Delaware Oversize and Overweight Permits
DelDOT OSOW permits, the 2 DE Admin. Code 2405 escort table, summer slow-load limits, 2026 holiday windows and the Delaware Memorial Bridge
Quick answer
How is a Delaware oversize permit ordered?
Apply online in DelDOT's Oversize/Overweight Permit System (OSOW) or through an authorized permit service; the Hauling Permit Office takes no applications by phone, fax or in person (2405-3.3). A single-trip oversize permit costs $30, overweight adds $10 per 8,000 lb over legal, and the permit runs 5 days, sunrise to sunset, any day of the week. It covers state-maintained roads only.
Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).
Checked October 2026; the issued permit controls
Delaware runs permitted oversize loads seven days a week from sunrise to sunset (2 DE Admin. Code 2405-4.2.1), and it adds the first escort only once a load is more than 13 ft wide, a foot later than New York in our oversize permits by state guide. The state is short but its route lists are dense: through loads may not use I-95 between the Pennsylvania line and I-495, and summer weekends close the beach routes to slow loads.
HTS Logistics, licensed as a property broker under MC 1178470, books the carrier for heavy haul loads through Delaware and arranges the OSOW permit. We also schedule any Delaware State Police escort at least 48 hours ahead and read DelDOT's permanent and temporary route restriction lists, which 2405-4.5.4 requires every permittee to check before applying. Since October 2026 OSOW takes payment through a GoDE payment interface.
Legal limits in Delaware
Delaware writes two sets of limits: 21 Del. C. 4503 for Interstate and US routes and 4502 for every other highway. Off the Interstate a single axle may carry 22,400 lb and two axles 40–96 in apart on a combination 36,000 lb, while the Interstate drops to 20,000 lb and 34,000 lb under the bridge formula (4503(c)); our bridge formula calculator gives the Interstate gross for any spacing.
| Limit | Delaware | Federal baseline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | 8 ft 6 in (102 in) on the National Network | Includes the load; on Interstate, federal-aid primary and US routes, safety devices of up to 3 in per side do not count, but on other highways they do (4503(b)(6); 2405-2.2) |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | No federal limit | 4502(b)(2); no one has to raise a structure for a vehicle over 12 ft 6 in, and the owner or operator is liable for damage (4501(g)(5)) |
| Semitrailer length | 53 ft | States must allow at least 48 ft | On Interstate and US routes not otherwise posted; other highways cap any combination at 60 ft overall (65 ft auto transporters, 70 ft poles and indivisible steel); single vehicle 40 ft |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | 80,000 lb | 5 or more axles; single units carry 65,000 lb on 3 axles and 73,280 lb on 4 off the Interstate |
| Single axle | 22,400 lb | 20,000 lb | Off the Interstate (2405 Table 2.1); 20,000 lb on the Interstate, tolerances included |
| Tandem axle | 36,000 lb | 34,000 lb | Two consecutive axles 40–96 in apart on a combination (40,000 lb on single units); 34,000 lb on the Interstate |
Federal baseline: 23 CFR Part 658, eCFR as of 2026-10-14
When Delaware requires a permit and how to get one
DelDOT's Hauling Permit Office, part of the Division of Transportation Solutions, issues permits under 21 Del. C. 4504 and the Oversize/Overweight Hauling Permit Policy and Procedures Manual (2 DE Admin. Code 2405). A single-trip permit covers the shortest practical route on Interstate and state routes for 5 days and allows no deviation, intermediate stop or round trip (2405-4.5); the permit and its supporting documents ride in the truck (3.4.7).
A load becomes a superload at 15 ft wide, 15 ft high or 120 ft long, or over 120,000 lb (2405-1.3; section 5.1.1 words the weight as 120,000 lb or greater). DelDOT Bridge Management reviews any permit with an individual axle at or above 25,000 lb under 2405-2.4, while the OSOW FAQ puts that trigger above 28,000 lb, so we plan for a bridge review from 25,000 lb. Reducible loads are not permitted, except grandfathered 3- and 4-axle single units and Port of Wilmington ship permits (3.4.8).
