Norfolk, Virginia
Heavy Haul in Norfolk
Breakbulk, Ro/Ro and heavy lift loads across Hampton Roads, trucked under Virginia permits with routes planned to the tunnel limits 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.
Hampton Roads heavy haul
Past the tunnels, to the jobsite
Reliable Transport LLC runs heavy haul and superload moves across the USA and Canada from our home base in Dayton, Ohio. For a Norfolk load, our in house team files the Virginia DMV permit and any local permit, plans the route and books the escorts, and routes wide and tall loads to fit the Hampton Roads tunnel limits.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerAcross Hampton Roads
Tunnels and port terminals
Tunnel limits come from VDOT and the Virginia DMV, terminal facts from the Port of Virginia, each confirmed by a second source.
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (I 64)
With a permit, loads up to 10'6"W. Westbound, the height limit is 13'6"H. (VDOT truck restrictions, VDOT Hampton Roads bridges and tunnels, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227))
Wider loads
Loads over 10'6"W use the I 664 Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel instead. (Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227), VDOT truck restrictions)
Downtown and Midtown tunnels
The I 264 Downtown Tunnel and the US 58 Midtown Tunnel both have a 13'6"H limit. (VDOT truck restrictions, VDOT Hampton Roads bridges and tunnels, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227))
Newport News Marine Terminal
The Port of Virginia's main breakbulk and Ro/Ro terminal handles heavy lift machinery, with on dock CSX rail and direct access to I 64, US 17 and US 60. (Port of Virginia, Newport News Marine Terminal (2026), Port of Virginia, Newport News Marine Terminal (2024))
Portsmouth Marine Terminal
The port turned Portsmouth Marine Terminal from a container terminal into a heavy lift facility for offshore wind projects. (Port of Virginia, Portsmouth Marine Terminal (2026), Port of Virginia capabilities)
Sources: VDOT truck restrictions; VDOT Hampton Roads bridges and tunnels; Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227); Port of Virginia, Newport News Marine Terminal (2026); Port of Virginia, Newport News Marine Terminal (2024); Port of Virginia, Portsmouth Marine Terminal (2026); Port of Virginia capabilities.
Virginia rules
Norfolk oversize rules at a glance
The tunnel limits first, then the Virginia rules every Hampton Roads load runs under.
Hampton Roads and Virginia
Official sources linked| Where | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel | Up to 10'6"W with a permit; 13'6"H westbound. (VDOT truck restrictions, VDOT Hampton Roads bridges and tunnels, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227)) |
| Downtown and Midtown tunnels | 13'6"H limit. (VDOT truck restrictions, VDOT Hampton Roads bridges and tunnels, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227)) |
| Over 10'6"W | Use the I 664 Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel. (Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Geographical Regulations (MP 227), VDOT truck restrictions) |
| Height | Over 14'5"H, a front height pole escort; over 16'H, a superload may need a written route survey. (24VAC20 82 130, escort vehicles, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Manual, DMV 109 (7/1/2024), VDOT IIM TOD 14 05.2, Super Load Move Procedures) |
| Legal limits | Without a permit, a load in Virginia can be up to 8'6"W and 13'6"H, at up to 80,000 lbs. (Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Manual, DMV 109 (7/1/2024)) |
| Escorts | Over 12'W, front and rear escorts off the Interstate and a rear escort on it; more over 14'W and 16'W. (24VAC20 82 130, escort vehicles, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Manual, DMV 109 (7/1/2024)) |
| Travel hours | Sunrise to sunset, with no city or town travel 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. (24VAC20 82 110, travel restrictions, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Manual, DMV 109 (7/1/2024)) |
| Holidays | No travel on six holidays, from noon the weekday before. (24VAC20 82 110, travel restrictions, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Manual, DMV 109 (7/1/2024)) |
| Superloads | Over 15'W, 15'H or 150'L, or over the single trip axle weights, a load needs a DMV superload permit. DMV issues it only after a DMV review or a VDOT engineering analysis of the route, and on the largest moves VDOT, DMV and police plan the move together. (24VAC20 82 60, superloads, Virginia DMV Hauling Permit Manual, DMV 109 (7/1/2024), VDOT IIM TOD 14 05.2, Super Load Move Procedures, Code of Virginia 46.2 1139) |
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. Rules we could not confirm twice are left off this page. 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.
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.
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.
110,000 lb switchgear building
Houston, TX - Los Angeles, CA in 2025, at 250,000 lbs gross and 185'L x 17'W x 17'H loaded.
Moving something in Norfolk?
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
Norfolk heavy haul questions
How wide a load can use the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel?
Up to 10'6"W with a permit. Wider loads use the I 664 Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel.
How tall a load can use the Norfolk tunnels?
13'6"H in the Downtown and Midtown tunnels and westbound in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
Which Port of Virginia terminal handles heavy lift cargo?
Newport News Marine Terminal is the port's main breakbulk and Ro/Ro terminal, and Portsmouth Marine Terminal is now a heavy lift facility for offshore wind.
When does a tall Virginia load need a height pole?
Over 14'5"H, a front height pole escort; over 16'H, a superload may need a written route survey.
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 Norfolk move
Other port pages
Hampton Roads 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.