Ohio Oversize and Overweight Permits
ODOT OHPS fees, escort triggers, weekend and metro curfews, spring thaw limits and the Ohio Turnpike
Quick answer
What are the rules for oversize permits in Ohio?
Ohio's limits are 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high, a 53 ft semitrailer and 80,000 lb; past any of them, ODOT issues a permit through OHPS for Interstate, US and State routes. Over-dimension loads move in daylight only, and over 12 ft wide they also sit out weekday rush hours in 22 counties and weekend afternoons. The Ohio Turnpike needs its own permit.
Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).
Checked October 2026; the issued permit controls
Ohio's escort trigger for width, over 13 ft, matches Pennsylvania's in our oversize permits by state table, but the 12 ft line does more to shape an Ohio schedule: past it, a load loses weekday rush hours in 22 counties and weekend afternoons statewide. Every ODOT permit price starts with a $20 processing fee, with surcharges added by size and weight (OAC 5501:2-1-05).
Ohio wants at least $500,000 of liability or surety coverage on file (Form OS-32) before it permits a carrier, and a single-trip permit lasts 5 days (OAC 5501:2-1-03). That filing is the first thing we check before ordering OHPS permits for heavy haul trucking in Ohio.
Legal limits in Ohio
ORC 5577.04 and 5577.05 set Ohio's limits. Off the Interstate, a two-axle group spaced more than 4 ft apart can carry more than the federal 34,000 lb: 1,000 lb more per foot of spread over 4 ft, up to 40,000 lb (5577.04(D)(2)(b)).
| Limit | Ohio | Federal baseline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | 8 ft 6 in (102 in) on the National Network | Includes the load (5577.05) |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | No federal limit | With or without load |
| Semitrailer length | 53 ft | States must allow at least 48 ft | Semitrailer in a commercial tractor-semitrailer, with no statutory overall limit; 28 ft 6 in per trailer in doubles; 65 ft for other combinations; 50 ft for other single vehicles |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | 80,000 lb | The federal bridge formula applies (5577.04); the Ohio Turnpike allows 90,000 lb |
| Single axle | 20,000 lb | 20,000 lb | The Ohio Turnpike allows 21,000 lb |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lb | 34,000 lb | Interstate figure; off the Interstate, see the spread rule above |
Federal baseline: 23 CFR Part 658, eCFR as of 2026-10-14
When Ohio requires a permit and how to get one
ODOT's Special Hauling Permits Office (Central Permit Office) in Columbus issues permits under ORC 4513.34 and OAC Chapter 5501:2-1, and they cover the state highway system only: Interstate, US and State routes. Under ORC 4513.34(B)(1), no city or village may require a second permit or fee for a move on that system, but county, township and city streets off it need local permits.
An Ohio superload is a load over 120,000 lb gross, over the routine axle or group limits, over 14 ft 0 in wide or over 14 ft 6 in high (Operational Guide Sec. 2). ODOT runs the bridge analysis itself up to 250,000 lb; heavier or complex loads go to its Office of Structural Engineering, normally about 2 weeks, then 1–2 days to issue, and superloads by dimension may take 3 working days.
Permit office
- Issuing office
- ODOT Special Hauling Permits Office (Central Permit Office)
- Address
- 1980 W. Broad St., Mail Stop 5140, Columbus, OH 43223
- Permit system
- OHPS (Ohio Hauling Permit System)
- Phone
- (614) 351-2300
- [email protected]
- Roads covered
- Interstate, US and State routes only
Fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Oversize, up to 14 ft wide and 14 ft 6 in high | $75 one way; $110 with return |
| Oversize over 14 ft wide or over 14 ft 6 in high, or overweight up to 120,000 lb | $145 one way; $210 with return |
| Overweight, over 120,000 lb | $145 or $210 plus ton-mile: (GVW minus 120,000 lb) ÷ 2,000 × $0.04 per mile |
| 90-day continuing | $260 oversize; $510 oversize/overweight |
| Annual | $980 oversize; $1,980 oversize/overweight |
| Regional heavy haul single trip, 150 miles max, up to 4 added destinations | $135 oversize; $145 oversize/overweight |
| Revisions | $10 routine; $50 superload |
Each permit is the $20 basic fee plus surcharge units, and a load that is both oversize and overweight pays one basic fee plus the overweight surcharge only (5501:2-1-05(B)). Traffic control, engineering analysis, guardrail or sign removal and shoring are billed at ODOT's direct cost against an advance deposit. A 160,000 lb load going 200 miles one way adds 20 tons × 200 miles × $0.04, or $160, for a total of $305.