Permit office
- Issuing office
- DelDOT Division of Transportation Solutions, Hauling Permit Office
- Permit system
- DelDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit System (OSOW), GoDE payment interface since October 2026
- Phone
- 302-744-2700 (after-hour and extreme-size approvals: Chief Traffic Engineer, 302-659-4060)
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Permit reviews Monday–Friday, 7 AM–3:30 PM, except holidays
- Roads covered
- State-maintained roads only, pavement but not shoulders (2405-4.5.3); roads a town alone maintains are permitted locally
Fees
| Permit (load code) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single-trip oversize (Load Code 1) or manufactured housing (Load Code 4) | $30 |
| Overweight (Load Code 2), or sealed ocean container up to 100,000 lb (Load Code 5) | $30 plus $10 for each 8,000 lb or portion over legal weight |
| Superload (Load Code 3) | $60 plus the same weight fee, plus DelDOT's labor, equipment, material and evaluation costs on a signed estimate |
| Amendment | $10 |
| Grandfathered 3- or 4-axle single unit over the bridge formula, Interstate trip (Load Code 9) | $1 per trip; $60 for a 60-trip annual permit (Load Code 10) |
| Port of Wilmington ship permit, multi-trip for 5 days | $900 |
| Pole and piling, 30 days | $30 |
| Twin-trailer route permit | $300 per 30 days |
| Annual self-propelled crane blanket | $1,500 up to 24,000 lb or $2,500 over, plus 52 times the per-trip weight fee |
| Delaware State Police escort (DSP fee sheet, undated) | $78 an hour per trooper and $18 an hour per patrol vehicle, 1.5-hour minimum then half-hour steps; flares $36 a box |
The weight fee counts from the legal gross for the axle count: 40,000 lb on 2 axles, 65,000 lb on 3, 73,280 lb on 4 and 80,000 lb on 5 or more. As a worked example, a 5-axle load at 100,000 lb is 20,000 lb over, which is three 8,000 lb steps, so the permit is $30 plus $30, or $60 (our arithmetic from 2405-3.2). Permits are paid from an online fund account by credit card or electronic check.
Escort and pilot car rules in Delaware
Delaware sets escort counts by width, length, height, overhang and weight in 2405-4.6.1 and Table 4.1, adds a Delaware State Police car at superload sizes, and has no escort-driver certification rule. Each escort is a single, non-permitted vehicle no smaller than a compact car, towing nothing, escorting one load at a time and keeping visual and two-way radio contact with the driver; the certifying states are compared on our pilot car requirements by state page.
| Load | Escort requirement |
|---|---|
| Up to 13 ft wide | None by dimension; DelDOT may add escorts for a load that cannot move freely with traffic, on high-volume highways or where lanes are under 12 ft wide (4.6.1.2, 4.6.1.11) |
| More than 13 ft, up to 14 ft wide | 1 escort: behind the load on a multilane highway, in front on a two-lane highway (4.6.1.3) |
| More than 14 ft wide | 2 escorts, front and rear (4.6.1.4) |
| 15 ft wide or more (width superload) | Front and rear escorts plus 1 contracted DSP trooper and patrol car (5.3.2.4.1); section 4.6.1.4 words the DSP trigger as more than 15 ft |
| 90 ft long or more | 1 rear escort (4.6.1.5) |
| 100 ft long or more | 2 escorts, front and rear (4.6.1.5) |
| 120 ft long or more | Front and rear escorts plus a DSP escort (4.6.1.5; 5.3.1.4.1) |
| 15 ft high or more | Front and rear escorts, with a DSP trooper on a height superload (4.6.1.6; 5.3.3.4.1) |
| 17 ft 6 in high or more | Front and rear escorts plus a separate DSP escort (4.6.1.6) |
| Rear overhang of 15 ft or more | 1 rear escort unless the permit says otherwise (4.6.1.7) |
| Over 120,000 lb gross | 2 escorts, front and rear; the automatic DSP escort for weight-only loads ended with the policy change approved Nov 14, 2022, though DSP can still be required for the load or the assets on the route (4.6.1.9; 5.3.4.4.1) |
| Two or more superload dimensions | Front and rear escorts and at least 1 contracted DSP trooper and patrol car (5.3.5.5.1) |
| Emergency permit, over 9 ft wide or unable to keep posted speed | A rear escort on divided highways; front and rear on undivided ones (6.2.4) |
DSP escorts are booked with the DSP Special Duty Officer at 877-425-8330 at least 48 hours before the move, and one DSP car may cover two or more loads moving together when the other escorts are present and the loads stay in contact (4.6.1.10). Escort signs read OVERSIZE LOAD, at least 5 ft long and 12 in high with 8 in letters, on the roof or front and rear; the 43–52 in amber light bar in 4.6.3.3 is described but 'not required in Delaware.'
