Wisconsin Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Wisconsin 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" | 15'1" · Front escort | 15'1" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 16'1" · Front + High pole | 16'1" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 53'0"semitrailer | 53'1" | 140'1" · Front escort | 140'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 350,001 lbs | 350,001 lbs · Police escort | 350,001 lbs · Police escort |
"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.
Wisconsin 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 15'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
WisDOT Escort Chart, width column 'Width < = 12 ft': 'No Escorts'. Permit required, no escort on width alone. CONDITIONAL: the chart's no-escort cell also assumes 'Length <= 140 feet' — a load 12 ft or narrower but over 140 ft long takes the length ladder. APPROXIMATION: Wisconsin's chart makes no interstate/non-interstate distinction; the only road-type distinction in Wisconsin law is divided/one-way vs. 2-way undivided (Trans 252.04(5)-(6)), and it affects placement only, not counts or thresholds. The chart does not apply to SM (factory-built home) or MH (mobile home) permit types.
Permit required12'1" – 15'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Width> 12 ft and <= 15 ft' -> 'No Escorts*', bounded by 'Length <= 110 feet'. CONDITIONAL: if the load is ALSO over 110 ft long, 1 private escort is required — preceding the load by at least 300 feet on 2-way undivided roadways (Trans 252.04(5)). Asterisk: 'Additional escorts may be added based on route complexity and turns, and/or traffic conditions'; Trans 252.03(3) also lets the issuing authority add escorts for winding or hilly roads or heavy traffic. Separately, on SM and MH permit types (excluded from this chart) a load 12'01"-15'00" wide needs no escort unless it travels a highway listed on form MV2740 'Escort Highways', and for MH permits also unless any part of the vehicle or load extends beyond the roadway centerline on 2-way roadways. Form MV2740 is headed 'ESCORT HIGHWAYS / For mobile homes and modular building sections 12' 1" to 15' wide below the roofline' (s. 348.26(4) and 348.27(7) Wis. Stats.), so the condition the shipped record carried as a general-load rule is retained here with its correct permit-type scope.
Front escort15'1" – 18'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Width >15 ft and <= 18 ft' -> '1 Private Escort*'. Placement per Trans 252.04(5): a single escort on 2-way undivided roadways precedes the load 'by a distance of at least 300 feet and sufficient to give advance warning to vehicles coming from the opposite direction', slowing or stopping to hand-flag at bridges, narrow spots and sharp turns. APPROXIMATION: Wisconsin's real split is divided/one-way vs. 2-way undivided, so on a DIVIDED non-Interstate highway the single escort follows at 300-500 ft instead (Trans 252.04(6)). CONDITIONAL: over 110 ft long the chart requires 2 private escorts. MV2605 condition 12: a load 16 feet or wider is limited to 35 mph on highways without paved shoulders. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Front escort + Police18'1" – 20'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Width > 18 ft and <= 20 ft' -> '1 Private Escort and 1 Law Enforcement*'. Both are mandatory: one private escort and one law-enforcement escort. Trans 252.04(7): when more than one escort is required, one precedes and one follows regardless of the type of highway; police placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). CONDITIONAL: over 110 ft long the chart raises this to 2 private + 1 law enforcement (3 total). A police escort is required over 18 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear + Police20'1"+
WisDOT Escort Chart, '>20' width column: '2 Private and 2 Law Enforcement*', spanning every length row from Legal(75') to >250. Two private escorts and two law-enforcement escorts, all mandatory. Trans 252.04(7): one escort precedes and one follows regardless of highway type; police placement at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). Open-ended. ALSO: a load over 22 feet wide is a MEGA LOAD. WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Office, 4/15/2017): 'Mega load: A vehicle that meets or exceeds one or more of the following criteria: 1) Vehicle exceeds 400,000 pounds gross vehicle, or 40,000 lbs. on one or more axle lines 2) Vehicle exceeds 22 feet in width 3) Vehicle exceeds 19 feet in height 4) Vehicle exceeds 220 feet in length.' A mega load requires a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move and a State Patrol escort detail: 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). The mega-load detail is set by the Permit Office and is not a fixed number, so it is stated here rather than encoded as a count. Two police escort vehicles are required over 20 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 16'
WisDOT Escort Chart, note on height: a pole vehicle is required only for loads 'greater than 16-0"', so 13'07" through 16'00" carries a permit but no height escort. Width and length may still require escorts independently. MV2605 condition 7 requires prior notice to the owners of overhead wires and cables whenever a permitted vehicle is overheight.
