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Minnesota Oversize and Overweight Permits

Minnesota Oversize and Overweight Permits

MnDOT SUPERLOAD permits, damage assessment fees, certified escorts, metro and summer-weekend limits and spring load restrictions

Quick answer

How do you order an MnDOT overweight permit?

Order it from MnDOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations in the Minnesota SUPERLOAD system at mn.gotpermits.com. A single trip is $15 and valid 7 days; an overweight trip adds a damage assessment fee per mile for each axle group over legal. Register the truck for the permitted weight first, because the permit does not raise it, and get local approval for county or city roads.

Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).

Checked October 2026; the issued permit controls

A load can reach 15 ft wide at the bottom in Minnesota before width alone requires an escort, against 12 ft in neighboring Iowa, one of the other states in our oversize permits by state guide. Travel hours are generally open as well: MnDOT's General Provisions, which are part of every permit, say 'In general, travel is not restricted,' so a night move is allowed unless the permit, a metro rule or a holiday says otherwise.

On heavy haul jobs into or across Minnesota, HTS works as the broker (MC 1178470): the carrier we book hauls, and we order the SUPERLOAD permit, check the frost-zone calendar and line up the certified escorts the width or length calls for. Before ordering, we confirm that the truck's registration covers the permitted weight, because a MnDOT permit does not raise it (DPS Prorate, 651-205-4141).

When Minnesota requires a permit and how to get one

MnDOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OFCVO) in St. Paul issues permits under Minn. Stat. 169.86 through Minnesota SUPERLOAD, which replaced its previous permit system in March 2022. A single trip is valid 7 days, a $36 job permit covers like loads on one route with the same power unit for 60 days, and annual permits for cranes, construction and farm equipment and other listed loads run up to 12 months.

Permits are valid only on state trunk highways, US highways and Interstates, and MnDOT may ask for copies of local approvals before issuing one. Annual permit holders log each trip in SUPERLOAD once a load is over legal weight, over 11 ft wide or over 14 ft 6 in high.

Permit office

Issuing office
MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OFCVO), Oversize/Overweight Permits
Address
395 John Ireland Blvd., MS 420, St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone
651-296-6000
Hours
Monday–Friday; general information 8:30 AM–3 PM, trip logging and route approval 7 AM–4 PM
Roads covered
State trunk highways, US highways and Interstates; county, city and township roads need local authorization

Fees

MnDOT single-trip, job and annual permit fees (Minn. Stat. 169.86 subd. 5)
Permit or chargeFee
Single trip, non-divisible load (7 days) $15
Job permit, like loads on one route (60 days) $36
Overweight single trip or job permit Base fee plus a damage assessment fee per mile for each over-legal axle group
Single trip more than 72 in over legal width (over 14 ft 6 in) during spring load restrictions $120 added
Weight found over the permitted maximum 22 cents per ton per mile on top of the permit fee
Annual permits $60 or $120; overweight annuals for cranes, construction and farm equipment and commercial boats $200 (90,000 lb or less) to $900 (145,001–155,000 lb)
Damage assessment cost factors per mile (MnDOT)
Axle groupLowest bandHighest band in the table
Two axles within 8 ft $0.12 at 34,001–36,000 lb$0.30 at 44,001–46,000 lb
Three axles within 9 ft $0.05 at 42,001–44,000 lb$0.19 at 58,001–60,000 lb
Four axles within 14 ft $0.04 at 50,001–52,000 lb$0.20 at 70,001–72,000 lb

MnDOT's own example, a 13,000 lb steer axle, a 38,000 lb tandem and a 60,000 lb tridem, costs $0.33 a mile ($0 + $0.14 + $0.19) on top of the $15 base, which by our arithmetic is $81 for a 200-mile trip. The table stops at 46,000, 60,000 and 72,000 lb, although permits allow heavier tridems and quads, and MnDOT does not publish how those groups are priced.

Minnesota has no separate superload fee. When MnDOT's Bridge Office needs a third-party consultant, the carrier hires and pays it, and signal and utility work is at the carrier's cost. State Patrol escort fees are reset each year to recover actual costs (Minn. Stat. 299D.09), and no rate is published.

