Missouri Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Missouri without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on undivided roads and divided roads, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for Missouri, shown as the app shows it.
Rules as of Jul 31, 2026 · Links checked Jul 13, 2026
Read this before you trust a number. Rules change. The issued permit, posted signs and the state permit office always win over this page. JaloPermit is a reading aid, not a permit-filing service. Guests get 3 free decodes a day with no account and no card, logged-in users get 10 a day, and extra decodes are $3.50 each with no subscription.
What moves in Missouri without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Missouri publishes its length limit as semitrailer, so compare it against that measurement on your permit, not the overall rig.
Where the permit and escort tiers start
| Dimension | Legal without permit | Permit tier starts | First escort on undivided roads | First escort on divided roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'7" | 12'7" · 1 escort | 12'7" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 15'7" · Front + High pole | 15'7" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 53'0"semitrailer | 53'1" | 110'1" · Rear escort | 125'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,001 lbs | 220,001 lbs · Front escort | 350,001 lbs · Front + Rear |
"Permit tier starts" is the lowest size in the Atlas ladder that needs a permit. "First escort" is the lowest size that adds a private or police escort on that road class; the full ladder with each tier's rule and source is below.
Missouri escort ladder, tier by tier
Open a tier to read the rule behind it, quoted with its source. Amber tiers add a police escort or a superload review; grey tiers are permit-only with conditions.
On undivided roads
Escorts begin at 12'7" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'6"
Permit required over 8'6". No escort at or below 12'6" wide.
1 escort12'7" – 14'
One escort: front on two-lane highways, rear on multi-lane undivided. Continuous two-way communication required. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Front + Rear14'1" – 16'
Over 14' to 16': two escorts, one front and one rear, on multi-lane undivided and two-lane highways. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Front + Rear + Police16'1"+
Over 16': one front and one rear civilian escort, plus a Missouri State Highway Patrol escort on any two-lane highway. A police escort is required over 16 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: 7 CSR 10-25.020(15)(G)5.A — two-lane highways only (multi-lane undivided: see the >18 ft entry). Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Height
Permit required13'7" – 15'6"
Permit required over 13'6" on non-designated highways. No escort at or below 15'6".
Front + High pole15'7" – 17'
Over 15'6": a height detection vehicle with clearance device and two-way radio must precede the load; it satisfies the front escort. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Front + High pole + Police17'1"+
Over 17': Missouri State Highway Patrol escort required, plus written utility approval to disturb aerial lines. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Length
Permit required53'1" – 110'
Permit required. No length escort for a combination unit up to 110' on non-divided highways.
Rear escort110'1" – 150'
Over 110' for a combination unit on all highways except divided: one rear escort. Routine overlength permits cap at 150' overall. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Rear escort + Police150'1"+
Over 150' overall is a superload: Missouri State Highway Patrol escort required in addition to the rear escort. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 160,000 lbs
Routine overweight permit. No escort required by weight alone.
Permit required160,001 lbs – 220,000 lbs
Superload: bridge and roadway analysis required. No front escort on two-lane highways at or below 220,000 lbs unless another dimension triggers one.
Front escort220,001 lbs – 350,000 lbs
Over 220,000 lbs: one front civilian escort required for superloads on two-lane highways.
Front + Rear350,001 lbs+
Over 350,000 lbs: one front and one rear civilian escort, plus an additional power unit must accompany the load.
On divided roads
Escorts begin at 12'7" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'6"
Permit required over 8'6". No escort at or below 12'6" wide.
Rear escort12'7" – 14'
Over 12'6" to 14': one rear escort on divided highways. Continuous two-way communication required with the power unit. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Rear escort14'1" – 16'
Over 14' to 16': one rear escort on all divided highways. Routes must have pavement at least 24' wide with 4' shoulders. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Front + Rear16'1" – 18'
Over 16': one front and one rear civilian escort on divided and multi-lane undivided highways. Superload review applies. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Front + Rear + Police18'1"+
Over 18' on divided or multi-lane undivided highways also requires a Missouri State Highway Patrol escort. A police escort is required over 18 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: 7 CSR 10-25.020(15)(G)5.B — divided or multi-lane undivided highways. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Height
Permit required14'1" – 15'6"
Permit required over 14' on Interstate and designated routes. No escort at or below 15'6".
