Illinois Overweight/Oversize Permits

Illinois Overweight PermitsPermit Types

Obtain Illinois oversize/overweight permits by calling (888) 799-8858.

  1. Single-Trip Oversize/Overweight permits – Valid for 5 days.
  2. Round-Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits
  3. Limited Continuous-Operation Legal Weight Permits
  • Annual/Quarterly Construction Equipment (including stackable loads)
  • Annual/Quarterly Trusses
  • Annual/Quarterly Manufactured Housing/Storage Buildings
  • Annual/Quarterly Stackable Manufactured Home Frames

4. Limited Continuous Operation Overweight Permits

  • Annual/Quarterly Oversize/Overweight
  • Agricultural Commodities(40 day permit)
  • Annual Movement to Derailment Sites
  • Annual/Quarterly Movement From Disablement Sites
  • Annual/Quarterly Extreme Heavy-Duty Tow & Recovery
  • Semi-Annual Repeated Crossing of State Maintained Roads

You can also obtain any trip and fuel permits you may need with our sister site!

Operating Time

Permitted loads up to 14’6″ wide, up to 15′ high, up to 145′ in length, and up to 120,000 lbs. (or 100,000 lbs. on 5 axles) can now travel seven days a week, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Loads exceeding these dimensions are allowed to travel one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset Monday through Friday, and one-half hour before sunrise until noon on Saturday. Overweight-only is allowed continuous travel if the permit shows all other dimensions as legal.

 

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

Width 8’6″ on designated highways
Height 13’6″
Length 53′ semi-trailer, 65′ overall on non-designated highways

*Kingpin to the center of the rear axle should not be over 45’6″, or it needs to be permitted.
Weight 80,000 lbs. gross weight:

Single – 20,000 lbs.

Tandem – 34,000 lbs.

Tridem – 42,500 lbs.
Overhang 3′ front, 4′ rear; more rear overhang is permitted if within legal length limits

 

PERMIT LIMITS

Width 14’6″
Height 15′ (depending on overhead clearances, 3″ clearance required)
Length 145′
Weight Single – 24,000 lbs.

Tandem – 48,000 lbs.

Tridem – 60,000 lbs. (no single axle to exceed 21,000 lbs.)

Quad – 60,000 lbs. on a standard permit, up to 100,000 lbs. with a superload permit.

Superload note: Overweight applications get treated as superloads when they:

  • Have 5 axles and a gross weight of over 100,000 lbs. and/or over 44,000 lbs. on a tandem group.
  • Have 6 or more axles and a gross weight of over 120,000 lbs. and/or over 48,000 lbs. on an axle group.

Note: On lift or pusher axles, the maximum weight difference between axles in a group is 2,000 lbs. Loads that exceed these dimensions or weight are superloads. Axles that are over 16′ wide and 17′ high require a field or district engineering investigation. The ones that are over 17′ high must contact all overhead utility companies with documentation to provide.

Exemptions: Vehicles operating in the daytime, Monday through Friday, do not have any length limitations when transporting beams, pipes, poles, culverts, or other objects of a structural nature 80′ or less in length (overall length 100′ or less). Farm tractors and other implements of husbandry may be hauled without a permit during daylight hours (including weekends) when over width only. A permit is still needed if the load is over 13’6″ high or overweight.

Escort/Pilot Car Requirements 

 On All Highways

Length: Over 110′

Over 145′

Over 200′

 1 escort

3 escorts

State police escorts required
Height: Over 14’6″

Over 18′

 1 escort with a high pole and a route survey required to get a permit

2 escorts and 1 state police escort required
Width: Over 14’6″

over 16′

over18′

 1 escort

3 escorts

State police escorts required

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS

Flags are required on the extremities of all oversize vehicles or loads and all protruding objects. “Oversize Load” signs are required on loads that are more than 10 feet wide, 14 feet high, and/or 75 feet long. All oversize/overweight permit loads must display an operable oscillating, rotating, or flashing amber light or lights on the tractor. The size of the light (s) is not specified, but it must be visible from both sides and the front and must be strong enough to be seen for at least 500 feet in the daytime. When visibility of the light is blocked from the rear, and for loads over 80′ long or combinations over 100′ long, a second light is required, mounted 10′ of the rear of the object and as high as practical over it.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL

Permit loads on expressways in Cook County are restricted to a maximum of 120,000 lbs., 12′ wide and/or 13’6″. Several special restrictions apply in Cook County, as listed on provision sheets (General Provisions B). Loads wider than 14’6″ and up to and including 16′ wide are only allowed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, St. Clair, and Will. Other restrictions may apply if the width exceeds 16′. There will be no travel after noon the day before major holidays or holiday weekends.

Illinois Toll Roads: Maximum width is 10′ except 12′ is allowed on sections that carry I-80 (near Indiana line) and US51 (near Wisconsin line). Gross weight:

  • 80,001 – 104,000 costs about $35.00
  • 104,001 – 120,000 is around $150.00
  • Maximum gross weight is 120,000 lbs.
  • Loads with a length exceeding 100′ need prior approval and a special permit.
  • Maximum height 14’6″; over 13’6″ is $15.00 extra.