West Virginia Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in West Virginia 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. West Virginia publishes its length limit as overall combination, 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" | 10'6" · Front escort | 12'1" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 15'1" · Front + High pole | 15'1" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 70'0"overall combination | 53'1" | 75' · Rear escort | 95'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | Check the state permit office. | — | — |
"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.
West Virginia 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 10'6" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 10'5"
Permit required, no escort. Legal width is 8'6" (8'0" on local-service routes with lanes under 10'). WVDOH's overwidth escort table starts at 10'6", so nothing between the legal limit and 10'6" triggers an escort. Road-class approximation: WVDOH splits by lane count, not road class - this row is the table's "2 lane" column.
Front escort10'6" – 12'
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 10' 6" to 12' - Escort vehicle with Oversize Load sign required: 2 lane | At front | Seven days". Sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Row = the table's "2 lane" column (lane count, not road class).
Front + Rear12'1" – 14'
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 12' 1" to 14' - 2 lane | At front and rear | Seven days". Sunrise to sunset, seven days. Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Front + Rear14'1" – 15'
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 14' 1" to 15' * - 2 lane | At front and rear | Mon. thru Fri." Weekday-only movement (over 14' wide loses weekend travel). "* Districts and Parkway may require additional escort or time restrictions." WV Turnpike: 14'-1" to 18'-0" wide is sunrise to sunset Monday-Thursday. Mobile homes are governed separately by 157 CSR 5 sec. 6.13.f.2. Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Front + Rear15'1" – 16'
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 15' 1" to 16' - 2 lane | Two front and one rear | Mon. thru Fri." THREE escorts are required: TWO run in front and one at the rear. Weekday-only. Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Permit required16'1"+
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 16' 1" and above - 2 lane and 4 lane | As required by permit | Sunday". WVDOH publishes no fixed escort count at this width: the Central Permit Office states the escort requirement on the permit itself, and "Districts and Parkway Authority may require additional escort or movement requirements, but never less than those listed above" - so escorts are assigned case by case and must be expected. Movement only Sunday morning until noon ("Loads more than 16' wide may move only on Sunday morning until noon"); Parkway Authority requires loads greater than 16' wide to clear 2'9" high concrete barriers; single-trip permit width tops out at 16', above that it is a superload. Count left at 0 deliberately rather than inventing a number.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 15'
Permit required, no height escort. Legal height is 13'6"; WVDOH's overheight escort table has exactly one row - "Height Exceeds 15'" - so nothing is triggered by height at or below 15'0". Width, length and overhang escorts still apply independently and are required on their own thresholds. Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Front + High pole15'1"+
WVDOH overheight table: "Height Exceeds 15' - Escort vehicle required with Oversize Load sign: 2 lane | Front pole car required | Mon. thru Fri." A front height-pole (pole car) is required IN ADDITION to any escort already required by width or length. Weekday-only. Open-ended because single-trip height has "No limit if routes can accommodate"; single-trip mobile home height caps at 15'6". Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Length
Permit required53'1" – 74'11"
Permit required, no length escort. Legal limits on US, WV and county routes: 53' semitrailer, 70' overall combination, 40' single unit - the 53'1" floor is the semitrailer limit and is kept as shipped. WVDOH's overlength escort table does not begin until 75'0". SEPARATE OVERHANG TRIGGER (this schema carries no overhang dimension). An escort is required at the front whenever front overhang exceeds 10', and at the rear whenever rear overhang exceeds 10'. WVDOH overhang table: "Front overhang Exceeds 10' ** - 2 lane | At front | Mon. thru Fri." and "Rear Overhang Exceeds 10' ** - 2 lane | At rear | Mon. thru Fri.", with "** No escort required until overhang exceeds 10' front or rear." Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Rear escort75' – 95'
WVDOH overlength table: "Length 75' to 95' * - Escort vehicle required with Oversize Load sign: 2 lane | At rear | Mon. thru Fri." Floor is 75'0" exactly (the table says "75' to 95'", not 75'1"), so the shipped 75'1" floor is tightened by one inch. Weekday-only. "* Districts and Parkway Authority may require additional escorts." Stated exception: "Pole or extendable trailer can legally carry a load of 80' in length (without permit) providing load is not overweight. Escorts are not required but are encouraged for safety." Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Front + Rear95'1" – 100'
WVDOH overlength table: "Length 95' 1" to 100' * - 2 lane | At front and rear | Mon. thru Fri." Weekday-only. "* Districts and Parkway Authority may require additional escorts." Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
Front + Rear100'1"+
WVDOH overlength table: "Length 100' 1" - 2 lane | At front and rear | Mon. thru Fri." Open-ended: the table's top row has no upper bound and single-trip length is "No limit if routes can accommodate" (single-trip mobile home: 110' combination). Weekday-only. Row = the table's "2 lane" column.