Travel times, curfews and holidays
Oversize, overweight and manufactured-housing permits (Load Codes 1, 2 and 4) are valid Monday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset during the 5-day window, using National Weather Service times (2405-4.2.1, 1.3). Sealed container, ship, pole and piling, Interstate, twin-trailer and crane-blanket permits may run 24 hours.
- Night envelope: loads within a 12 ft width, 14 ft 6 in height, 75 ft length and 120,000 lb may move 9 PM–5 AM Monday through Friday with prior approval. Tick the After Hour Move box, request night movement in the comments and check that the approval is printed in the permit's Special Provisions (2405-3.4.12, 4.2.2); bigger night moves need DelDOT authorization, the 4.6.4 lighting and possibly more escorts.
- Summer slow loads, May 15 to October 1: a load that cannot travel within 10 mph of the posted speed may not move from noon Friday to noon Monday on I-95, I-295, I-495, US 13 and SR 1 in New Castle County, or on US 9, US 13, US 113, SR 1, SR 18, SR 24, SR 26, SR 54 and SR 404 in Kent and Sussex counties (2405-5.6.1).
- Combination superloads: in the same season DelDOT recommends Tuesday through Thursday travel and no beach-resort routes on Mondays, Fridays or weekends (5.3.5.4.2).
- Rush hours: standard permits carry no statewide weekday curfew, though DelDOT can restrict any move. Width, height and combination superloads should avoid 6–9 AM and 3–7 PM, and so should weight-only superloads that cannot hold within 10 mph of the limit, Monday through Friday (2405-5.3).
- Weather: no travel when road, visibility or weather conditions are hazardous, and a moving load exits at the first safe location (2405-4.3).
| Holiday | No permitted moves |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day (Thu Jan 1) | Noon Wed Dec 31, 2025 to 9 AM Fri Jan 2 |
| Memorial Day (Mon May 25) | Noon Sun May 24 to 9 AM Tue May 26 |
| July 4 (a Saturday; observed Fri Jul 3) | Noon Fri Jul 3 to 9 AM Sun Jul 5 |
| Labor Day (Mon Sep 7) | Noon Sun Sep 6 to 9 AM Tue Sep 8 |
| Thanksgiving and the day after (Thu–Fri Nov 26–27) | Noon Wed Nov 25 to 9 AM Sat Nov 28 |
| Christmas (Fri Dec 25) | Noon Thu Dec 24 to 9 AM Sat Dec 26 |
| New Year's Day 2027 (Fri Jan 1) | Noon Thu Dec 31 to 9 AM Sat Jan 2, 2027 |
The permit office also closes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 19), Good Friday (Apr 3), Juneteenth (Fri Jun 19), Election Day (Tue Nov 3) and Veterans Day (Wed Nov 11), but hauling is not restricted on those days. Superloads need written permission to travel on any holiday or during special events (2405-5.3.5.4.4).
Seasonal limits: Delaware has no frost law
Delaware has no spring-thaw or frost-law program: none appears in 21 Del. C. chapter 45, 2 DE Admin. Code 2405 or DelDOT's OSOW pages, so a Delaware leg carries the same permit weights in March as in July. That sets it apart from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, which sit with the other seasonal programs on our frost laws by state page.