Front + High pole16'1" – 19'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Note on height: Loads greater than 16-0" shall have a pole vehicle.' The pole vehicle is 'in addition to escort requirements above; however, the total number of private escorts including pole vehicle will not exceed two' — so on a load that separately needs 2 private escorts for width or length, the pole vehicle absorbs one of the two rather than adding a third. Lead placement is retained from the shipped record; WisDOT does not state pole-vehicle position. Upper bound is 19'00" because WisDOT treats a load over 19 feet high as a mega load with added requirements — see the next tier. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Front + High pole19'1"+
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Note on height: Loads greater than 16-0" shall have a pole vehicle' — the pole vehicle still applies here, and total private escorts including the pole never exceed two. IN ADDITION, a load over 19 feet high is a MEGA LOAD. WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Office, 4/15/2017): 'Mega load: A vehicle that meets or exceeds one or more of the following criteria: 1) Vehicle exceeds 400,000 pounds gross vehicle, or 40,000 lbs. on one or more axle lines 2) Vehicle exceeds 22 feet in width 3) Vehicle exceeds 19 feet in height 4) Vehicle exceeds 220 feet in length.' A mega load requires a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move and a State Patrol escort detail: 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). The mega-load detail is set by the Permit Office and is not a fixed number, so it is stated here rather than encoded as a count. The shipped record capped height at 20 ft, so loads above 20 ft fell through to no published tier; this tier closes that gap and keeps the escalation visible. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Length
Permit required53'1" – 140'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length <= 140 feet' -> 'No Escorts' for loads 12 ft wide or narrower. CONDITIONAL ON WIDTH — the chart's main cross-term: over 110 ft long, escorts start at a lower width than the width ladder alone shows. Over 110 ft with width over 12 ft = 1 private escort; over 110 ft with width over 15 ft = 2 private escorts; over 110 ft with width over 18 ft = 2 private + 1 law enforcement. Wisconsin's legal length is the chart's 'Legal(75')' row; this band's 53'01" floor is retained from the shipped record and is more conservative than the chart's axis.
Front escort140'1" – 160'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 140 ft and <= 160 ft' -> '1 Private Escort*'. Placement per Trans 252.04(5): a single escort on 2-way undivided roadways precedes the load by at least 300 feet. APPROXIMATION: on a DIVIDED non-Interstate highway the single escort follows at 300-500 ft instead (Trans 252.04(6)). Asterisk: additional escorts may be added based on route complexity and turns, and/or traffic conditions. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 12 ft up to 15 ft wide and over 110 ft up to 160 ft long: one private escort, behind on a divided highway and ahead on an undivided one (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(5)-(6)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear160'1" – 200'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 160 ft and <= 200 ft' -> '2 Private Escorts*'. Trans 252.04(7): one escort precedes the permitted vehicle and one follows, regardless of the type of highway — the lead escort at least 300 feet ahead, the trailing escort 300 to 500 feet back. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear + Police200'1" – 225'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 200 ft' -> '2 Private Escorts and 1 Law Enforcement*'. Two private escorts and one law-enforcement escort over 200 ft, all mandatory; WisDOT's chart has one open-ended '>200 ft' tier. Police placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). Note that a load over 220 ft long is also a mega load — see the next tier. A police escort is required over 200 ft long, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear + Police225'1"+
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 200 ft' -> '2 Private Escorts and 1 Law Enforcement*', unchanged through the chart's final '>250' row. Two private escorts and one law-enforcement escort, all mandatory. Police placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). ALSO: a load over 220 feet long is a MEGA LOAD. WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Office, 4/15/2017): 'Mega load: A vehicle that meets or exceeds one or more of the following criteria: 1) Vehicle exceeds 400,000 pounds gross vehicle, or 40,000 lbs. on one or more axle lines 2) Vehicle exceeds 22 feet in width 3) Vehicle exceeds 19 feet in height 4) Vehicle exceeds 220 feet in length.' A mega load requires a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move and a State Patrol escort detail: 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). The mega-load detail is set by the Permit Office and is not a fixed number, so it is stated here rather than encoded as a count. A police escort is required over 200 ft long, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Weight
Police escort350,001 lbs+
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Note on weight: Loads greater than 350,000 lbs shall have one Law Enforcement escort.' The law-enforcement escort is mandatory; its placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). Trans 252.03(2): when the permit requires it the permittee must secure a uniformed police officer in a marked squad car and pay all charges. The shipped record also stated that a bridge analysis and a route survey are required at this weight; both are retained. The route survey IS sourced: WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (4/15/2017) makes any vehicle exceeding 400,000 lbs gross (or 40,000 lbs on one or more axle lines) a mega load requiring a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move, plus a State Patrol escort detail — 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). A bridge analysis at 350,001 lbs could not be traced to a WisDOT document — treat it as unverified and confirm with the WisDOT OSOW Permit Unit. A police escort is required over 350,000 lb; no private escort is required for this alone. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page.