On multi-lane roads
Escorts begin at 12'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
Permit required, no escort. WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 10' 6" to 12' - 4 lane | None | Seven days"; below 10'6" the table imposes nothing. Road-class approximation: WVDOH splits by lane count, so this interstate row stands for the table's "4 lane" column - Interstates AND 4-lane non-Interstate routes.
Rear escort12'1" – 14'
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 12' 1" to 14' - 4 lane | At rear | Seven days". Sunrise to sunset, seven days. Row = the table's "4 lane" column (Interstates and 4-lane non-Interstate routes). Mobile homes: 157 CSR 5 sec. 6.13.f.2 - "On expressways and/or Interstate highways, units in excess of 12' wide shall have an escort vehicle at the rear." On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
Front + Rear14'1" – 15'
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 14' 1" to 15' * - 4 lane | At front and rear | Mon. thru Fri." Weekday-only. "* Districts and Parkway may require additional escort or time restrictions." MOBILE HOMES ARE STRICTER: 157 CSR 5 sec. 6.13.f.2 - "On multi-lane highways having pavement widths of at least 24', mobile homes in excess of 14'-6" shall have one escort in front and two escorts at the rear" (3 escorts); the band model has no load-type field, so that sits here in notes. Row = the table's "4 lane" column. On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
Front + Rear15'1" – 16'
WVDOH splits this width tier THREE ways: "Overall width 15' 1" to 16' - 2 lane | Two front and one rear", "4 lane Non-Interstate | Two rear and one front", "Interstate | Two rear" (Mon. thru Fri.). This row covers every multi-lane road, so it carries the higher 4-lane NON-Interstate requirement: three escorts, TWO at the rear and one in front. EXCEPTION, quoted from the same table: on an Interstate highway the published requirement is "Two rear" - two rear escorts, no front escort. Weekday-only; WV Turnpike 14'-1" to 18'-0" wide is Monday-Thursday. On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
Permit required16'1"+
WVDOH overwidth table: "Overall width 16' 1" and above - 2 lane and 4 lane | As required by permit | Sunday". No fixed count is published at this width for any road class: the Central Permit Office states the escort requirement on the permit, and districts and the Parkway Authority "may require additional escort or movement requirements, but never less than those listed above". Movement only Sunday morning until noon; WV Turnpike 18'-1" to 24'-6" wide is Sundays only before noon and width over 24'-7" gets "Limited approval due to toll plaza limitations"; over 16' wide must clear 2'9" concrete barriers. Count left at 0 deliberately - no source numbers this tier.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 15'
Permit required, no height escort. The overheight table's only row is "Height Exceeds 15'", listed for 2 lane and 4 lane alike, so nothing is triggered by height at or below 15'0" on multi-lane roads. Width, length and overhang escorts still apply independently and are required on their own thresholds. Annual blanket permits allow 14'6" high on "Interstate & Other Divided Routes" (14'0" on US and selected routes). Row = the table's "4 lane" column (Interstates and 4-lane non-Interstate routes).
Front + High pole15'1"+
WVDOH overheight table: "Height Exceeds 15' - 4 lane | In addition to any other escort | Mon thru Fri." Read with the 2-lane cell above it ("Front pole car required"), the front pole car is required on 4-lane roads as well, in addition to any width or length escort - the safer of the two readings of the cell. Weekday-only. Clearance warning from the same page: "Parkway (I-77/64 maximum height Yeager Bridge 15' 10". 16' in center of bridge.)" Row = the table's "4 lane" column. On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
Length
Permit required53'1" – 95'
Permit required, no length escort up to 95'. WVDOH overlength table: "Length 75' to 95' * - 4 lane | None | Seven Days". Overall length is unlimited on Interstates and National Network highways; the 53' semitrailer limit still applies. SEPARATE OVERHANG TRIGGER (this schema carries no overhang dimension). An escort is required at the front whenever front overhang exceeds 10', and at the rear whenever rear overhang exceeds 10'. WVDOH overhang table: "Front overhang Exceeds 10' ** - 4 lane | At front | Mon. thru Fri." and "Rear Overhang Exceeds 10' ** - 4 lane | At rear | Mon. thru Fri." Row = the table's "4 lane" column (Interstates and 4-lane non-Interstate routes).