Escort and pilot car rules in Minnesota

Minnesota escort counts come from Minn. Stat. 169.812, and every escort driver must hold a Minnesota pilot/escort certificate or a reciprocal one; how that compares with other states is on our pilot car requirements page. Width is measured two ways for the trigger: over 15 ft at the bottom of the load or over 16 ft at the top.

Minnesota escort triggers (Minn. Stat. 169.812)
LoadEscort requirement
Over 15 ft wide at the bottom or 16 ft at the top, multilane divided road 1 certified rear escort
The same widths on an undivided road Certified front and rear escorts
Over 110 ft long, multilane divided road 1 certified rear escort
Over 150 ft long, multilane divided road Certified front and rear escorts
Over 110 ft long, undivided road Certified front and rear escorts
Any part of the load left of the centerline on an undivided road A lead licensed peace officer plus certified front and rear escorts, scheduled through the State Patrol, a county sheriff or city police
Height pole written into the permit, load over 15 ft 6 in The front pilot car carries a nonconductive, breakable height pole, in use at all times (Minn. R. 7455.1000)
Over 16 ft high, 20 ft wide or 175 ft long No pole vehicle: a MnDOT-approved physical route survey before the permit issues

Certification is an 8-hour course and exam ($180, valid 4 years), one 4-year renewal by a $90 refresher, and the full course again every 8 years; certificates from Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Washington count if Minnesota's insurance, vehicle, sign, light and equipment rules are met. The escort vehicle needs a wheelbase of at least 100 in, a rigid roof sign at least 5 ft wide with 8 in letters, a 360-degree amber light visible 500 ft, a two-way radio with half-mile range and $1,000,000 of insurance (Minn. R. 7455).

Travel times, curfews and holidays

MnDOT's General Provisions leave hours open in general and list the exceptions, which key off two sizes: 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long for weekend and holiday bans, and 14 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long for metro rush hours.

  • Rush hours: no movement 6:00–8:30 AM or 3:30–6:00 PM on weekdays in the Twin Cities and Duluth metro areas for loads over 14 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long; the zone limits are on MnDOT's Rush hour zones map.
  • Night only: loads over 16 ft wide in the Twin Cities seven-county metro move only 12:00–5:00 AM, Monday–Friday, unless the permit says otherwise.
  • Summer weekends: from Memorial Day to Labor Day (May 29 to Aug 31 in MnDOT's 2026 table), no travel 4:00–8:00 PM on Fridays and Sundays for loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long. The 2026 Commercial Vehicle Resource Book prints the window as Friday through Sunday, but the General Provisions attached to the permit say Fridays and Sundays.
  • Night lighting: from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise, lights visible 500 ft go at the flag locations, and OVERSIZE LOAD signs must be lighted or reflective.
  • Weather: no movement when conditions are hazardous, when the load cannot stay in its lane or when visibility is under 500 ft; drivers are expected to watch 511mn.org.
  • Convoys: not allowed unless the permit says so, and permit vehicles keep about 15 minutes apart.
MnDOT 2026 holiday restrictions for loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long
HolidayNo movement
Fishing Opener 2 PM Fri May 8 to 2 AM Sat May 9, and 2 PM Sun May 10 to 2 AM Mon May 11
Memorial Day 2 PM Sun May 24 to 2 AM Tue May 26
Independence Day (observed Fri Jul 3) 2 PM Thu Jul 2 to 2 AM Sat Jul 4
Labor Day 2 PM Sun Sep 6 to 2 AM Tue Sep 8
Thanksgiving (Nov 26 and 27) 2 PM Wed Nov 25 to 2 AM Sat Nov 28
Christmas Day 2 PM Thu Dec 24 to 2 AM Sat Dec 26
New Year's, Jan 1, 2027 2 PM Thu Dec 31 to 2 AM Sat Jan 2, 2027

MnDOT publishes the dates and the rule, 2 PM the day before to 2 AM the day after, with dated windows only for the Fishing Opener; the other windows apply the rule, and MnDOT does not say whether Sat Jul 4 was also restricted. Overweight-only loads are not restricted, and travel is allowed on MLK Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth and Veterans Day.

Minnesota spring load restrictions and winter increases

Spring load restrictions (SLR) in Minnesota are set by zone, not by county: MnDOT picks the dates for six frost zones, and between them Minn. Stat. 169.87 holds single axles to 10 tons on paved roads and 5 tons on unpaved roads statewide, local roads included, unless a sign posts something else. Versions in other states are on our frost laws by state page.