Front + High pole15'7" – 17'
Over 15'6": a height detection vehicle with clearance device and two-way radio must precede the load; it satisfies the front escort. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Front + High pole + Police17'1"+
Over 17': Missouri State Highway Patrol escort required, plus written utility approval to disturb aerial lines. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Length
Permit required53'1" – 125'
Permit required. No length escort for a combination unit up to 125' on divided highways.
Rear escort125'1" – 150'
Over 125' for a combination unit on all highways: one rear escort. Routine overlength permits cap at 150' overall. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Rear escort + Police150'1"+
Over 150' overall is a superload: Missouri State Highway Patrol escort required in addition to the rear escort. Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 160,000 lbs
Routine overweight permit. No escort required by weight alone.
Permit required160,001 lbs – 350,000 lbs
Superload: bridge and roadway analysis required. No civilian escort by weight alone on divided highways at or below 350,000 lbs.
Front + Rear350,001 lbs+
Over 350,000 lbs: one front and one rear civilian escort, plus an additional power unit must accompany the load.
When more than one size needs an escort
Missouri requires a separate escort for each size, no more than two front and two rear civilian escorts; the height vehicle stands in for a front escort (7 CSR 10-25.020(9)(G)3-4; MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, Rev. 01/20/2026: 'Escort requirements are cumulative').
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. No movement when roads are snow or ice covered, when hazardous cross winds affect the move, or when visibility is less than 500 feet.
- Night travel
Allowed by single trip or blanket permit for overwidth loads to 12'6" wide, legal height, 110' max length. Overweight-only loads at legal height, 12'6" wide, 110' long may move day or night. Lighted signs and clearance lights required; tourist, urban and holiday limits apply.
- Weekend travel
Generally allowed. No Saturday or Sunday movement in the Lake of the Ozarks area (Routes 5, 42, Business 54) May 25 through Labor Day, or the Branson area (Routes 76, 13) May 1 through November 30. Superloads may travel weekends only if 16' wide or less.
- Holiday restrictions
No movement on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Restrictions begin at 12:00 noon the last business day before the holiday and run until one-half hour before sunrise the first business day after.
- Urban restrictions
Weekday curfews: St. Louis area 6:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m.; Kansas City and Springfield 7:00-9:00 a.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.; loads over 12'6" wide 6:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:30-6:00 p.m. on all non-divided state routes. Metro curfews exempt overweight-only loads.
Signage Missouri expects
- Oversize load sign
Yellow sign with black "OVERSIZE LOAD" or "WIDE LOAD" legend, at least 7' long by 18" high with 10" letters of 1-5/8" stroke, front and rear for loads over 10'6" wide. A rear sign is required when a combination unit exceeds 110' or a single unit exceeds 50' overall.
- Flags
Red, yellow or orange fluorescent flags in good condition, at least 18" square, at the extreme ends or projections of all overwidth and overlength loads and at all four corners of manufactured and sectional home units.
- Beacons
Amber lights at the extreme ends or projections of the load in lieu of flags for 1:00-6:00 a.m. urban moves. Clearance lights in lieu of flags are required for night travel and whenever visibility is less than 500 feet; signs must be lighted or reflectorized.
Missouri permit office
The permit office is the authority on every number on this page. Call it, or open the official site, before you rely on a threshold for a load that is close to a line.
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What are the legal limits in Missouri without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Missouri, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 53'0" long (semitrailer) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 4'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Missouri permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Missouri?
On undivided roads in Missouri, escorts begin at 12'7" wide. On divided roads, escorts begin at 12'7" wide. The first escort tier is "1 escort" at 12'7" – 14' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Missouri?
Night travel: Allowed by single trip or blanket permit for overwidth loads to 12'6" wide, legal height, 110' max length. Overweight-only loads at legal height, 12'6" wide, 110' long may move day or night. Lighted signs and clearance lights required; tourist, urban and holiday limits apply. Weekend travel: Generally allowed. No Saturday or Sunday movement in the Lake of the Ozarks area (Routes 5, 42, Business 54) May 25 through Labor Day, or the Branson area (Routes 76, 13) May 1 through November 30. Superloads may travel weekends only if 16' wide or less. Holidays: No movement on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Restrictions begin at 12:00 noon the last business day before the holiday and run until one-half hour before sunrise the first business day after.