Missouri permits
Missouri Oversize Permit Rules
Route surveys, superloads, height escorts, legal limits, escorts, metro rush hours, travel hours and holiday rules for oversize and overweight loads in Missouri, each checked against the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Last checked: Oct 2, 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.
- Route survey
- Over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 160,000 lbs
- Height escort
- Over 15'6"H
- Escorts start
- Over 12'6"W or 110'L
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerMoDOT permits
How Missouri sizes up a heavy load
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Motor Carrier Services office issues oversize and overweight permits through its online permit system. These are the numbers we plan every Missouri 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 Missouri rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Missouri limits
Missouri legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a MoDOT permit.
Missouri legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Route survey | Over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 160,000 lbs, the load is a superload and the application needs a route survey (MoDOT superload application checklist, 7 CSR 10 25.020, superloads) |
| Height escort | Over 15'6"H, a front height detection escort with a vertical clearance device (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, 7 CSR 10 25.020, all permit requirements) |
| Over 17'H | Letters from every utility approving travel under the aerial lines on the route (MoDOT superload application checklist, 7 CSR 10 25.020, superloads) |
| Legal width | 8'6"W (MoDOT Missouri legal limits) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H; 14'H on Interstates and designated highways; 15'H in commercial zones (MoDOT Missouri legal limits) |
| Legal length | 53' trailer (MoDOT Missouri legal limits) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross (MoDOT Missouri legal limits) |
Escorts
Missouri escort requirements
Missouri sets escorts by width, height, length and weight, and the road type decides front or rear.
Missouri escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 12'6"W to 14'W | Front escort on two lane highways; rear escort on divided and undivided highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 14'W to 16'W | Front and rear escorts on two lane and undivided highways; rear escort on divided highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 16'W | Front and rear escorts, plus a second front escort on two lane highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 18'W | Law enforcement escort on all highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 15'6"H | Front height detection escort (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, 7 CSR 10 25.020, all permit requirements) |
| Over 16'H | A second front escort on two lane highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 110'L to 125'L | Rear escort, except on divided highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 125'L | Rear escort on all highways; over 150'L, a front escort on two lane highways as well (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
| Over 220,000 lbs | Front escort on two lane highways; over 350,000 lbs, front and rear escorts plus a second front escort on two lane highways (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026)) |
Escort rules come from the MoDOT escort table and FAQ. The permit lists the escorts for each load. (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services FAQ (5/28/2026))
Height and routes
Route surveys, height escorts and utilities
What Missouri asks of tall, wide, long and heavy loads.
Route survey
Over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 160,000 lbs, the load is a superload, and the application needs a route survey. (MoDOT superload application checklist, 7 CSR 10 25.020, superloads)
Height detection escort
Over 15'6"H, a front escort with a vertical clearance device leads the load. Over 16'H, a second front escort runs on two lane highways. (MoDOT Escort Requirements Table, 7 CSR 10 25.020, all permit requirements)
Utility letters
Over 17'H, the application needs letters from every utility approving travel under the aerial lines on the route. (MoDOT superload application checklist, 7 CSR 10 25.020, superloads)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Missouri.
Hours
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. (7 CSR 10 25.020, all permit requirements)
Rush hours
Weekday rush hour bans apply in the St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield areas. (7 CSR 10 25.020, all permit requirements)
Tourist areas
No weekend movement on listed routes at the Lake of the Ozarks and near Branson during the tourist season. (7 CSR 10 25.020, all permit requirements)
Holidays
No movement from noon on the last business day before New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (7 CSR 10 25.020, general provisions)
Superloads
Missouri superloads
A Missouri superload is over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 160,000 lbs. The application needs a route survey, and over 17'H, letters from every utility on the route. (MoDOT superload application checklist, 7 CSR 10 25.020, superloads)
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 Missouri?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Missouri permit, the route survey and the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Missouri sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the MoDOT pages and rule text below and confirmed by a second source. Rules we could not confirm twice are left off this page. Rules change, and the permit itself always decides. Last checked: Oct 2, 2026.
Questions
Missouri permit questions
When does a Missouri load need a route survey?
Over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 160,000 lbs. The load is then a superload, and the application needs a route survey.
When does a Missouri load need a height escort?
Over 15'6"H, a front height detection escort with a vertical clearance device. Over 16'H, a second front escort on two lane highways.
What does Missouri require over 17'H?
Letters from every utility approving travel under the aerial lines on the route.
What are the legal size and weight limits in Missouri?
8'6"W, 13'6"H (14'H on Interstates and designated highways), a 53' trailer and 80,000 lbs gross.
When does Missouri require escorts?
Over 12'6"W, a front escort on two lane highways and a rear escort on divided and undivided highways, with more over 14'W and 16'W. Over 18'W, a law enforcement escort.
Which holidays stop oversize loads in Missouri?
New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, from noon on the last business day before.
Keep planning
More for your Missouri 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 Missouri 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.