  • How MnDOT picks dates: SLR is scheduled when a zone's 3-day forecast cumulative thawing index passes 25 F degree-days, with at least 3 days' notice and a 12:01 AM start, and MnDOT aims to keep it under 8 weeks (Technical Memorandum 14-10-MAT-02).
  • 2026: SLR ran Mar 3 to Apr 20 in the Metro, South and Southeast zones, Mar 6 to May 1 in Central, Mar 18 to May 13 in North-Central and Mar 20 to May 15 in North. No dates for the 2026-27 winter load increase had been announced by Oct 17, 2026.
  • Posted segments: some trunk highways are posted lower, at 7 tons (14,000 lb single axle, 26,444 lb on two axles within 8 ft) or 5 tons (10,000 lb and 18,889 lb), including I-35E from I-94 to MN 5 at 5 tons in 2026. MN 7 from MN 28 to Golf Club Road and MN 32 from Clay CSAH 10 to US 10 stay at 7 tons year-round until further notice.
  • Permits during SLR: a permitted load over 80,000 lb keeps moving only if each axle and axle group is at legal weight, which on 10-ton roads means no more than 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem. Interstates carry full-summer permit weights for through trips only, and a single trip more than 72 in over legal width pays $120 extra.
  • After the lift: full weights do not come back at once. Middle-range permits (22,000 lb single, 36,000 lb tandem) open in each zone on its SLR end date and full-summer permits 2–3 weeks later, which in 2026 meant May 8 in Metro, South and Southeast, May 15 in Central and June 1 in the two northern zones. Recorded status: 651-366-5400 or 1-800-723-6543.

What catches carriers in Minnesota

Registration is a separate step

A MnDOT permit leaves the registered weight where it was, so a truck carrying more than its registration covers must be registered up through DPS Driver and Vehicle Services Prorate (651-205-4141) or a temporary registration weight increase before the move.

MnDOT General Provisions item 1; Minnesota SUPERLOAD bulletin

Flags under long loads

MnDOT's General Provisions require flags no more than 20 ft apart along the underside of any vehicle over 75 ft long, while its light-flag chart starts at 95 ft. The General Provisions are part of the permit, so we plan for flags from 75 ft.

MnDOT General Provisions (Aug 2024); MnDOT Light-Flag Requirements Chart

Running over the permit is billed by the mile

A vehicle found over its permitted maximum pays 22 cents per ton, or fraction of a ton, per mile on top of the permit fee, and the permit holder is liable for any damage to highways and structures.

Minn. Stat. 169.86 subd. 5(e); 169.88

Route survey timing

The physical route survey is done by the permitted vehicle's driver or a Minnesota-certified escort within 14 days of the move, records 6 in of vertical and 1 ft of lateral clearance, and logs the ENS emergency number and USDOT crossing ID at every rail crossing. It stays valid up to 60 days only if the same carrier repeats the move at least every 14 days.

MnDOT physical route survey form (version 6/25)

Minnesota superloads, E-ZPass lanes and harvest relief

MnDOT's and the State Patrol's permit materials name no toll road, toll bridge or turnpike authority with an oversize permit of its own; the only tolled facilities MnDOT lists are E-ZPass express lanes, so the extra approvals in Minnesota come from the superload process.

Superload threshold and timing

Over 16 ft wide, 16 ft high, 150 ft long or 250,000 lb GVW (MnDOT Guide to Transporting Superloads, May 2025). Processing runs from 5 business days to months, and the Permit Office offers preliminary feasibility reviews, which are not approvals. Permit vehicles may not leave the permitted route; on an unexpected closure the driver stops and calls the number on the permit.

Bridges, signals and utilities

MnDOT's Bridge Office reviews superload routes by hand and may ask for individual axle-line spacing on trunnion or dual-lane trailers. Signal and light pole changes use MnDOT-certified contractors, overhead utility lifts are arranged with the owners before the permit issues, and road or turning-radius work may need Office of Environmental Stewardship review (651-366-3600).

