How to Read a Michigan Oversize Permit: Field-by-Field Guide

A Michigan oversize or overweight permit does not spell every rule out on its face. Instead, the permit lists numbered special provisions that point to a separate MDOT sheet called the Special Provisions, Conditions and Restrictions. MDOT’s instructions on that sheet say it must be carried in the vehicle with the permit, that each provision number listed on your permit must be followed, and that breaking any of them is cause for immediate suspension or revocation. So reading a Michigan permit means reading the permit and that sheet side by side.

This guide walks through what a Michigan permit holds and the published rule behind each part, so a driver or dispatcher knows what to check before rolling. Every rule below links to its source, mainly MDOT’s Special Provisions, Conditions and Restrictions sheet (PDF), MDOT form T-2, Information on the Movement of Oversize or Overweight Vehicles and Loads (PDF) and MDOT’s commercial vehicle transport permit FAQs. MDOT does not publish a sample permit, so where a detail depends on your own permit, the answer is the same: read the paper permit and ask MDOT’s Transport Permits Unit.

Who issues Michigan oversize permits

Michigan OS/OW permits for state roads come from the MDOT Transport Permits Unit in Lansing (MDOT’s oversize/overweight permits page). Under MCL 257.725(1), a “jurisdictional authority” may issue a special permit for a vehicle or load over the legal size or weight on the highways it maintains, and MCL 257.725(13) defines that as MDOT, a county road commission or a local authority.

That split shows up on the permit. MDOT’s commercial vehicle transport permit FAQs say MDOT permits loads on state trunklines only, which are typically the I-, M- and US-numbered routes, such as I-96 or US-127. County roads and city streets need a permit from that county or city, and MDOT points to the County Road Association of Michigan (517-482-1189) for county contacts. condition K on the conditions sheet says the same: the MDOT permit is not valid on county roads or city streets.

Permits are ordered online in the Michigan Transport Routing and Internet Permitting system (MiTRIP) through the MDOT Permit Gateway, linked from MDOT’s oversize/overweight permits page. The FAQs add that a permit is required for any over-legal vehicle or load before it enters Michigan.

Start at the top. Find the permit number (shown here only as a placeholder, MI-XXXXXXX; we never show real ones), the permittee, the permit type, the travel dates and the list of special provision numbers. Then check:

Permit type and validity. MDOT form T-2, section I says a single trip permit may be issued for a five-day period and is valid for one trip. A return move can be requested on the same permit, but it must be completed within the same five days, with the exact same configuration or an empty trailer on the reversed route. Extended permits are annual and are issued by load category, such as construction, miscellaneous, agricultural, pipe and pole, and mobile or modular homes (MDOT’s commercial vehicle transport permit FAQs). MDOT form T-2, section J says extended permits are not available to for-hire carriers.
Fees. MDOT form T-2, section K lists $15 for a single trip that is over-dimension only and legal in weight, and $50 for a single trip that is over-dimension and/or over legal axle weight. The statutory fees are in MCL 257.725(4) and (5).
Timing. The FAQs say single trip permits are usually issued within 12 business hours and can be applied for up to seven business days ahead. If you asked for weekend travel, the application has a separate checkbox for it (more on that in the travel times section below).
Who it is issued to. MDOT form T-2, section A says permits go to the business or person actually doing the transporting.

Carry it right. MCL 257.725(7) says the permit must be carried in the vehicle it refers to and be open to inspection, and that no one may violate its terms or conditions. condition E adds that the driver must stop at all highway weight stations for permit inspection, and condition G says a change or erasure on a permit voids it. The statute expressly allows an annual construction equipment permit to be kept on a mobile device (MCL 257.725(12)(a)). For other permit types, MDOT’s published pages we checked do not say, so ask MDOT before relying on a phone copy alone. The FAQs also say that signing the permit means you accept its conditions and restrictions.