- Posted limits still bind: the DelDOT Secretary may order signs setting a maximum weight or height on any highway, published in the Register of Regulations and on DelDOT's website (21 Del. C. 4505(c)–(d)), and an OSOW permit never overrides a lower posted bridge or highway limit (2405-3.4.4).
- Narrow roads: DelDOT may also bar vehicles from highways too narrow for them (4502(d), 4503(d)). DelDOT publishes its standing route limits on the permanent and temporary restriction lists summarized in the pitfalls below.
What catches carriers in Delaware
I-95 through Wilmington is local-only
Between the Pennsylvania line and I-495 south of Wilmington, I-95 takes permitted loads only for deliveries inside that zone, so through loads run I-495. SR 141 (Washington St) takes no permit loads, SR 896 from the Maryland line to I-95 at Newark takes nothing over 10 ft wide, and SR 1 and SR 7 under I-95 at Christiana clear only 14 ft 0 in, with a route survey for loads over 15 ft 6 in using Exits 5A or 4B.
DelDOT OSOW Permanent Route Restrictions
Ramp limits at the I-295 interchanges
As checked on Oct 17, 2026, I-295 southbound under Bridge 1739 059 is held to 14 ft 9 in high until Nov 1; the I-495 southbound ramp to I-295 northbound and the I-95 southbound ramp to I-295 northbound (Exit 5C) are limited to 13 ft of width and 14 ft 6 in of height; and the I-495 southbound direct ramps to I-95 southbound and I-295 northbound are closed with posted detours through Dec 31, 2026.
DelDOT OSOW Temporary Route Restrictions
Two signs, bigger than the escort's
The load sign reads OVERSIZE LOAD, at least 7 ft long and 18 in high with 10 in black letters (1.41 in stroke) on yellow, high-intensity reflective for night moves: one on the front of the truck and one on the rear of the load. Flags of red or orange fluorescent material, 18 in square at minimum, mark the extremities in daylight, and the rule is silent on WIDE LOAD wording; our OVERSIZE LOAD sign specs in other states table lines Delaware up against the rest.
2 DE Admin. Code 2405-4.6.2, 4.6.5; 21 Del. C. 4343
Breaking a term voids the permit
Violating any permit term voids the permit (21 Del. C. 4504(f)). Under the statute a first size or weight offense is $100 to $500 or up to 30 days, and overweight adds 2.3 cents a pound for the first 5,000 lb over and 5.75 cents beyond (4508); the manual's older table in 2405-2.5.1 still lists $28.75 to $230, but the statute controls.
21 Del. C. 4504(f), 4508; 2405-2.5.1
Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Port of Wilmington and superloads
The Delaware Memorial Bridge on I-295/US 40 belongs to the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), which publishes no separate oversize or overweight permit program on drba.net or delawarememorialbridge.com; the DelDOT permit governs the Delaware side, and the bridge adds lane and toll rules of its own.
Lane 13 and the wide-load toll
At the southbound toll plaza every wide load and oversized vehicle uses Lane 13, the far-right lane, staffed as needed 24 hours. DRBA's wide-load page treats anything over 10 ft (120 in) as a wide load, and its toll page charges any over-width vehicle of 10 ft or more $85 with E-ZPass or $95 cash. Calling the Toll Supervisor at 302-571-6373 ahead is encouraged but not required; haulers of explosives contact DRBA Police at 302-571-6342.
Overweight loads on the bridge
A DelDOT OSOW notice dated July 25, 2016, still posted on DelDOT's legacy permit page, says oversize moves may cross on I-295 southbound but that the 'DRBA ban on OVERWEIGHT moves remains in effect.' We found no current DRBA statement confirming or lifting that ban, so the notice is not proof of current law either way; before routing an overweight load over the bridge we confirm with DRBA at 302-571-6300.