Escort and pilot car rules in Ohio
ODOT's private escort rules come from Form OS-1A and Section 12 of its Operational Guide. Ohio has no escort certification: the driver must be 18 or older, licensed in the state where the escort vehicle is registered and able to flag traffic.
| Load | Escort requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 90 ft long | 1 rear escort (OS-1A, Private Escort item 2) |
| Over 13 ft wide | 1 lead escort, or a rear escort instead on multiple-lane highways (item 3) |
| Over 14 ft 6 in high | 1 lead escort with a height-sensing pole or an electronic device that detects a low clearance in time to stop (item 4) |
| Over 14 ft 6 in wide, or over 14 ft 10 in high | 2 escorts, lead and rear (item 5) |
| Two or more of: over 90 ft long, over 13 ft wide, over 14 ft 6 in high | 2 escorts, lead and rear (item 6) |
| Over 14 ft 10 in high | The move is coordinated with the owners of every overhead sign, signal and utility on the route (OS-1A Operating Limitations item 3) |
| Over 16 ft wide, or any move ODOT expects to cause delay, hazard or damage | Law enforcement escort on top of the private escorts (Guide Sec. 12; OAC 5501:2-1-04(L)) |
| Two-lane road that cannot keep an 8 ft reserve lane for oncoming traffic | More escorts, which may include uniformed officers in marked cruisers (Guide Sec. 9) |
| Overweight superload with conditional bridge crossings | ODOT and/or Ohio State Highway Patrol escort, scheduled on at least 48 hours' notice (Guide Sec. 14) |
The escort vehicle is a sedan, station wagon, window van, SUV or pickup rated 1 ton or less (no sports cars or convertibles), towing nothing, with a 5 ft by 12 in OVERSIZE LOAD sign with 8 in letters, a roof amber light visible 1,000 ft in daylight, a two-way radio, a STOP/SLOW paddle, an ABC extinguisher, 4 flares, 3 reflective triangles, a safety vest and a hard hat (Guide Sec. 12).
Travel times, curfews and holidays
In Ohio, over-dimension loads move only in daylight, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, Sunday through Saturday (OS-1A Days/Hours item 5), and most other time limits key off a 12 ft width.
- Night: only when the permit specifically allows it (OAC 5501:2-1-04(C)), and authorized night moves, like moves in visibility under 1,000 ft, carry added clearance and side-marker lighting. Overweight-only loads at legal dimensions have no hour or day limits if they do not obstruct traffic.
- Weekends, over 12 ft wide: no travel from 3 PM Saturday to one-half hour before sunrise Sunday or from 3 PM Sunday to one-half hour before sunrise Monday, and from April 1 through November 30 none from 3 PM Friday either (item 4).
- Rush hours, over 12 ft wide: no travel 6:30–9:00 AM or 4:30–6:00 PM Monday–Friday in Butler, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Geauga, Hamilton, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Montgomery, Pickaway, Stark, Summit, Union, Warren and Wood counties, which take in the Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Akron/Canton and Youngstown metros (item 3).
- On the road: permitted loads may not convoy within 500 ft of each other and keep to the far right lane on multi-lane roads, and manufactured structures and office trailers are barred when wind exceeds 25 mph on the road or 15 mph on bridges.
- Spring thaw: there is no fixed frost-law calendar. When thaws or moisture weaken roads, ODOT may cut legal weight or speed on state highways by up to 25%, and county commissioners by up to 50% on county and other roads, once signs are posted at least a day ahead (ORC 5577.07); if a posted reduction is on the route, the Permit Office is contacted.
