Kentucky permits
Kentucky Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, height poles, route surveys, rush hour counties and travel rules for oversize and overweight loads in Kentucky, each checked against the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
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
- Height pole
- Over 14'11"H
- Rush hours
- No moves 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays in 5 counties
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerKYTC permits
How Kentucky sizes up a heavy load
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Division of Motor Carriers issues oversize and overweight permits for Kentucky state highways. These are the numbers we plan every Kentucky 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 Kentucky rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Kentucky limits
Kentucky legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a KYTC overweight or over dimensional permit.
Kentucky legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W on interstates, parkways and designated highways; 8'W on other state highways (KYTC legal dimensions, KYTC permit questions) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (KYTC legal dimensions, KYTC permit questions) |
| Legal length | 53' semitrailer on designated highways; 65' overall on other state highways (KYTC legal dimensions, KYTC permit questions) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross, subject to axle weights (KYTC legal dimensions, KYTC permit questions) |
| Permit needed | Over any legal width, height, length or weight: a KYTC overweight or over dimensional permit, ordered through the KYTC online portal (KYTC overweight/over dimensional permits, KYTC permit questions) |
| Permitted gross weight | Up to 96,000 lbs on 5 axles, 120,000 lbs on 6 axles and 160,000 lbs on 7 axles, if every bridge and road on the route can carry it (KYTC legal dimensions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation) |
| Permitted axle weights | Steering axle 20,000 lbs, single axle 24,000 lbs, tandem 45,000 lbs on a 5 axle unit or 48,000 lbs on 6 or more axles, tridem 60,000 lbs (KYTC legal dimensions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation) |
| How long a permit lasts | A single trip permit covers one move and is valid for 10 days (KYTC permit questions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation) |
| Annual permits | Up to 16'W and 13'6"H only; taller or wider loads need a single trip permit (KYTC overweight/over dimensional permits, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation) |
| Front overhang | Not allowed on a combination vehicle (KYTC escort requirements, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation) |
Escorts
Kentucky escort requirements
Escort counts by width, length, overhang and height, on two lane and multi lane highways.
Kentucky escorts by load size
Official sources linkedEscorts run 300' from the load on open highways, with radio contact, amber lights and headlamps on. Kentucky's regulation also adds a rear escort for loads that cannot hold the posted speed on two lane roads; check with the state for slow loads.
Height and routes
Height poles, route surveys and signs
What Kentucky asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Height pole
Over 14'11"H, the front escort carries a height pole. (KYTC escort requirements, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Route survey
Over 15'6"H, the carrier files the OW/OD Proposed Route Survey, form TC 95 625, with the permit request. (KYTC escort requirements, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
OVERSIZE LOAD signs
Check with the state. KYTC's escort page calls for two signs on loads over 10'6"W, while the regulation says over 12'W. Signs are 6' to 8' wide with 18" black letters on yellow. (KYTC escort requirements, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Flags
Red or orange flags at least 18" square at the four corners of a wide load, and two at the rear of a long load or rear overhang. (KYTC escort requirements, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Kentucky.
24/7
Permitted loads may move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless the permit says otherwise. Mobile homes move in daylight, Monday through Saturday. (KYTC travel provisions, KYTC permit questions)
Rush hours
No movement 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, in Boone, Campbell, Fayette, Jefferson and Kenton counties. (KYTC travel provisions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Owensboro bridge
The same weekday rush hour ban applies at the KY 2155 bridge at Owensboro. (KYTC permit questions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Fayette County loads
A load that starts in Fayette County is exempt from the rush hour ban on I 64 and I 75 in Fayette County and up to 3 miles of connecting routes. (KYTC travel provisions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Holidays
No holiday travel restrictions, unless the permit says otherwise. (KYTC travel provisions, KYTC permit questions)
Wind and weather
Over 12'W, no movement when the National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory, or when weather or road conditions make the move dangerous. (KYTC travel provisions, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
Superloads
Kentucky superload
KYTC does not publish a single superload threshold. Over 15'6"H the load needs a route survey, over 16'W it runs with 2 front and 2 rear escorts, and the weight a permit allows depends on the bridges and roads on the route. Check with the state for very large or heavy loads. (KYTC escort requirements, 601 KAR 1:018, Kentucky permit regulation)
See how we plan the biggest loads on our Superload Transport page.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
207,000 lb dryer drum
A 207,000 lb dryer drum from Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA.
Read the move →150,000 lb transformer
A 150,000 lb transformer from Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH.
Read the move →Moving a load in Kentucky?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Kentucky permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Kentucky sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the KYTC 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
Kentucky permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Kentucky?
8'6"W on interstates, parkways and designated highways (8'W on other state highways), 13'6"H, a 53' semitrailer on designated highways and 80,000 lbs gross. Anything bigger or heavier needs a KYTC permit.
When does Kentucky require escorts on two lane roads?
Over 12'W: 1 front and 1 rear. Over 75'L: 1 front. Over 85'L: 1 front and 1 rear. Over 14'11"H: 1 front escort with a height pole.
When does Kentucky require escorts on multi lane highways?
Over 12'W: 1 rear. Over 14'W: 1 front and 1 rear. Over 110'L: 1 rear. Over 16'W: 2 front and 2 rear, and over 120'L: 1 front and 2 rear.
When is a route survey required in Kentucky?
Over 15'6"H, the carrier files the OW/OD Proposed Route Survey, form TC 95 625. Over 14'11"H, the front escort carries a height pole.
Can oversize loads move at night or on weekends in Kentucky?
Yes. Permitted loads may move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless the permit says otherwise. Mobile homes are the exception.
Which Kentucky counties have rush hour restrictions?
Boone, Campbell, Fayette, Jefferson and Kenton counties, and the KY 2155 bridge at Owensboro: no movement 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
How long is a Kentucky single trip permit valid?
10 days, for one move. Permits are ordered through the KYTC online portal.
Does Kentucky restrict holiday travel?
No. Kentucky has no holiday travel restrictions unless the permit says otherwise.
Keep planning
More for your Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.