pennsylvania, a load above any of these limits needs a state oversize or overweight permit.

Width	8 ft 6 in
Height	13 ft 6 in
Semitrailer length	53 ft
Gross weight	80,000 lbs
Single axle	20,000 lbs
Tandem axle	34,000 lbs

Pennsylvania sets no overall length for a standard tractor-semitrailer; the 53 ft trailer must keep its kingpin within 41 ft of the rear axle. Running over 13 ft 6 in high without a permit carries a $500 fine.

Who issues Pennsylvania oversize permits?

PennDOT's Central Permit Office in Harrisburg and its Engineering District offices issue oversize and overweight permits through APRAS (Automated Permit Routing/Analysis System). A single-trip permit is good in one direction and expires after five authorized weekdays.

A PennDOT permit is not valid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike: the Turnpike Commission issues its own Special Hauling Permit, and APRAS applications that use the Turnpike carry its approval number. Posted roads need a separate posted-road permit and sometimes a bond. The carrier's permit service handles each filing.

Permit system: APRAS (Automated Permit Routing/Analysis System)

What do Pennsylvania oversize and overweight permits cost?

request_quote Single trip up to 14 ft wide: $46. Over 14 ft wide: $97.
request_quote Overweight: add 4 cents per mile for each ton by which the gross weight exceeds the vehicle's registered gross weight.
request_quote Superload: a $68 preliminary fee plus $12 per county, then the regular permit and ton-mile fees; State Police escort charges are billed separately.
request_quote Mobile and modular homes: $53 up to 14 ft wide, $103 above.

Worked example: a 12 ft wide, 100,000 lb load registered at 80,000 lbs, moving 150 miles

It is under 14 ft wide, so the base fee is $46. The 20,000 lbs over its registered weight is 10 tons, and 10 x $0.04 x 150 miles = $60, for a PennDOT permit of $106. At 12 ft wide and under 90 ft long, it needs no pilot car.

Pennsylvania pilot car and escort requirements

local_police Over 13 ft wide: one pilot car, behind the load on roads with two or more lanes each way and in front on single-lane roads.
local_police Over 90 ft long, or a load hanging more than 15 ft past the rear: one following pilot car.
local_police Over 14 ft 6 in high: a lead pilot car 1,000 to 3,000 ft ahead with a height pole, and the permittee tells affected utilities at least 24 hours before the move.
local_police Overweight loads that must cross a bridge alone or at reduced speed: pilot cars to manage traffic on the span.
local_police Superloads (over 201,000 lbs, 160 ft long or 16 ft wide): certified escort vehicle operators, and State Police where the permit requires them.

What hours can oversize loads move in Pennsylvania?

calendar_today Permitted loads move from sunrise to sunset on any day of the week, outside holiday periods and bad weather.
calendar_today Loads up to 135,000 lbs and 10 ft wide that are within legal height and length can run 24 hours a day.
calendar_today Mapped urbanized areas: no movement 7:30 to 9 AM or 4 to 7 PM. Pittsburgh's Fort Pitt, Squirrel Hill and Liberty Tunnels: 9 AM to 4 PM only.
calendar_today Turnpike: dawn to dusk Monday to Thursday and dawn to noon Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day; dawn to dusk Monday to Friday and dawn to noon Saturday the rest of the year.
calendar_today No movement on snow-covered or icy roads, in visibility under 1,000 ft, or in wind that pushes the trailer wheels more than 6 in.
calendar_today Holidays: no permitted movement on each major holiday or the day before it.

Seasonal weight limits in Pennsylvania

Under 75 Pa.C.S. 4902, PennDOT and municipalities can post lower weight limits on roads that freeze-thaw cycles would damage, and early spring is when most of those postings appear. An oversize permit does not override a posted limit: using a posted road takes a posted-road permit and may require a bond or letter of credit.

FAQ

Pennsylvania Oversize Load Questions

Permits, escorts and travel rules for oversize moves in Pennsylvania.

How much does a PennDOT oversize permit cost?

A single-trip permit is $46 for a load up to 14 ft wide and $97 above 14 ft, under the fee schedule in effect since July 1, 2025. Overweight loads add 4 cents per mile for each ton over the vehicle's registered gross weight. Superloads pay a $68 preliminary fee plus $12 for each county on the route before the regular fees.

Is a PennDOT permit valid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike?

No. The Turnpike Commission issues its own Special Hauling Permit through its online portal, up to two weeks ahead, with at least one business day for engineering review and ten for superloads. It also keeps shorter travel hours than PennDOT, including a noon stop on summer Fridays, so the two permits have to be planned together.

When does a Pennsylvania load need a pilot car?

One pilot car is required over 13 ft wide, over 90 ft long, or when the load hangs more than 15 ft past the rear. Loads taller than 14 ft 6 in need a lead car carrying a height pole, running 1,000 to 3,000 ft in front. Some overweight bridge crossings also need pilot cars to hold traffic while the load crosses alone.

Can permitted loads travel on weekends in Pennsylvania?

Yes. State law lets oversize and overweight permitted loads run from sunrise to sunset every day, replacing the old Saturday afternoon and Sunday bans. Holiday periods, bad weather and urbanized-area rush hours still stop movement, and the Turnpike keeps its own shorter weekend hours.

What counts as a superload in Pennsylvania?

A load over 201,000 lbs gross, over 160 ft long or over 16 ft wide; there is no height threshold. Superloads go through a two-step preliminary and final permit, should be filed at least three weeks ahead, and need a windshield route survey. Certified escort vehicle operators travel with them.

Sources

We last checked the figures above against these official sources in October 2026. Before each move, the carrier's permit service confirms the rules in force that day.

Get a Quote

Heavy Haul Solutions for Oversized and Specialized Loads

Do you have any questions?

Call us today at

+1 (631) 898-4248