On divided roads
Escorts begin at 15'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
WisDOT Escort Chart, width column 'Width < = 12 ft': 'No Escorts'. Permit required, no escort on width alone. CONDITIONAL: the chart's no-escort cell also assumes 'Length <= 140 feet' — a load 12 ft or narrower but over 140 ft long takes the length ladder (1 private escort over 140 ft, 2 over 160 ft, 2 private + 1 law enforcement over 200 ft). Wisconsin's chart sets a single statewide ladder: interstate and non-interstate thresholds and escort counts are identical, and only placement differs. The chart does not apply to SM (factory-built home) or MH (mobile home) permit types.
Permit required12'1" – 15'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Width> 12 ft and <= 15 ft' -> 'No Escorts*', but that cell is bounded by 'Length <= 110 feet'. CONDITIONAL: if the load is ALSO over 110 ft long, 1 private escort is required (the chart's yellow cell at width 13-15 / length 120-160). Asterisk: 'Additional escorts may be added based on route complexity and turns, and/or traffic conditions'; Trans 252.03(3) also lets the issuing authority add escorts for winding or hilly roads, heavy traffic, or unusually wide loads. Separately, on SM and MH permit types (which this chart excludes) a load 12'01"-15'00" wide needs no escort unless it travels a highway listed on form MV2740 'Escort Highways' — form MV2740 is headed 'ESCORT HIGHWAYS / For mobile homes and modular building sections 12' 1" to 15' wide below the roofline' (s. 348.26(4) and 348.27(7) Wis. Stats.), so the condition the shipped record carried as a general-load rule is retained here with its correct permit-type scope.
Rear escort15'1" – 18'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Width >15 ft and <= 18 ft' -> '1 Private Escort*'. Placement per Trans 252.04(6): a single escort on one-way roadways, including divided highways with one or more lanes in the same direction, follows the load at 300 to 500 feet with warning lamps and sign visible from the rear. CONDITIONAL: if the load is ALSO over 110 ft long, the chart requires 2 private escorts (one ahead, one behind). MV2605 condition 12: a load 16 feet or wider is limited to 35 mph on highways without paved shoulders. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Rear escort + Police18'1" – 20'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Width > 18 ft and <= 20 ft' -> '1 Private Escort and 1 Law Enforcement*'. Both are mandatory: one private escort and one law-enforcement escort. Trans 252.04(7): when more than one escort is required, one precedes and one follows regardless of highway type; a police unit's compliance with the placement rules is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). CONDITIONAL: over 110 ft long the chart raises this to 2 private + 1 law enforcement (3 total). A police escort is required over 18 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear + Police20'1"+
WisDOT Escort Chart, '>20' width column: '2 Private and 2 Law Enforcement*', and that column spans every length row from Legal(75') to >250. Two private escorts and two law-enforcement escorts, all mandatory. Trans 252.04(7): one escort precedes and one follows regardless of highway type; police placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). Open-ended — the chart's >20 ft column has no upper bound. ALSO: a load over 22 feet wide is a MEGA LOAD. WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Office, 4/15/2017): 'Mega load: A vehicle that meets or exceeds one or more of the following criteria: 1) Vehicle exceeds 400,000 pounds gross vehicle, or 40,000 lbs. on one or more axle lines 2) Vehicle exceeds 22 feet in width 3) Vehicle exceeds 19 feet in height 4) Vehicle exceeds 220 feet in length.' A mega load requires a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move and a State Patrol escort detail: 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). Escort counts above are the Escort Chart minimums; the mega-load detail is set by the Permit Office and is not a fixed number, so it is stated here rather than encoded as a count. Two police escort vehicles are required over 20 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 16'
WisDOT Escort Chart, note on height: a pole vehicle is required only for loads 'greater than 16-0"', so 13'07" through 16'00" carries a permit but no height escort. Width and length may still require escorts independently. MV2605 condition 7 requires prior notice to the owners of overhead wires and cables whenever a permitted vehicle is overheight.
