Pennsylvania Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Pennsylvania without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on 2-lane roads and multi-lane roads, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Pennsylvania 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 2-lane roads | First escort on multi-lane roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'7" | 13'1" · Front escort | 13'1" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 14'7" · Front + High pole | 14'7" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 53'0"semitrailer | 70'1" | 90'1" · Rear escort | 90'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,001 lbs | 201,001 lbs · Police escort | 201,001 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.
Pennsylvania 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 2-lane roads
Escorts begin at 13'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 13'
Permit required over 8'6"; no pilot car at or below 13' total width (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(B)). Conditional: following pilot car required for authorized night movement (179.10(7)(v)).
Front escort13'1" – 14'
Over 13' wide: one pilot car PRECEDES on highways with only one lane in the direction of travel (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(B)(II)); on multi-lane non-interstate sections it follows instead. Approximation: PA's real split is lane count, not interstate status. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table). Over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft long: one pilot car only; PennDOT sets whether it leads or follows (75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.2)).
Front + Rear14'1" – 16'
General nondivisible loads over 13' wide need ONE pilot (lead on two-lane, follow on multi-lane; 179.10(13)(i)(B)); the 2-pilot count preserves the mobile/modular-housing rule: 75 Pa.C.S. 4973(d) requires a housing load wider than 14' body width to run with two pilot cars, one leading and one following, on ALL highways (PennDOT Pub 31 Load Type 63). Verify permit conditions for your load type. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Rear escort + Police16'1"+
SUPER LOAD: width exceeding 16' (67 Pa. Code 179.1). Uniformed State Police or local police escort required (179.10(12)(i)); a pilot car shall follow when accompanied by a police escort (179.10(13)(i)(B)(III)). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31); 16'-wide manufactured housing on non-limited-access highways is a named route-survey case. Buildings over 16' wide also require a police escort. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'6"
Permit required over 13'6" legal height; no pole car until height exceeds 14'6" (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(C)).
Front + High pole14'7"+
Over 14'6": pilot car precedes by 1,000-3,000 ft on ALL highways to detect overhead obstructions by height pole or other height-sensitizing device (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(C)). Route survey (Form M-936ARS/937ARS) required for all loads exceeding 14'6" in height (PennDOT Pub 31). Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Length
Permit required70'1" – 90'
Permit-only baseline retained from prior data; no pilot car until overall length exceeds 90' (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(A)). A load extending more than 15' beyond the rear of a combination requires a following pilot car regardless of overall length.
Rear escort90'1" – 160'
Over 90' overall (or rear overhang over 15'): one pilot car shall FOLLOW on all highways (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(A)). No higher general length tier exists below the 160' super-load line (Pub 31 confirms 179.10(13) is the operative length rule). Permit conditions may add pilots; over-100' urban moves involving turns are a named route-survey case (Pub 31). Over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft long: one pilot car only; PennDOT sets whether it leads or follows (75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.2)).
Rear escort + Police160'1"+
SUPER LOAD: length exceeding 160' (67 Pa. Code 179.1). Uniformed State Police escort required (179.10(12)(i)); a pilot car follows when police-escorted (179.10(13)(i)(B)(III)). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31).
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 201,000 lbs
Permit required over 80,000 lbs; no unconditional escort below the super-load line. Conditional: pilot cars precede AND follow on bridges the permit requires the vehicle to occupy alone or cross in more than one lane, and a pilot follows during reduced-speed bridge crossings (179.10(13)(i)(D)).
Police escort201,001 lbs+
SUPER LOAD: gross weight over 201,000 lb (67 Pa. Code 179.1). A uniformed State Police escort is required on highways with one lane in each direction (179.10(12)(i)(B); PennDOT's certified-escort policy allows a certified escort in its place only on highways with two or more lanes in one direction). Weight alone sets no pilot car: pilot cars precede and follow on bridges where the permit requires the load alone on the span or across lanes (179.10(13)(i)(D)). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31).
On multi-lane roads
Escorts begin at 13'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 13'
Permit required over 8'6"; no pilot car at or below 13' total width (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(B)). Conditional: following pilot car if unable to maintain 40 mph on limited-access highways (179.10(13)(i)(E)-(F)) and for authorized night movement (179.10(7)(v)).
Rear escort13'1" – 14'
Over 13' wide: one pilot car FOLLOWS on highways with 2+ lanes in the same direction (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(B)(I)). Approximation: PA's real split is multi-lane vs single-lane-per-direction, not interstate vs non-interstate. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table). Over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft long: one pilot car only; PennDOT sets whether it leads or follows (75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.2)).
Front + Rear14'1" – 16'
General nondivisible loads over 13' wide need ONE following pilot on multi-lane highways (179.10(13)(i)(B)); the 2-pilot count preserves the mobile/modular-housing rule: 75 Pa.C.S. 4973(d) requires a housing load wider than 14' body width to run with two pilot cars, one leading and one following, on ALL highways (PennDOT Pub 31 Load Type 63). Verify permit conditions for your load type. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Front + Rear16'1" – 18'
SUPER LOAD over 16 ft wide (67 Pa. Code 179.1). On highways with two or more lanes in one direction, up to 18 ft wide, a PennDOT-certified escort vehicle escorts the load in place of the State Police (PennDOT Certified Escort Policy; 75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.6)), and a pilot car follows (179.10(13)(i)(B)(I)). PennDOT, with the State Police, may still require a State Police escort. Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31). Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Rear escort + Police18'1"+
SUPER LOAD: width exceeding 16' (67 Pa. Code 179.1). Uniformed State Police or local police escort required (179.10(12)(i)); PSP uses a marked patrol vehicle (PSP AR 8-10). A pilot car shall follow when accompanied by a police escort (179.10(13)(i)(B)(III)). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31). Buildings over 16' wide also require a police escort. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'6"
Permit required over 13'6" legal height; no pole car until height exceeds 14'6" (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(C)).
