Chicago, Illinois
Heavy Haul Trucking in Chicago
Oversize and superload freight in and out of Chicago, Cook County and the Port of Chicago, with IDOT, Tollway and CDOT permits, routing and escorts run by our own team.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.
Chicago heavy haul
Three permit offices for one Chicago move
Reliable Transport LLC runs heavy haul and superload moves across the USA and Canada from our home base in Dayton, Ohio. For a Chicago load, our in house team files the IDOT permit and any local permit, plans the route and books the escorts, and adds the Illinois Tollway and CDOT permits when the route uses toll roads or city streets.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerLocal rules
City permits, expressways and the Tollway
City rules come from CDOT, state rules from IDOT and toll road rules from the Illinois Tollway. Single source items say check with the agency.
CDOT truck travel permit
Oversize and overweight loads on Chicago streets need a CDOT truck travel permit. A single trip permit covers a 14 day window and a monthly permit 30 days, and the application lists the entry and exit routes at the city limits. (CDOT truck travel permit guide, overweight or oversized vehicle, CDOT 2026 permit fee schedule) Check with CDOT.
CDOT fees for 2026
$50 for an oversized vehicle; $50 for 5 miles or less and $75 over 5 miles at 80,000 to 100,000 lbs; $100 and $150 over 100,000 lbs. (CDOT 2026 permit fee schedule) Check with CDOT.
Cook County expressways
Loads over 12'W, 13'6"H or 120,000 lbs may not use Cook County expressways, except I 55 south of exit 277, I 57 south of US 6, I 290 north of I 294 and I 80 from I 57 to the Indiana line. Over 14'6"W in Cook and 8 nearby counties, loads move 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. (IDOT permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Illinois Tollway
Every Tollway permit starts with an IDOT permit number. Over 14'6"H or 120,000 lbs the Tollway calls the load a superload and asks for at least 3 business days' notice, and over 10'W loads may not get a permit through construction zones. (Illinois Tollway overweight and overdimension permits) Check with the Illinois Tollway.
Port of Chicago
The Illinois International Port District's Iroquois Landing sits on 190 acres at the mouth of the Calumet River and takes ships through the St. Lawrence Seaway. It is on I 90/94, with I 80, I 57, I 55 and I 65 close by. (Illinois International Port District, IDOT Illinois International Port District profile)
Sources: CDOT truck travel permit guide, overweight or oversized vehicle; CDOT 2026 permit fee schedule; IDOT permit policy book; IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions; Illinois Tollway overweight and overdimension permits; Illinois International Port District; IDOT Illinois International Port District profile.
Illinois rules
Chicago oversize rules at a glance
The Chicago and Cook County rules first, then the IDOT rules every Chicago load runs under.
Chicago and Illinois
Official sources linked| Where | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Chicago streets | CDOT truck travel permit: single trip window of 14 days, monthly 30 days. (CDOT truck travel permit guide, overweight or oversized vehicle) |
| Cook County and nearby | Over 14'6"W in Cook and 8 nearby counties: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Cook County expressways are closed to loads over 12'W, 13'6"H or 120,000 lbs, except on 4 listed routes. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions) |
| Legal limits | Without a permit, a load in Illinois can be up to 8'6"W and 13'6"H, at up to 80,000 lbs gross. (IDOT form OPER 753, legal dimensions, 625 ILCS 5/15 111, weights) |
| Escorts | Over 14'6"W, 14'6"H or 110'L, 1 escort; over two of those, 2; over 16'W, 145'L or 18'H, 3. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions) |
| Height | Over 14'6"H the lead escort carries a height pole; at 17'H or more, the utility owners are listed and IDOT surveys the route. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions) |
| Travel hours | Up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 200'L: 24/7 with 1 more escort at night. Up to 14'6"W and 15'H: daylight, 7 days a week. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions) |
| Bigger loads | Up to 16'W and 17'H: daylight on weekdays and until noon Saturday. Over 16'W or 17'H: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions) |
| Holidays | No oversize moves from noon the day before 6 major holidays until sunrise the day after. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT 2025 and 2026 holiday travel restrictions) |
Rules change often. We checked these on October 2, 2026 against the official sources linked in each row, and each one against a second source where one exists; single source items say check with the agency. Our permitting team confirms the current rules for every move.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
These moves ran on other routes. They show the size of loads our team permits, routes and escorts.
220,000 lb submarine engine
Within Missouri in January 2025, at 320,000 lbs gross and 136'L x 10'W x 16'H loaded.
150,000 lb transformer
Pocatello, ID - Akron, OH in early 2024, at 240,000 lbs gross and 16'H loaded, with help from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Off highway haul trucks
Tennessee to California in 2024, at 187,000 lbs and 90'L x 16'10"W x 16'2"H loaded.
Moving something in Chicago?
Send the size and weight. We will tell you what the permit, route and escorts look like.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Questions
Chicago heavy haul questions
Do I need a city permit for an oversize load in Chicago?
Yes, on Chicago streets. CDOT issues a truck travel permit for oversize and overweight loads; a single trip permit covers a 14 day window.
Can oversize loads use the Cook County expressways?
Not over 12'W, 13'6"H or 120,000 lbs, except on I 55 south of exit 277, I 57 south of US 6, I 290 north of I 294 and I 80 from I 57 to the Indiana line.
Does the IDOT permit cover the Illinois Tollway?
No. The Tollway issues its own permit, and it needs the IDOT permit number first.
How heavy a load can you haul?
Our superload service handles loads up to 300,000 lbs, with permits, routing and escorts by our own team.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerKeep planning
More for your Chicago move
Other city pages
Chicago heavy haul
Ready to move it?
Send the load dimensions, weight, pickup and delivery points. Our in house team prices the permits, route and escorts and gets back to you fast.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.