Front + High pole16'1" – 19'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Note on height: Loads greater than 16-0" shall have a pole vehicle.' The pole vehicle is 'in addition to escort requirements above; however, the total number of private escorts including pole vehicle will not exceed two' — so on a load that separately needs 2 private escorts for width or length, the pole vehicle absorbs one of the two rather than adding a third. Lead placement is retained from the shipped record; WisDOT does not state pole-vehicle position. Upper bound is 19'00" because WisDOT treats a load over 19 feet high as a mega load with added requirements — see the next tier. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Front + High pole19'1"+
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Note on height: Loads greater than 16-0" shall have a pole vehicle' — the pole vehicle still applies here, and total private escorts including the pole never exceed two. IN ADDITION, a load over 19 feet high is a MEGA LOAD. WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Office, 4/15/2017): 'Mega load: A vehicle that meets or exceeds one or more of the following criteria: 1) Vehicle exceeds 400,000 pounds gross vehicle, or 40,000 lbs. on one or more axle lines 2) Vehicle exceeds 22 feet in width 3) Vehicle exceeds 19 feet in height 4) Vehicle exceeds 220 feet in length.' A mega load requires a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move and a State Patrol escort detail: 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). The mega-load detail is set by the Permit Office and is not a fixed number, so it is stated here rather than encoded as a count. The shipped record capped height at 20 ft, so loads above 20 ft fell through to no published tier; this tier closes that gap and keeps the escalation visible. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Length
Permit required53'1" – 140'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length <= 140 feet' -> 'No Escorts' for loads 12 ft wide or narrower. CONDITIONAL ON WIDTH — this is the chart's main cross-term: over 110 ft long, escorts start at a lower width than the width ladder alone shows. Over 110 ft with width over 12 ft = 1 private escort; over 110 ft with width over 15 ft = 2 private escorts; over 110 ft with width over 18 ft = 2 private + 1 law enforcement. Wisconsin's legal length is the chart's 'Legal(75')' row; this band's 53'01" floor is retained from the shipped record and is more conservative than the chart's axis.
Rear escort140'1" – 160'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 140 ft and <= 160 ft' -> '1 Private Escort*'. Placement per Trans 252.04(6): a single escort on one-way roadways, including divided highways, follows at 300 to 500 feet. Asterisk: additional escorts may be added based on route complexity and turns, and/or traffic conditions. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 12 ft up to 15 ft wide and over 110 ft up to 160 ft long: one private escort, behind on a divided highway and ahead on an undivided one (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(5)-(6)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear160'1" – 200'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 160 ft and <= 200 ft' -> '2 Private Escorts*'. Trans 252.04(7): one escort precedes the permitted vehicle and one follows, regardless of the type of highway — the lead escort at least 300 feet ahead, the trailing escort 300 to 500 feet back. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear + Police200'1" – 225'
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 200 ft' -> '2 Private Escorts and 1 Law Enforcement*'. Two private escorts and one law-enforcement escort over 200 ft, all mandatory; WisDOT's chart has one open-ended '>200 ft' tier. Police placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). Note that a load over 220 ft long is also a mega load — see the next tier. A police escort is required over 200 ft long, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Front + Rear + Police225'1"+
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Length > 200 ft' -> '2 Private Escorts and 1 Law Enforcement*', unchanged through the chart's final '>250' row. Two private escorts and one law-enforcement escort, all mandatory. Police placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). ALSO: a load over 220 feet long is a MEGA LOAD. WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Office, 4/15/2017): 'Mega load: A vehicle that meets or exceeds one or more of the following criteria: 1) Vehicle exceeds 400,000 pounds gross vehicle, or 40,000 lbs. on one or more axle lines 2) Vehicle exceeds 22 feet in width 3) Vehicle exceeds 19 feet in height 4) Vehicle exceeds 220 feet in length.' A mega load requires a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move and a State Patrol escort detail: 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). The mega-load detail is set by the Permit Office and is not a fixed number, so it is stated here rather than encoded as a count. A police escort is required over 200 ft long, in addition to the private escorts. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page. The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
Weight
Police escort350,001 lbs+
WisDOT Escort Chart: 'Note on weight: Loads greater than 350,000 lbs shall have one Law Enforcement escort.' The law-enforcement escort is mandatory; its placement is at the officer's discretion (Trans 252.06(2)). Trans 252.03(2): when the permit requires it the permittee must secure a uniformed police officer in a marked squad car and pay all charges. The shipped record also stated that a bridge analysis and a route survey are required at this weight; both are retained. The route survey IS sourced: WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (4/15/2017) makes any vehicle exceeding 400,000 lbs gross (or 40,000 lbs on one or more axle lines) a mega load requiring a route survey submitted at least 14 days before the move, plus a State Patrol escort detail — 'Escort details will be a mix of private pilot vehicles and DSP personnel. Two to four State Patrol squads shall be the normal range,' with 48 hours' notice (72 hours for more than 2 squads). A bridge analysis at 350,001 lbs could not be traced to a WisDOT document — treat it as unverified and confirm with the WisDOT OSOW Permit Unit. A police escort is required over 350,000 lb; no private escort is required for this alone. Source: WisDOT Oversize Overweight Permit Unit, Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (Escort Chart), dated 7/9/2018, linked from WisDOT OSOW requirements page.