The numbered special provisions

This is the part of a Michigan permit most worth slowing down for. The permit lists provision numbers, and each number refers to a line in the Special Provisions section of MDOT’s Special Provisions, Conditions and Restrictions sheet (PDF). The ones a driver is most likely to see:

Provision	What it says (summarized)
1	Valid only if favorable driving and traffic conditions prevail; daylight hours only, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset
2	Route to be checked for vertical clearance and overhead obstructions before the move
3	Move during periods of reduced traffic; vehicles on this permit stay at least 2,000 feet apart
8	Red or orange flags, at least 18 inches square, at the four corners and the widest points
11	To be followed by one escort vehicle
12	To be preceded by one escort vehicle; over 14'6" high, the escort needs a fixed measuring device
13	At least two flashing or rotating amber lights on the extreme rear of the load
14	Police supervision of traffic required
15	No movement 7 to 9 a.m. or 3 to 6 p.m. in Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Muskegon, Oakland, Saginaw, Washtenaw and Wayne counties
16	Use caution at all overhead obstructions
18	Not valid when wind velocity exceeds 25 mph
19	Two OVERSIZE LOAD signs, front and rear
20	Valid only in favorable conditions; the move must not obstruct the normal flow of traffic
21	Radio communication required between escort vehicles and the towing vehicle

Provisions 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 17 and 22 cover mobile homes, building modules and building moves, such as tow vehicle size, gauge, flags and auxiliary power units. If your permit lists a number that is not in the table, read it in full on the sheet. Only the numbers printed on your permit apply as special provisions, but the lettered Conditions and Restrictions (A through Y) on the same sheet apply to every move.

Vehicle, load, dimensions and weights

The middle of the permit describes the truck, the load and the permitted size and weight. MCL 257.725(2) says the application must specifically describe the vehicles and load and the particular highways, and condition L says all weights and dimensions on the application must be the actual weights and dimensions of the loaded vehicle. Going over any size or weight on the permit voids it under condition G.

Context for those numbers. According to MDOT form T-1, Maximum Legal Truck Loadings and Dimensions (PDF), the main legal limits are:

Dimension	Legal limit
Width	96 inches on non-designated highways; 102 inches on designated highways
Height	13'6"
Semitrailer length	50' on non-designated highways; 53' on designated highways
Front projection	3'
Axles	A combination may not exceed 11 axles

The width and height limits are in MCL 257.717 and MCL 257.719(1). Michigan axle limits depend on axle spacing, gross weight and tire width. T-1 lists, for example, 18,000 lbs. on an axle spaced 9 feet or more from the next on vehicles over 80,000 lbs. gross, and a 700-pound-per-inch-of-tire-width wheel load cap. MCL 257.722 has the full rules. Our guide to reading overweight permit axle weights explains axle groups in more detail.

Permit limits that matter when you read the numbers:

Single trip caps. MDOT form T-2, section I says single trip permits are not issued over 16 feet wide, 15 feet high or 150 feet overall combination length. Loads over those are superloads (see the route section).
Overweight loads. MDOT form T-2, section D says an overweight permit will not be approved for a load of more than one object, and no wheel load may exceed 700 pounds per inch of tire tread width (850 for empty self-propelled earthmoving equipment). MDOT form T-2, section C says vehicle gauge, tire to tire, is required for overweight loads. condition N says overweight permits are valid only if the hauling equipment is licensed for maximum legal loadings.
Loading. MDOT form T-2, section B says loads must be arranged to the minimum height, length and width, staggered loading is not permitted, and permits are not issued for doubles. condition H adds that hydraulic attachments must be chained and bound, and air or lift axles must be on the ground.