Rear escort95'1" – 100'
WVDOH overlength table: "Length 95' 1" to 100' * - 4 lane | At rear | Mon. thru Fri." Weekday-only. "* Districts and Parkway Authority may require additional escorts." WV Turnpike allows weekend travel only for loads no more than 95' long. Row = the table's "4 lane" column. On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
Front + Rear100'1"+
WVDOH overlength table: "Length 100' 1" - 4 lane | At front and rear | Mon. thru Fri." Open-ended: no upper bound published; single-trip length is "No limit if routes can accommodate". Weekday-only. Row = the table's "4 lane" column. On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
When more than one size needs an escort
On 4-lane roads the front pole car for a load over 15 ft high is in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information, overheight table).
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Oversize 14'0" or less wide: sunrise to sunset, seven days a week on all routes except the WV Turnpike. Oversize over 14'0" wide: sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday. Overweight-only but legal size, to 135,000 lbs (110,000 on the Turnpike): 24 hours a day when requested.
- Night travel
Oversize loads may not move sunset to sunrise. Overweight-only, legal-size loads up to and including 135,000 lbs on state routes and 110,000 lbs on the WV Turnpike may run 24/7 when requested. Above that, 24-hour travel may be granted only if an adjoining state requires it.
- Weekend travel
Oversize 14'0" or less wide: Saturday and Sunday, sunrise to sunset, if requested on the application; not on holiday weekends. Over 14'0" wide: Monday-Friday only. Over 16'0": only a Sunday-before-noon window if the permit grants it. WV Turnpike weekend travel is limited.
- Holiday restrictions
No permitted travel on legal holidays or holiday weekends. WVDOH publishes annual high travel days covering Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, plus event closures for WVU home games, Bridge Day and the State Fair.
- Urban restrictions
Charleston area (I-64 exits 39-85, I-77 exits 85-106, US-119 Ruth to I-64, within 5 mi of city limits): no escorted travel 7-9 AM or 4-6 PM in daylight saving time; in EST only 9 AM-4 PM. School-bus hours: no escorted travel on 2-lane roads 7-9 AM or 2:30-4 PM, Mon-Fri.
Signage West Virginia expects
- Oversize load sign
Oversize loads must display an OVERSIZE LOAD sign. WV specifies size only for escorts and mobile homes. Escort: yellow 5' x 12", black letters 10" high, 1-1/2" stroke (157-5-6.14.d). Mobile home tow vehicle and home rear: yellow, 18" high, 6'-8' long, 10" capitals (6.13.f.3).
- Flags
Flag the load extremities. Escorts: two red or safety orange flags, 18" square minimum, at a 40-70 degree angle on the roof rack or on all four corners (157-5-6.14.e). Mobile homes: six red flags, 16" square minimum, front and rear on tow vehicle and home (6.13.f.4).
- Beacons
Every escort vehicle must have a rotating or strobe amber-yellow flashing light visible from at least 500 feet and visible from all directions 360 degrees. Mobile home tow vehicles need 4-way amber flashers mounted at least 6 feet above the roadway.
West Virginia 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.
Already have your permit?
Decode it into a route card: authorized route, escorts, curfews, weigh stations, truck stops and low-bridge alerts along the way.
3 free decodes a day · no account · no cardBefore you ask dispatch.
What are the legal limits in West Virginia without an oversize or overweight permit?
In West Virginia, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 70'0" long (overall combination) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 6'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the West Virginia permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in West Virginia?
On 2-lane roads in West Virginia, escorts begin at 10'6" wide. On multi-lane roads, escorts begin at 12'1" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 10'6" – 12' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in West Virginia?
Night travel: Oversize loads may not move sunset to sunrise. Overweight-only, legal-size loads up to and including 135,000 lbs on state routes and 110,000 lbs on the WV Turnpike may run 24/7 when requested. Above that, 24-hour travel may be granted only if an adjoining state requires it. Weekend travel: Oversize 14'0" or less wide: Saturday and Sunday, sunrise to sunset, if requested on the application; not on holiday weekends. Over 14'0" wide: Monday-Friday only. Over 16'0": only a Sunday-before-noon window if the permit grants it. WV Turnpike weekend travel is limited. Holidays: No permitted travel on legal holidays or holiday weekends. WVDOH publishes annual high travel days covering Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, plus event closures for WVU home games, Bridge Day and the State Fair.