When more than one size needs an escort
The pole vehicle for a load over 16 ft high is in addition to the width and length escorts, with no more than two private escorts in all; with two, one leads and one follows (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
Sizes that set escorts together
- over 12' (up to 15') wide and over 110' (up to 160') long on divided roads: 1 escort (Rear). Over 12 ft up to 15 ft wide and over 110 ft up to 160 ft long: one private escort, behind on a divided highway and ahead on an undivided one (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(5)-(6)).
- over 12' (up to 15') wide and over 110' (up to 160') long on undivided roads: 1 escort (Front). Over 12 ft up to 15 ft wide and over 110 ft up to 160 ft long: one private escort, behind on a divided highway and ahead on an undivided one (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(5)-(6)).
- over 15' (up to 18') wide and over 110' long: 2 escorts (Front + Rear). Over 15 ft up to 18 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts, one ahead and one behind (WisDOT Escort Chart; Trans 252.04(7)).
- over 18' (up to 20') wide and over 110' long: 2 escorts (Front + Rear). Over 18 ft up to 20 ft wide and over 110 ft long: two private escorts and one law enforcement escort (WisDOT Escort Chart).
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Overweight-only at legal size: 24 hours, weekends and holidays included. Oversize to 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L: no statewide hours limit, but the county and metro windows below still apply. Larger oversize: daylight only. The permit may state otherwise.
- Night travel
Permitted for overweight-only loads and for oversize at or under 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L, unless the permit says otherwise; oversize running after dark needs the added amber and red marker lamps. Oversize over any of those: no travel during hours of darkness, any county.
- Weekend travel
To 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L: no weekend limit except 4-8 PM Sunday in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties. Larger oversize, any county: no travel noon Saturday to sunrise Sunday, or 4-8 PM Sunday.
- Holiday restrictions
To 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L: 4-8 PM closure on restricted-travel holidays, the day before, and Fridays from the 4th Friday in May to Labor Day, in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties. Larger oversize, any county: noon the day before to sunrise the day after.
- Urban restrictions
Milwaukee County Expressway: no oversize 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM Mon-Thu, 6-9 AM Fri, 3-8 PM Fri and Sun; I-41 Florist to Hampton and I-94 Waukesha County line to WI-100 are exempt. Madison Beltline (US-12/US-18, Verona Rd to Stoughton Rd): no oversize 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM Mon-Fri.
Signage Wisconsin expects
- Oversize load sign
Two "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs required when over 10' wide or overlength: one at the front of the power unit, one at the rear. Black on yellow, at least 7' long and 18" high, letters at least 10" high with a 1.4" stroke.
- Flags
Solid red or orange, at least 18" square, fastened to wave freely. Overwidth: one at each front and rear corner, plus one at the widest point if any part is more than 4" wider than the load or vehicle. Overlength: one at the extreme rear, two if the projection is wider than 2'.
- Beacons
Amber flashing or revolving lamps when the permit requires them: reflector at least 6" across, visible 500 feet, 30-90 flashes per minute; strobes allowed, off when not under permit. Oversize moving after dark also needs added amber and red marker lamps.
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Wisconsin?
On undivided roads in Wisconsin, escorts begin at 15'1" wide. On divided roads, escorts begin at 15'1" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 15'1" – 18' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Wisconsin?
Night travel: Permitted for overweight-only loads and for oversize at or under 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L, unless the permit says otherwise; oversize running after dark needs the added amber and red marker lamps. Oversize over any of those: no travel during hours of darkness, any county. Weekend travel: To 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L: no weekend limit except 4-8 PM Sunday in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties. Larger oversize, any county: no travel noon Saturday to sunrise Sunday, or 4-8 PM Sunday. Holidays: To 12'0" W, 13'6" H, 150'0" L: 4-8 PM closure on restricted-travel holidays, the day before, and Fridays from the 4th Friday in May to Labor Day, in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties. Larger oversize, any county: noon the day before to sunrise the day after.