The route section

The route is the list of trunkline highways the load may use, and condition F says highways shall be traveled in sequence as listed on the permit. Other route rules to read for:

Posted limits still apply. condition O says a permit is not valid on highways or structures posted for lighter loads if the vehicle exceeds the posted axle or gross weight. condition P says a permit is not a guarantee that the road width, vertical clearance or structures are sufficient for the move.
Construction bulletins. condition R puts it on the permittee to check MDOT construction bulletins before moving, and says knowledge of them is presumed. See MDOT’s active construction restriction bulletins, or use the route evaluation tool in MiTRIP, as the FAQs describe.
Height. MDOT form T-2, section F says anyone asking for more than 13'6" must verify the route has been traveled to assure clearance, and condition S says the permittee certifies the route was checked for vertical clearance and overhead obstructions. MDOT’s two-inch buffer notice says MDOT now applies a two-inch buffer to a bridge’s measured minimum underclearance (not the posted height) when reviewing permits, and will not issue permits over it. Our post on bridge clearance maps for trucks lists free sources for checking heights.
Roundabouts. The FAQs warn that MDOT roundabouts may pose a problem for oversize vehicles.
Bridges with their own rules. condition Q says to contact the Mackinac Bridge Authority at least 24 hours ahead. The move must be escorted across by an authority vehicle, may be barred when wind exceeds 25 mph, and may cross in daylight hours only. Conditions W, X and Y list 24-hour advance contacts for the Blue Water Bridge, the International Bridge (which also requires an escort across) and the Ambassador Bridge.
Speed. condition V says self-propelled vehicles must maintain the minimum posted speed on non-freeway routes and 45 mph on freeways.

Superloads. MDOT’s superload information and Route Survey Certification, Form 2465 (PDF) says loads over 16 feet wide, 15 feet high and/or 150 feet long are superloads. The application starts in MiTRIP and is completed by emailing a shipper’s letter on company letterhead and a signed Route Survey Certification, Form 2465, to MDOT-Superload-Review@Michigan.gov. The form certifies the route was surveyed with a height pole, or for length and width, and the route described must match the application, with direction. MDOT says issuing can take up to 10 business days after it has everything.

Escorts and pilot cars

On a Michigan permit, escorts show up as provision numbers. special provision 11 means one escort following the load; special provision 12 means one escort leading it, with a fixed measuring device (height pole) if the load is over 14'6" high. special provision 14 means police supervision of traffic, and special provision 21 means radio contact between the escorts and the towing vehicle. MDOT sets which ones apply based on the load, and the forms we checked do not publish the size thresholds, so your permit’s provision list is the final word. If you are unsure why a number is there, call the Transport Permits Unit.

The escort vehicle itself is defined in MDOT form T-2, section G: a passenger vehicle (the provisions say passenger car or pickup truck) with at least one flashing or rotating amber light on top, visible for 500 feet, and a roof-mounted OVERSIZE LOAD sign 5 feet long by 12 inches high with 8-inch black letters on a yellow background. MDOT keeps a MDOT’s transport escort companies list on its Truckers page.

For superloads, MDOT’s superload information and Route Survey Certification, Form 2465 (PDF) says that when MDOT requires a police escort, a motor carrier officer must inspect the vehicle, load and driver before the move. The Michigan State Police Operations Section coordinates the inspections and escorts at 517-241-8000, and state police escorts are typically done only on state trunklines and expressways. Our guide to pilot car escort requirements covers escort roles in general.

Travel times, rush hours and curfews

Michigan is stricter on travel hours than many states. MDOT form T-2, section H says permits are issued for daylight hours only, Monday through Friday, with daylight defined as half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and that other time limits may apply in some cases. The rules a permit can carry:

Rule	When	Source
Daylight, weekdays	Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, Monday through Friday	T-2, section H; provision 1
Weekend travel (if requested)	All day Saturday and until 3 p.m. Sunday, for loads not over 10' wide, 14' high and 90' long; mobile and modular homes not eligible	MDOT FAQs
Rush hours (provision 15)	No movement 7 to 9 a.m. or 3 to 6 p.m. in 11 listed counties, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent and Washtenaw	Special provision 15
Wind (provision 18)	Not valid when wind exceeds 25 mph	Special provision 18
Traffic (provisions 3 and 20)	Move in reduced traffic and without obstructing normal flow	Special provisions 3 and 20

Weekend travel is not automatic. The FAQs say it is requested with the weekend travel box on the MiTRIP application, so check that your permit actually shows it before you plan a Saturday run.