- Office closed, travel allowed: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.
| Holiday | ODOT routes | Ohio Turnpike (sunrise to sunrise) |
|---|---|---|
| Easter | Not on Form OS-1A or ODOT's 2026 holiday page | Apr 3–7 |
| Memorial Day | Noon May 22 to sunrise May 26 | May 22–26 |
| Independence Day | Noon Jul 3 to sunrise Jul 6 | Jul 3–5 |
| Labor Day | Noon Sep 4 to sunrise Sep 8 | Sep 4–8 |
| Thanksgiving | Noon Nov 25 to sunrise Nov 27 | Nov 25–30 |
| Christmas | Noon Dec 24 to sunrise Dec 28 | Dec 23, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 |
| New Year's 2027 | Noon Dec 31, 2026 to sunrise Jan 4, 2027 | Inside the Christmas window |
ODOT's 2026 New Year's window ran from noon Dec 31, 2025 to sunrise Jan 2, 2026. Turnpike holiday bans cover vehicles over 13 ft 6 in high, 90 ft long or 10 ft wide; in 2026 the construction restriction already keeps the wide and tall loads off, so the holidays add the 90 ft length limit.
What catches carriers in Ohio
Two-lane roads shrink the permit
Routine permits stop at 14 ft wide on multi-lane highways, but on a two-way road the most a permit allows is the roadway width minus 8 ft. Height must stay 4 in below the lowest clearance on the route.
ODOT Operational Guide Sec. 9
Escorted superloads leave on time
When a superload needs an ODOT or State Highway Patrol escort, the move must start within 1 hour of the scheduled departure. Miss it and the move is postponed, and the permittee pays for the aborted move.
ODOT Operational Guide Sec. 14
No warehouse stops for superloads
A superload runs only from the place of manufacture or port of entry to its final installation site, a port or the state line, with no intermediate warehouse stops.
ODOT Operational Guide Sec. 2
Easter depends on the road
ODOT's Operational Guide lists a Good Friday to Easter Monday ban, but Form OS-1A, the OAC and ODOT's 2026 holiday page do not, so the permit settles it. The Ohio Turnpike does close to oversize loads over Easter, Apr 3–7, 2026.
ODOT Operational Guide; Ohio Turnpike 2026 restrictions
Ohio Turnpike permits in 2026
The Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90, Indiana line to Pennsylvania line) belongs to the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, which requires its own permit even when the ODOT permit routes a load onto it.
2026 construction restriction
From Jan 2, 2026 through sunrise Jan 2, 2027, no vehicle over 13 ft 6 in high or 10 ft wide may use any part of the Turnpike (revised 12/22/2025). Wider or taller loads use ODOT routes instead.
Turnpike legal limits
The Turnpike's legal limits are 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 90,000 lb gross, 21,000 lb on a single axle, 34,000 lb on a tandem spread 4–8 ft, and 75 ft for a tractor-trailer including overhang. It issues no permits over 14 ft high, and mobile or modular homes stop at 12 ft wide.
Turnpike permits and fees
Permits are one-way trips only, with no annual or blanket option, applied for through the Turnpike's online permitting. Over-dimension is $25 and overweight $135 up to 120,000 lb; heavier loads pay $135 plus (weight over 120,000 lb ÷ 2,000) × miles × $0.04. The over-dimension fee is waived when an overweight fee is charged, drive-up processing at a toll plaza is $50, a State Highway Patrol escort or inspection is $60 per hour per trooper, tolls are extra, and a trip not finished within 24 hours pays the maximum-fare toll.
Turnpike escorts and notice
Under the Turnpike's 2018 permit information, loads over 11 ft wide or 112 ft long run with a rear escort, and applications for loads over 11 ft wide, 112 ft long, 25,000 lb per axle or 120,000 lb go in by 3:00 PM ET two business days before travel. Over 13 ft wide or 160 ft long brings a State Highway Patrol escort, and superloads apply a week ahead. In 2026 the 10 ft construction limit comes first.
Crossing into a neighboring state
- East into Pennsylvania: PennDOT's permit is not valid on the PA Turnpike, and permitted loads in Pennsylvania's urbanized areas sit out 7:30–9 AM and 4–7 PM every day; the rest is on our Pennsylvania oversize load regulations page.
Ohio oversize permit questions
How much is an oversized load permit in Ohio?