Northbound bridge work through Nov 24, 2026
Since Sep 7, 2026, I-295 northbound over the bridge has been limited to loads 20 ft wide or less, and DelDOT approves no night moves over the bridge until the work's proposed completion on Nov 24, 2026; DelDOT lists a DRBA contact for it at 302-571-6310.
Port of Wilmington
A $900 multi-trip ship permit, good for 5 days, covers ship-offloading moves up to 85 ft long, 12 ft wide and 120,000 lb on 5 or more axles on state roads within 2 miles of the port, I-495 excluded (2405-3.2.1.6). Sealed ocean containers up to 100,000 lb gross moving between a port and the sealing or unsealing facility are treated as non-divisible and may run 24 hours (3.2.1.5, 4.2.1.5).
Superload paperwork
A superload needs a route survey on HP Form 16 done within 14 business days of the move, with 6 in of overhead and 3 to 6 in of lateral clearance, plus the Superload Gate-Keeping Checklist (HP Form 17), DSP notice 48 hours ahead, and calls to the county 911 non-emergency line and the DelDOT Traffic Management Center (302-659-4600) at least 1 hour before the move and at completion. Utility, arborist, signal and traffic-control work is at the hauler's cost, and review takes about 5 to 14 business days (2405-5.2 to 5.6). DelDOT's contact page also lists the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (215-656-6441) for superload application review.
Emergency permits
When police confirm a calamity, an emergency permit allows up to 14 ft wide and 100,000 lb on 4 axles, 108,000 lb on 5 or 120,000 lb on 6 or more; after hours the request goes to the TMC at 302-659-4600 (2405-6.2, 6.3).
Crossing into a neighboring state
- South and west into Maryland: SHA's Maryland One permit also covers the MDTA toll facilities, including the I-95 JFK Memorial Highway, where permitted movement runs in daylight from 9 AM Monday to noon Friday unless MDTA approves otherwise and the carrier calls the facility at least 1 hour ahead. Maryland's tunnel limits and Key Bridge detours are in our Maryland oversize permit rules.
- North into Pennsylvania: PennDOT charges $46 for a single trip up to 14 ft wide and $97 above that, adds a pilot car over 13 ft wide just as Delaware does, and keeps the PA Turnpike on a separate permit, all set out in our Pennsylvania oversize load regulations.
- East over the Delaware Memorial Bridge into New Jersey: NJDOT's first escort comes over 14 ft wide, and the NJ Turnpike, reached from the bridge's New Jersey end, accepts NJDOT permits only with express NJ Turnpike Authority approval; see our New Jersey oversize permits page, and the oversize load checker for the New Jersey and Pennsylvania triggers a given load sets off.
Delaware oversize permit questions
What does a DelDOT single-trip permit cost?
$30 for a single-trip oversize permit (Load Code 1) under 2 DE Admin. Code 2405-3.2. Overweight permits are $30 plus $10 for each 8,000 lb or part over the legal gross for the axle count, superloads start at $60 plus the same weight fee and DelDOT's own costs, and an amendment is $10. Delaware State Police escorts are billed separately at $78 an hour per trooper and $18 an hour per patrol car.
Are Delaware oversize permits valid on Saturdays and Sundays?
Yes. Standard oversize, overweight and manufactured-housing permits are valid Monday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset. Two summer limits apply from May 15 through October 1: loads that cannot keep within 10 mph of the posted speed may not move from noon Friday to noon Monday on listed routes such as I-95, SR 1, US 13 and US 113, and combination superloads should stay off beach-resort routes on Mondays, Fridays and weekends.
How wide can a Delaware load get before it needs an escort?
Above 13 ft wide. One escort covers loads up to 14 ft, behind the load on a multilane highway and in front on a two-lane road, and two escorts are needed over 14 ft. At 15 ft wide the load is a superload and adds a contracted Delaware State Police trooper and car, booked at 877-425-8330 at least 48 hours ahead. No certification is required of the escort drivers.
Do I need a separate permit for the Delaware Memorial Bridge?