Spring weight restrictions. During the spring thaw, MDOT form T-2, section D and MDOT form T-2, section E say MDOT issues no overweight permits (except in a public emergency), allows no more than 11 axles, and issues no permits over 14 feet wide. condition I on the conditions sheet repeats that overweight permits are not valid during the restriction period. MCL 257.722(8) sets the seasonal reductions of 25% on concrete pavements and 35% on other roads during March, April and May, subject to the dates set. MDOT’s spring weight restrictions page lists bulletins and an update line, 800-787-8960.

The annual construction equipment permit is different: MCL 257.725(12)(b) says it may not restrict daily operating hours and may restrict only the Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend holidays, plus some limits in counties over 150,000 people. Our guide to checking curfews and travel restrictions shows a quick way to line these windows up with your dates.

Holiday and weekend rules

MDOT form T-2, section H says permits are not issued for movement from noon on the day before until daylight of the first day after New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. When the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, the restriction runs from noon before the three-day weekend to daylight of the first day after it. Annual construction equipment permits are restricted only for Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

MDOT’s holiday travel restrictions and closings page turns that into dates. The rest of 2026 and the start of 2027 look like this:

Thanksgiving: no restrictions until noon Wednesday, November 25; no travel Thursday, November 26; Friday, November 27, mobile homes may move after noon and all others at daybreak.
Christmas: no restrictions until noon Thursday, December 24; no travel December 25 through 27; Monday, December 28, mobile homes after noon and all others at daybreak.
New Year’s: no restrictions until noon Thursday, December 31; no travel January 1 through 3, 2027; Monday, January 4, mobile homes after noon and all others at daybreak.
No holiday restriction: Election Day (November 3) and Veterans Day (November 11), per the same page. MDOT’s office closings are listed there too.

Weekends outside a holiday follow the weekday-only rule above unless your permit includes weekend travel. Dates change each year, so check the current page against your permit dates.

Signs, flags and lights

Michigan’s marking rules are in the numbered provisions, so check which ones your permit lists (MDOT’s Special Provisions, Conditions and Restrictions sheet (PDF)):

Signs (provision 19). Two OVERSIZE LOAD signs, 7 feet by 18 inches with 10-inch black letters on yellow. One goes on the front of the vehicle and one on the rear of the load, or on the rear of the vehicle if it cannot be attached to the load or is not legible there.
Flags (provision 8). Clean, plain red or orange flags at least 18 inches square at each of the four corners of the vehicle or load, plus one at the widest point on each side if the load sticks out past the corner flags. Fasten them by at least one corner or mount them on a staff.
Rear lights (provision 13). At least two flashing or rotating amber lights on the extreme rear of the load, visible for 500 feet.
Escort vehicles. Roof-mounted amber light and a 5-foot by 12-inch OVERSIZE LOAD sign, as described in the escorts section.
Rear overhang. Separately from the permit, MDOT form T-1 says a rear overhang of 4 feet or more needs a 12-inch red square flag on the extreme rear in the daytime and a red light or lantern at night.

Mobile homes and building modules have their own sign and flag provisions (7 and 17). If your permit lists them, read them in full.

Where to find the issuing office

Michigan OS/OW permits come from the MDOT Transport Permits Unit in Lansing. According to MDOT’s oversize/overweight permits page, MDOT’s commercial vehicle transport permit FAQs and MDOT’s permit contacts page:

Phone: 517-241-8999, option 2, for general permit questions. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except state holidays. Applications can be submitted any time but are processed only during those hours.
Online: MiTRIP, through the MDOT Permit Gateway. For login help, email MDOT-MPG@Michigan.gov or call 844-806-0002, option 1.
Superloads: MDOT-Superload-Review@Michigan.gov.
Permit emails: issued permits are emailed from MDOT-miparssend@Michigan.gov, so add it to your safe senders list.
Construction bulletins: 517-373-2121, per condition R.