E-ZPass express lanes

The lanes charge $0.25 to $8.00, mostly 6–10 AM and 3–7 PM on weekdays, and are free outside those hours. MnDOT issues no E-ZPass tags to commercial vehicles with more than two axles and over 26,000 lb and discourages them from the lanes at peak times.

Harvest relief in October 2026

Emergency Executive Order 26-11, signed Oct 1, 2026, lets trucks hauling corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, carrots and forest products from the field to the first unloading point run up to 10% over axle, group and gross limits on state and local highways, not Interstates, until rescinded or Oct 31, 2026, if they are registered for the weight.

Planning maps

MnDOT's Resources page carries a Superload Corridor Map, a Width of Roadway map, the Twin Trailer Network map and a bridge vertical clearance report, which we check before a route goes into SUPERLOAD.

Crossing into a neighboring state

  • South into Iowa: Iowa DOT's first escort comes at 12 ft wide, 3 ft narrower than Minnesota's line, though amber lights can stand in for it up to 14 ft 6 in, and Iowa bars permit moves only around Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day; the details are on our Iowa oversize permit page.

Minnesota oversize permit questions

How much is an MnDOT overweight permit?

A single trip is $15, and an overweight trip adds a damage assessment fee: the per-mile cost factor of each over-legal axle group times the miles traveled. MnDOT's example, a 38,000 lb tandem and a 60,000 lb tridem, costs $0.33 a mile. Job permits are $36 plus the damage fee for each move, and loads over 14 ft 6 in wide pay $120 more during spring load restrictions.

Which system do I sign in to for an MnDOT oversize permit?

Minnesota permits are ordered in Minnesota SUPERLOAD at mn.gotpermits.com, which replaced MnDOT's earlier permit system in March 2022, and MnDOT's help page links its tutorials. The OSOW office answers at 651-296-6000 on weekdays, 8:30 AM to 3 PM for general questions and 7 AM to 4 PM for trip logging and route approval, and at [email protected].

Are night moves allowed for Minnesota oversize loads?

Yes, as a rule. MnDOT's General Provisions say travel is generally not restricted, so night moves are allowed unless the permit limits them; lights at the flag locations and lighted or reflective signs are required from one-half hour before sunset. The big exception runs the other way: loads over 16 ft wide in the Twin Cities seven-county metro must move between midnight and 5 AM on weekdays.

When does a Minnesota load become a superload?

Any vehicle or load over 16 ft wide, 16 ft high, 150 ft long or 250,000 lb gross (MnDOT superload guide, May 2025). Processing takes 5 business days to several months, the carrier pays for any third-party bridge consultant, utility lifts are arranged before the permit issues, and a peace officer leads whenever the load crosses the centerline of an undivided road.

Must Minnesota escort drivers be certified?

Yes. Minn. Stat. 299D.085 requires a Department of Public Safety pilot/escort certificate: an 8-hour class and exam for $180, valid 4 years, then one renewal by a $90 refresher. Certificates from Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Washington are accepted when Minnesota's equipment and insurance rules are met, including $1,000,000 of coverage.

When are Minnesota's spring load restrictions?

MnDOT sets them by frost zone each year. In 2026 they ran Mar 3 to Apr 20 in the Metro, South and Southeast zones and Mar 20 to May 15 in the North zone, starting at 12:01 AM with at least 3 days' notice. Single axles are held to 10 tons on paved and 5 tons on unpaved roads unless posted, and gross weight is not reduced.

Do Minnesota summer weekends limit wide loads?

Yes, for loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long: from Memorial Day to Labor Day they may not move 4 to 8 PM on Fridays and Sundays statewide. The Fishing Opener in May has its own two windows, and the six major holidays close from 2 PM the day before to 2 AM the day after. Overweight-only loads at legal size are not restricted.

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.

