Illinois permits
Illinois Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, height poles, route surveys, travel hours, Chicago area rules and holidays for oversize and overweight loads in Illinois, each checked against the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Last checked: Oct 1, 2026
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.
- Legal size
- 8'6"W, 13'6"H, 80,000 lbs
- Escorts start
- Over 14'6"W, 14'6"H or 110'L
- Night moves
- Up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 200'L, with an extra escort
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerIDOT permits
How Illinois sizes up a heavy load
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Permit Office issues oversize and overweight permits for Illinois state highways, through its ITAP online system. These are the numbers we plan every Illinois load with. Run your exact load and route through our permit tool to see every state on the trip.
Check your load
Enter your width, height, length and weight in our permit tool to see the Illinois rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Illinois limits
Illinois legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs an IDOT oversize or overweight permit.
Illinois legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W (IDOT form OPER 753, legal dimensions, IDOT 2025 permit policy book) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (IDOT form OPER 753, legal dimensions, IDOT 2025 permit policy book) |
| Legal length | 53' semitrailer on Class I and II highways; 65' overall on non designated highways (IDOT form OPER 753, legal dimensions, IDOT 2025 permit policy book) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross on 5 or more axles, subject to axle weights and the bridge formula (625 ILCS 5/15 111, weights, IDOT form OPER 753, legal dimensions) |
| Permit needed | Over any legal width, height, length or weight on a state highway: an IDOT permit, ordered through ITAP. County, city, township and Tollway roads need their own permission (IDOT oversize and overweight permits, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions) |
| Routine permit sizes | Up to 14'6"W, 15'H and 145'L. Bigger loads are reviewed one by one (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554) |
| Routine permit weights | Up to 120,000 lbs on a 6 or more axle tractor semitrailer (48,000 lbs drive tandem, 60,000 lbs trailer tandem) and 100,000 lbs on 5 axles (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554) |
| How long a permit lasts | A single trip permit covers one move and is valid for 5 working days (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554) |
| Over 14'6"W | The load needs a superload permit, and IDOT routes it on multi lane highways where it can (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554) |
Escorts
Illinois escort requirements
Escort counts by width, length and height. One escort runs ahead on two lane highways and behind on multi lane divided highways.
Illinois escorts by load size
Official sources linkedEscorts run 300' from the load in rural areas, with roof mounted amber lights visible at 500', an OVERSIZE LOAD sign and radio contact with the driver. IDOT can also call for State Police escorts after a bridge analysis or district investigation.
Height and routes
Height poles, route surveys and signs
What Illinois asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Height pole
Over 14'6"H, the lead escort carries a pole for measuring clearances. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
17'H or more
The carrier contacts every overhead utility owner on the route and lists them on the application, and IDOT district staff survey the route. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554)
16'H route survey
Check with the state. The 2012 rule text has the carrier run its own route survey at 16'H or more, listing every overhead obstruction; the 2025 policy book starts at 17'H. (92 Ill. Adm. Code 554, IDOT 2025 permit policy book)
Over 16'W
An IDOT district investigation is required before the permit is issued. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554)
OVERSIZE LOAD signs
On the front and rear of loads over 10'W, 14'6"H or 75'L: 7' by 18" signs with 12" black letters on yellow. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Flags and lights
Clean red flags at least 18" square at the extremities of the load, and an amber light on every permit load. Over 80'L, a second amber light within 10' of the rear. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Illinois.
Overweight only
A load over weight but legal in size may move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 200'L
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with 1 more civilian escort during darkness. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Up to 14'6"W and 15'H
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, 7 days a week. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Up to 16'W and 17'H
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, Monday through Friday, and until noon Saturday. Over 14'6"W in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, St. Clair and Will counties: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Over 16'W, 17'H or 200'L
Over 16'W or 17'H: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Over 200'L: daylight, Monday through Friday. No weekend moves. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Cook County expressways
No loads 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. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Holidays
No oversize moves from noon the day before New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas until sunrise the day after. In 2026: noon November 25 to sunrise November 27, and noon December 24 to sunrise December 26. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT 2025 and 2026 holiday travel restrictions)
Weather
No moves on snow or ice covered roads, when rain, snow, fog or smog cut visibility, or when the Illinois State Police consider conditions unsafe. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, IDOT form OPER 993, permit provisions)
Superloads
Illinois superload
IDOT does not publish one superload number. Routine permits cover up to 14'6"W, 15'H, 145'L and 120,000 lbs on 6 or more axles. Past that, and for any load over 14'6"W, the move goes through superload review with extra time and fees, and IDOT may set the day and time; that window is usually 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (IDOT 2025 permit policy book, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554)
See how we plan the biggest loads on our Superload Transport page.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
150,000 lb transformer
A 150,000 lb transformer from Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH.
Read the move →207,000 lb dryer drum
A 207,000 lb dryer drum from Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA.
Read the move →Moving a load in Illinois?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Illinois permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Illinois sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the IDOT pages and rule text below and confirmed by a second source. Where we could not confirm a rule twice, the page says to check with the state. Rules change, and the permit itself always decides. Last checked: Oct 1, 2026.
Questions
Illinois permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Illinois?
8'6"W, 13'6"H, a 53' semitrailer on Class I and II highways (65' overall on non designated highways) and 80,000 lbs gross on 5 or more axles. Anything bigger or heavier needs an IDOT permit.
When does Illinois require escorts?
Over 14'6"W, 14'6"H or 110'L: 1 escort. Over two of those: 2 escorts. Over 16'W, 145'L or 18'H: 3 escorts. Over 18'W, 18'H or 200'L, the Illinois State Police escort the load too.
Where does the escort run in Illinois?
With 1 escort, ahead of the load on two lane highways and behind it on multi lane divided highways. A height pole escort always runs ahead. With 2 escorts, 1 runs ahead and 1 behind.
When is a height pole or route survey needed in Illinois?
Over 14'6"H, the lead escort carries a height pole. At 17'H or more, the carrier lists every overhead utility owner on the application and IDOT district staff survey the route.
Can oversize loads move at night in Illinois?
Loads up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 200'L may move 24/7, with 1 more escort at night. Bigger loads move in daylight, and overweight loads of legal size may move any time.
Can oversize loads move on weekends in Illinois?
Up to 14'6"W and 15'H, 7 days a week in daylight. Up to 16'W and 17'H, until noon Saturday. Over 16'W, 17'H or 200'L, weekdays only.
How long is an Illinois single trip permit valid?
5 working days, for one move. Permits are ordered through IDOT's ITAP system.
Does Illinois restrict holiday travel?
Yes. No oversize moves from noon the day before New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas until sunrise the day after.
Keep planning
More for your Illinois move
Permit rules in other states
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerReliable Transport LLC | Reliable Heavy Haul
Ready to move it?
We haul oversize and overweight loads across the USA and Canada from our home base at 7660 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45417. Send your load details and we will plan the Illinois permit, route and escorts.
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.