If you entered something wrong, the FAQs say MDOT no longer returns applications for correction. You submit a new application with the right information.

A pre-trip checklist, and where JaloPermit fits

Before departure on a Michigan permit, confirm:

You have the permit and the Special Provisions, Conditions and Restrictions sheet in the cab, and the dates cover the move. A single trip permit runs five days, including any return move.
You have read every provision number listed on the permit against the sheet.
Every dimension and weight on the permit matches the actual loaded truck, and nothing has been changed or erased.
Every road is a trunkline on the permit, in the order listed, or you have a county or city permit for the rest.
You checked vertical clearance, construction bulletins and any bridge contacts (Mackinac, Blue Water, International, Ambassador).
Escorts, height pole, police and radio match provisions 11, 12, 14 and 21 if listed.
The plan stays in daylight, Monday through Friday (unless weekend travel is on the permit), clears the provision 15 rush hours and the holiday windows, and is not during spring restrictions for overweight loads.
Signs, flags and lights match provisions 8, 13 and 19, and you will stop at every open weigh station.

JaloPermit can speed up the reading part. Drop an already-issued, text-based permit PDF into the permit decoder on the JaloPermit homepage and it lays out the route, escorts, curfews, dimensions and limits on one route card, with weigh stations, truck stops and low-bridge alerts. Then compare it with the original. For the state rules at a glance, see the Michigan page in the JaloPermit Atlas. For a general walk-through of any state’s permit, see how to read an oversize load permit. Our Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas and Minnesota permit guides cover those states the same way, and if your trip crosses state lines, read multi-state oversize permit trips.

JaloPermit, which publishes this guide, is a reading aid for issued permit PDFs. It is not a permit-filing service and it does not plan routes or provide navigation. The issued permit always wins.

JaloPermit reads text-based PDFs only, not scans or photos. Guests get three free decodes a day with no account and no card. Logged-in users get 10 free decodes a day. After those free decodes, each one is $3.50. There is no subscription.

Questions about how JaloPermit reads a permit? Email support@jalopermit.org.

FAQs

Who issues oversize permits in Michigan? The MDOT Transport Permits Unit in Lansing issues permits for state trunklines (I-, M- and US-numbered routes) through the MiTRIP system on the MDOT Permit Gateway. Call 517-241-8999, option 2. County roads and city streets need a permit from that county or city.

How long is a Michigan single trip permit good for? MDOT’s form T-2 says a single trip permit may be issued for a five-day period and is valid for one trip. A return move can be added, but it must be completed within the same five days.

What are the special provision numbers on a Michigan permit? They point to MDOT’s Special Provisions, Conditions and Restrictions sheet, which must be carried with the permit. Each number listed on your permit, such as 11 (follow escort), 12 (lead escort), 15 (rush-hour counties) or 19 (signs), must be followed.

Can oversize loads move at night or on weekends in Michigan? MDOT’s form T-2 says permits are for daylight hours only, Monday through Friday. MDOT’s FAQs say loads not over 10 feet wide, 14 feet high and 90 feet long can request weekend travel, all day Saturday and until 3 p.m. Sunday. Mobile and modular homes are not eligible.

Can oversize loads move on holidays in Michigan? No travel from noon the day before until daylight the day after New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When the holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, the restriction covers the whole three-day weekend. MDOT’s holiday page lists the exact dates.

When do I need an escort in Michigan? When your permit lists provision 11 (follow escort), 12 (lead escort, with a height pole over 14 feet 6 inches), or 14 (police supervision). MDOT sets these by load size, and the permit is the final word. Superloads may need a state police escort coordinated by the Michigan State Police.

Does JaloPermit file Michigan permits? No. JaloPermit is a reading aid for permits that have already been issued. It does not file or order permits. The issued permit always wins.

What does JaloPermit cost? Guests get three free decodes a day with no account and no card. Logged-in users get 10 free decodes a day. After those free decodes, each one is $3.50. There is no subscription.