  1. eCFR 23 CFR Part 658: Truck Size and Weight (federal baseline)
  2. MnDOT Oversize/Overweight Permits (home)
  3. MnDOT OSOW Contacts
  4. MnDOT Find out if you need a permit
  5. MnDOT Permit types and fees
  6. MnDOT Damage Assessment Fee Calculator
  7. MnDOT Allowable permit axle weights: 10 ton roads
  8. MnDOT Escort requirements
  9. MnDOT 2026 Holiday Restrictions for Oversize Vehicles
  10. MnDOT Route survey page
  11. MnDOT Physical route survey form (version 6/25)
  12. MnDOT OSOW Resources page
  13. MnDOT General Provisions for Oversize/Overweight Loads (version August 2024)
  14. MnDOT Guide to Transporting Superloads in Minnesota (May 2025)
  15. MnDOT OSOW Light-Flag Requirements Chart
  16. Minnesota Commercial Vehicle Resource Book 2026 (MnDOT)
  17. MnDOT Permit system help (Minnesota SUPERLOAD)
  18. Minnesota SUPERLOAD permit system login
  19. MnDOT bulletin: New permit system (Jan 19, 2022)
  20. MnDOT bulletin: Permit system shutdown March 4-7, 2022
  21. MnDOT bulletin: Escort requirements have changed (July 15, 2020)
  22. Emergency Executive Order 26-11 (Oct 1, 2026)
  23. MnDOT Seasonal Load Limits (dates)
  24. MnDOT E-ZPass: Driving in the E-ZPass lane
  25. MnDOT E-ZPass: How it works
  26. DPS State Patrol: Vehicle size and weight
  27. DPS State Patrol: Commercial vehicles training and outreach (pilot/escort certification)
  28. Minn. Stat. 169.80 (size, width)
  29. Minn. Stat. 169.81 (height, length)
  30. Minn. Stat. 169.822 (weight definitions)
  31. Minn. Stat. 169.823 (tire, wheel, axle limits)
  32. Minn. Stat. 169.824 (gross weight schedule)
  33. Minn. Stat. 169.826 (seasonal increases)
  34. Minn. Stat. 169.812 (escort vehicles)
  35. Minn. Stat. 169.86 (special permits; fees)
  36. Minn. Stat. 169.87 (seasonal load restriction)
  37. Minn. Stat. 169.88 (damages; liability)
  38. Minn. Stat. 169.011 (definitions incl. nondivisible load)
  39. Minn. Stat. 299D.085 (escort driver certificate)
  40. Minn. Stat. 299D.09 (State Patrol escort fees)
  41. Minn. Stat. 473.121 (seven-county metropolitan area)
  42. Minn. R. chapter 7455 Pilot Vehicle Escort for Overdimensional Load (full text)
  43. Hennepin Technical College pilot car course (class schedule and format)
  44. MnDOT Seasonal Load Limits maps
  45. MnDOT Seasonal Load Limits updates (2026 memos)
  46. MnDOT Seasonal Load Limits weight and permit information
  47. MnDOT 2026 statewide SLR map (PDF)
  48. MnDOT Seasonal Load Limit Postings 2026 (restricted routes, as of 4/3/2026)
  49. MnDOT Exceptions to Restricted Highways 2026 (as of 6/12/2026)
  50. MnDOT Seasonal Load Limit Zone Boundary Descriptions (2022)
  51. MnDOT SLL Historical Dates (Excel)
  52. MnDOT Technical Memorandum 14-10-MAT-02 Process for Seasonal Load Limit Starting and Ending Dates
  53. MnDOT memo Dec 8, 2025: WLI begin North and North-Central
  54. MnDOT memo Feb 26, 2026: WLI end Metro; SLR start South, Southeast, Metro
  55. MnDOT memo Apr 16, 2026: SLR end South, Southeast, Metro
  56. MnDOT memo May 7, 2026: SLR end North-Central and North
  57. MnDOT memo June 12, 2026: exceptions to the 2026 restriction map
  58. MnDOT legacy SLL page: Spring Load Restrictions (Interstate exception)
  59. MnDOT legacy SLL page: SLR Technical Fact Sheet
  60. MnDOT Restricted Gross Weight Table (posted roads)
  61. DPS State Patrol Minnesota Weight Laws pamphlet (2/14)
  62. Minn. Stat. 169.8296 (tow and recovery vehicles; SLR exemption)
  63. Minn. Stat. 169.8261 (forest products permit; must comply with SLR)

Bringing a load wider than 15 ft into Minnesota?

Spring zones, the 15 ft escort line and the Twin Cities night rule each change the plan. Give us the width at the bottom and top of the load, its axle weights and the route ends, and we will build the SUPERLOAD request and book the carrier and certified escorts.

  • 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.

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