Every ODOT permit is a $20 basic fee plus a surcharge. A one-way oversize trip totals $75 up to 14 ft wide and 14 ft 6 in high, or $145 above either; with a return trip, $110 or $210. Overweight trips are $145 up to 120,000 lb, and heavier loads add 4 cents per ton-mile on weight over 120,000 lb. Ohio Turnpike permits are priced separately.
Can I drive an oversize load at night in Ohio?
Only if the permit says so. OAC 5501:2-1-04(C) bars non-emergency night movement unless the permit provides otherwise, and an authorized night move needs added clearance and side-marker lighting. Overweight-only loads within legal dimensions are the exception: they may run at any hour, any day, as long as they do not obstruct traffic.
What are Ohio's pilot car requirements?
One rear escort is needed over 90 ft long, one lead escort over 13 ft wide (rear on multi-lane highways), and a lead escort with a height-sensing pole over 14 ft 6 in high. Two escorts, lead and rear, are needed over 14 ft 6 in wide or 14 ft 10 in high, or when a load trips more than one of the single-escort triggers. Over 16 ft wide, ODOT adds law enforcement. Escort drivers need no certification but must be 18 or older.
Are there spring thaw weight limits in Ohio?
There is no fixed frost-law calendar. Under ORC 5577.07, when thaws or excess moisture leave roads unable to carry traffic, ODOT may reduce legal weight or speed on state highways by up to 25%, and county commissioners by up to 50% on county and other roads. Reductions take effect only after signs are posted at least one day ahead, and permitted loads must obey them.
How long does an Ohio superload permit take?
It depends on weight. ODOT runs its own bridge analysis for loads up to 250,000 lb GVW. Heavier or complex loads go to the Office of Structural Engineering, which normally takes about 2 weeks, and the permit then takes 1 to 2 days to issue. Superloads by dimension alone may take 3 working days, and escorted superloads need at least 48 hours' notice to schedule the escort.
Where do I log in for an Ohio oversize permit?
ODOT permits are ordered in OHPS, the Ohio Hauling Permit System, at haulingpermits.transportation.ohio.gov. The Special Hauling Permits Office in Columbus answers at (614) 351-2300 and [email protected]. OHPS covers state routes only; the Ohio Turnpike takes its own permit applications through ohioturnpike.org.
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)
- ODOT Special Hauling Permits
- ODOT Hauling Permits System (OHPS) page
- OHPS login
- ODOT Operational Guide for Vehicles Operating with a Special Hauling Permit
- ODOT Limitations & Provisions of a Special Hauling Permit (web OS-1A)
- Form OS-1A (DOT-2198A) Rev. 01/18
- ODOT 2026 Holiday Restrictions for Oversized Loads
- ODOT Legal Dimensions & Weight Limits for Highway Vehicles
- ORC 5577.04 (weight)
- ORC 5577.05 (size)
- ORC 5577.07 (thaw/moisture reductions)
- ORC 4513.34 (special permits)
- OAC 5501:2-1-01 Definitions
- OAC 5501:2-1-03 Limitations on permits
- OAC 5501:2-1-04 Conditions on permitted movements
- OAC 5501:2-1-05 Schedule of fees
- Ohio Turnpike Permits page
- Ohio Turnpike Special Hauling Permit FAQ
- Ohio Turnpike Special Hauling Permit Information (rev. 2018-08-07)
- Ohio Turnpike OD/OW Permit Fees (rev. 03/26/19)
- Ohio Turnpike 2026 Holiday & Construction Restrictions
Have an Ohio load over 12 ft wide?
That width brings weekday rush-hour bans in 22 counties and 3 PM weekend cutoffs. Share the load's size and dates, and we will line up the OHPS permit and a carrier inside those windows.
- 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
- Pennsylvania Oversize PermitsPennDOT limits, fees, escorts and the separate Turnpike permit.
- Heavy Haul in OhioColumbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati moves around the 2026 Turnpike closure to wide loads, the 22-county curfew and superload rules.
- 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.
- Frost LawsSpring thaw weight restrictions by state, with Michigan's 25% and 35% axle cuts, 2026 dates and how to check posted roads before a heavy move.