Heavy haul in Illinois
Heavy Haul Trucking in Illinois
Reliable Transport LLC permits, routes and escorts heavy haul and superload moves in Illinois with our own team. We are based in Dayton, Ohio, and we haul across the USA and Canada.
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.
Reliable Transport LLC
Illinois loads, planned in house
We are USDOT 3906954 and MC 1441035. Our in house permitting team pulls permits in every state on the route, including IDOT permits for Illinois, and our own escorts and utility bucket trucks run with the load.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerIllinois at a glance
IDOT- Legal size
- 8'6"W, 13'6"H, 80,000 lbs
- Escorts start
- Over 14'6"W, 14'6"H or 110'L
- Height pole
- Over 14'6"H
- Utility check
- 17'H or more
- Travel
- 24/7 up to 12'W; daylight above that
- Holidays
- No moves from noon the day before
Before the move
How we plan a Illinois load
Every Illinois move starts with the IDOT oversize or overweight permit, ordered through ITAP. Our permitting team checks the size, weight and route against IDOT's rules, then sets the escorts, height pole and travel windows the permit calls for.
Illinois travel hours depend on size: loads up to 12'W may run 24/7, while loads over 16'W or 17'H move 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Around Chicago, wider loads keep to the same midday window.
The IDOT permit covers state highways only, so we plan county, city, township and Tollway legs with the local authority.
Sources: IDOT 2025 permit policy book; IDOT form OPER 993; IDOT holiday travel restrictions.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have hauled
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.
207,000 lb dryer drum
Louisville, KY - Richmond, VA in December 2025, at 300,000 lbs gross and 165'L x 13'6"W x 17'H loaded, with a crew of 15.
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.
Moving a load in Illinois?
Send the weight, dimensions and route, and we will plan the move.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Illinois permits in plain English
What Illinois asks of a heavy load
These Illinois rules shape a heavy haul route. Our permitting team checks the current rules for every state on your route. The full list, with every source, is on our Illinois permit rules page.
Permit and escort rules
Official sources linked| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| State Police | Over 18'W, 18'H or 200'L, an Illinois State Police escort, set up at least 24 hours ahead. (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) |
| Chicago area | 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) |
| 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. We checked these rules on October 1, 2026 against IDOT's 2025 permit policy book, form OPER 993, form OPER 753, the IDOT holiday list, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554 and 625 ILCS 5/15 111, and each one against a second source. Our permitting team confirms the current rules for every move.
What we offer
Heavy haul services in Illinois
Questions
Illinois heavy haul questions
Do you haul heavy loads in Illinois?
Yes. We are based at 7660 W Third St in Dayton, OH 45417, and we haul oversize and overweight loads across the USA and Canada. Our permitting team pulls the Illinois permit for the Illinois part of the route.
When does an Illinois load need escorts?
Over 14'6"W, 14'6"H or 110'L, with more escorts as the load gets wider, longer or taller, and an Illinois State Police escort over 18'W, 18'H or 200'L.
Can oversize loads run at night in Illinois?
Loads up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 200'L may run 24/7 with 1 more escort at night. Bigger loads move in daylight.
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 plannerIllinois heavy haul quote
Ready to move it?
Send the weight and dimensions, the pickup and delivery points, and your dates. We will work out the permits, route, escorts and equipment.
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.