Front + High pole14'7"+
Over 14'6": pilot car precedes by 1,000-3,000 ft on ALL highways to detect overhead obstructions by height pole or other height-sensitizing device (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(C)). Route survey (Form M-936ARS/937ARS) required for all loads exceeding 14'6" in height (PennDOT Pub 31). Height is not a super-load trigger in PA. Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
Length
Permit required70'1" – 90'
Permit-only baseline retained from prior data; no pilot car until overall length exceeds 90' (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(A)). A load extending more than 15' beyond the rear of a combination requires a following pilot car regardless of overall length.
Rear escort90'1" – 160'
Over 90' overall (or rear overhang over 15'): one pilot car shall FOLLOW on all highways (67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(A)). No higher general length tier exists below the 160' super-load line; Pub 31 confirms 179.10(13) identifies the total length limit at which a pilot car is required. Permit conditions may add pilots. Over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft long: one pilot car only; PennDOT sets whether it leads or follows (75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.2)).
Front + Rear160'1" – 260'
SUPER LOAD over 160 ft (67 Pa. Code 179.1). On highways with two or more lanes in one direction, up to 260 ft, a PennDOT-certified escort vehicle escorts the load in place of the State Police (PennDOT Certified Escort Policy; 75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.6)), and a pilot car follows (179.10(13)(i)(A)). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31).
Rear escort + Police260'1"+
SUPER LOAD: length exceeding 160' (67 Pa. Code 179.1). Uniformed State Police escort required (179.10(12)(i)); a pilot car follows when police-escorted (179.10(13)(i)(B)(III)). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31).
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 201,000 lbs
Permit required over 80,000 lbs; no unconditional escort below the super-load line. Conditional: pilot cars precede AND follow on bridges the permit requires the vehicle to occupy alone or cross in more than one lane, and a pilot follows during reduced-speed bridge crossings (179.10(13)(i)(D)); following pilot if unable to maintain 40 mph on limited-access highways (179.10(13)(i)(F)).
Front + Rear201,001 lbs+
SUPER LOAD: gross weight exceeding 201,000 lbs (67 Pa. Code 179.1). Uniformed State Police escort required (179.10(12)(i)); PSP uses a marked patrol vehicle (PSP AR 8-10). Route survey required for super loads (Pub 31). Bridge crossings under permit conditions require pilot cars front and rear (179.10(13)(i)(D)).
Sizes that set escorts together
- over 13' wide and over 14'6" tall: 2 escorts (Front + Rear). Over 13 ft wide and over 14'6" high: two pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT Number of Pilot Cars table).
- over 13' (up to 14') wide and over 90' (up to 120') long: 1 escort, exactly. Over 13 ft up to 14 ft wide and over 90 ft up to 120 ft long: one pilot car only; PennDOT sets whether it leads or follows (75 Pa.C.S. 4962(f.2)).
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Sunrise to sunset. Same hours apply to overweight-only permits; PA sets no separate schedule. Urbanized areas have narrower windows.
- Night travel
Not permitted sunset to sunrise. Only routine exception: urbanized areas 3 a.m.-7:30 a.m.; a move between 3 a.m. and sunrise must be lit visible 1,000 ft on all sides and run with a pilot car.
- Weekend travel
No movement after 12 noon Saturday. No Sunday movement.
- Holiday restrictions
No movement on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas, or on the day preceding each, unless the permit says otherwise.
- Urban restrictions
Urbanized areas (PennDOT Form M-938): 3-7:30 AM, 9 AM-4 PM, 7 PM-sunset only; Fort Pitt, Squirrel Hill and Liberty Tunnels 9 AM-4 PM only. PA Turnpike is a separate authority: permit over 10' wide, 85' long, 13'6" high or 100,000 lbs; escort over 11' wide or 90' long.
Signage Pennsylvania expects
- Oversize load sign
Yellow OVERSIZE LOAD signs at least 7 ft wide by 18 in high, black letters at least 10 in high with a 2 in stroke, mounted front and rear. Each required pilot car carries a yellow OVERSIZE LOAD sign at least 5 ft by 1 ft with 8 in letters, front and rear.
- Flags
Red or fluorescent orange flags at least 18 in square at all points of excessive width and length, including a load extending more than 4 ft beyond the rear. After dark a rear projection over 4 ft carries a red light instead.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Pennsylvania, 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 6'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Pennsylvania permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Pennsylvania?
On 2-lane roads in Pennsylvania, escorts begin at 13'1" wide. On multi-lane roads, escorts begin at 13'1" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 13'1" – 14' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Pennsylvania?
Night travel: Not permitted sunset to sunrise. Only routine exception: urbanized areas 3 a.m.-7:30 a.m.; a move between 3 a.m. and sunrise must be lit visible 1,000 ft on all sides and run with a pilot car. Weekend travel: No movement after 12 noon Saturday. No Sunday movement. Holidays: No movement on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas, or on the day preceding each, unless the permit says otherwise.