No separate DRBA permit program was found; the DelDOT permit governs the Delaware side. Wide loads, over 10 ft, use Lane 13 at the southbound toll plaza and pay $85 with E-ZPass or $95 cash. A 2016 DelDOT notice still says a DRBA ban on overweight moves remains in effect, and DRBA has published nothing either way since, so confirm any overweight crossing with DRBA at 302-571-6300 first.
Can a Delaware permit load run between 9 PM and 5 AM?
Only with approval. Loads no heavier than 120,000 lb and no larger than 75 ft long by 12 ft wide by 14 ft 6 in high can move 9 PM to 5 AM Monday through Friday when the After Hour Move box is ticked, night travel is requested in the comments and the approval appears in the permit's Special Provisions. Larger night moves need DelDOT authorization and extra lighting, and northbound bridge work bars night moves over the bridge until about Nov 24, 2026.
How do I apply for a DelDOT hauling permit?
Online through DelDOT's Oversize/Overweight Permit System, or through an authorized permit service; the Hauling Permit Office (302-744-2700, [email protected]) does not accept applications by phone, fax or in person. Permits are paid from an online fund account by card or electronic check, through a GoDE payment interface since October 2026, and reviews run 7 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays except holidays.
What are Delaware's 2026 holiday restrictions for oversize loads?
DelDOT bars permitted moves from noon before each holiday until 9 AM after it: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (observed Friday Jul 3), Labor Day, Thanksgiving with the Friday after, and Christmas, which runs from noon Dec 24 to 9 AM Dec 26. On MLK Day, Good Friday, Juneteenth, Election Day and Veterans Day the permit office is closed, but loads may still move.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked in October 2026 against the sources below. Rules and rates change; we confirm current requirements on every move.
- eCFR 23 CFR Part 658: Truck Size and Weight (federal baseline)
- 2 DE Admin. Code 2405, Oversize/Overweight Hauling Permit Policy and Procedures Manual (amended through 26 DE Reg. 1078, 06/01/23)
- DelDOT Hauling Permit Office Policy and Procedure Manual (OSOW system copy of 2405)
- Delaware Code Title 21, Chapter 45 (4501-4508)
- Delaware Code Title 21, Chapter 43, Subchapter II (4343 lamp or flag on projecting load)
- DelDOT OSOW Permit System (holiday restrictions, FAQ, contact list, news, route restrictions)
- DelDOT OSOW Holiday Restrictions 2026
- DelDOT OSOW Permanent Route Restrictions
- DelDOT OSOW Temporary Route Restrictions
- DelDOT OSOW FAQ
- Delaware State Police escort request and fee sheet
- DelDOT legacy OSOW page (7/25/2016 DRBA overweight notice)
- Delaware Memorial Bridge: Wide Loads and Oversized Vehicles (DRBA)
- Delaware Memorial Bridge toll rates (DRBA)
Routing a wide load across Delaware or the Memorial Bridge?
Lane 13, the I-95 Wilmington restriction and the summer beach-route limits each shape a Delaware trip. Send us the width, height, axle weights and both addresses, and we will match the OSOW permit, any DSP escort and a carrier to them.
- FMCSA-licensed property broker, MC# 1178470
- Permits, escorts and route surveys arranged for each move
- Carriers checked for authority, insurance and safety record
- Commercial shippers, dealers, contractors and auction buyers
Prefer to talk? Call (631) 683-8275.
Request a Commercial Quote
Keep reading
- Maryland Oversize PermitsMaryland One fees from $30, 24/7 moves to 225,000 lb, the closed Key Bridge, harbor tunnel limits and MDTA's $25 fee.
- Pennsylvania Oversize PermitsPennDOT limits, fees, escorts and the separate Turnpike permit.
- New Jersey Oversize PermitsNJDOT limits, fees and escort rules, plus the Turnpike and Parkway.
- Oversize PermitsLegal limits, permit fees, escort triggers and travel rules by state, from official sources.
- Legal Load LimitsLegal width, height, length and axle weights by state, plus night, weekend and 2026 holiday travel rules.
- Pilot Car RequirementsWhen each state requires escorts: width, length, height and overhang triggers, certification and police escorts.