New York permits
New York Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, certified escorts, police escorts, height poles, travel hours and curfews for oversize and overweight loads in New York, each checked against the New York State 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 12'W or 80'L
- Travel
- Weekdays, daylight
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerNYSDOT permits
How New York sizes up a heavy load
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) issues special hauling permits for nondivisible loads on state highways through its HOOCS online system, which also issues New York State Thruway Authority and Bridge Authority permits. These are the numbers we plan every New York 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 New York rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
New York limits
New York legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a NYSDOT special hauling permit.
New York legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W on qualifying and access highways and other roads with 10' lanes; 8'W on other roads (NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 385) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 385) |
| Legal length | 53' semitrailer on qualifying and access highways (kingpin to rear axle no more than 43'); 65' combination on other highways; 40' single vehicle (NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 385) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross, under the bridge formula (NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 385) |
| Permit needed | Over legal size or weight: a NYSDOT special hauling permit, ordered in HOOCS. A permit is not issued for a load that can be reduced to legal size or weight (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits, NYSDOT NYPermits) |
| Trip permit | Covers one trip on approved routes for up to 5 permissible hauling days (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits) |
| Thruway and bridges | The Thruway Authority and Bridge Authority issue their own permits, also through HOOCS (NYSDOT NYPermits) |
| New York City | City streets follow NYC DOT rules and permits; NYSDOT permits cover state highways (NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 385) Check with the state. |
Escorts
New York escort requirements
Certified escorts start over 12'W, 80'L, 14'H or 10' of overhang, and police escorts join the biggest loads.
New York escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 12'W | 1 certified escort: ahead on two lane highways, behind on highways with more than two lanes (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15), 17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits) |
| 16'W or more | Front and rear certified escorts on all routes (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
| Over 16'W | 2 certified escorts ahead on two lane highways, plus a police escort (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
| 18'W or more | 2 certified escorts ahead on four lane highways too (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) Check with the state. |
| 80'L or more | 1 certified escort: ahead on two lane highways, behind on highways with more than two lanes (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15), 17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits) |
| 100'L or more | Front and rear certified escorts on all routes, with 2 ahead on two lane highways (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
| 160'L or more | 2 certified escorts ahead on all highways unless the route is Interstate only; over 160'L, a police escort (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
| 14'H or more | 1 certified escort ahead with a height pole (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15), 17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits) |
| 16'H or more | Police escort (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
| Overhang over 10' | 1 certified escort at that end; front overhang may not pass 15' (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
| 200,000 lbs or more | Police escort (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) |
PERM 87 is a guideline sheet: the escorts printed on your permit can differ and are the final word. NYSDOT also calls for a police escort when a load must cross the center line of a bridge or highway, go the wrong way on a one way street or ramp, or move at night outside NYSDOT Regions 8 and 10.
Height and routes
Route surveys, bonds and height poles
What New York asks of tall, wide, long and heavy loads.
Route survey
At 16'W, 14'H or 100'L and over, the carrier surveys the route before the permit, and no part of the move may come within 3" of any overhead object. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits, NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15))
Height pole
At 14'H and over, the front certified escort carries a height pole, shows warning signs and runs a roof bar light. (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15), 17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Surety bond
At 16'W, 16'H or 200,000 lbs and over, a surety bond of at least $10,000 must be on file before the permit is issued. (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15)) Check with the state.
Overhead wires
Wires, signals, tree limbs and structures may not be disturbed without the owner's consent first. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Flags
Overhang of 4' or more: 18" red or orange flags on a staff at the end of the load, two if the overhang is more than 2' wide. (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15))
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in New York.
Weekdays
A half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, Monday through Friday, unless the permit allows more. No Saturday or Sunday travel. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Saturday morning
Loads up to 12'W and 85'L that keep up with traffic may run until noon Saturday. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Overweight only
Loads that are not oversize, within 125% of legal weight and keeping up with traffic, have no time or day limits. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits) Check with the state.
Business districts
At 14'W, 14'H or 90'L and over, no travel in business districts 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15))
Statewide rush hours
At 16'W, 15'H or 100'L and over, no travel anywhere in New York 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15))
Holidays
No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas, or from noon the weekday before Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Weather
No travel when visibility is under 1,000', or when rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, flood or wind make the road hazardous. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Spacing
Permit loads stay at least 2,000' apart unless the permit says otherwise. (17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits)
Superloads
New York large load rule
NYSDOT does not publish one superload size. Its PERM 87 guidelines add police escorts over 16'W or 160'L and at 16'H or 200,000 lbs, a surety bond of at least $10,000 at 16'W, 16'H or 200,000 lbs, and a route survey at 16'W, 14'H or 100'L. Plan at least two weeks for these permits. (NYSDOT PERM 87, special hauling permit guidelines (3/15), 17 NYCRR Part 154 1, special hauling permits) Check with the state.
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 New York?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the New York permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official New York sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the NYSDOT 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
New York permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in New York?
8'6"W on qualifying and access highways, 13'6"H, a 53' semitrailer on qualifying highways (65' overall on other highways) and 80,000 lbs gross. Anything bigger or heavier needs a NYSDOT special hauling permit.
When does New York require escorts?
Over 12'W or at 80'L and over: 1 certified escort, ahead on two lane highways and behind on wider highways. At 16'W or 100'L: front and rear escorts. At 14'H: an escort ahead with a height pole.
When does New York require a police escort?
Over 16'W or 160'L, at 16'H or 200,000 lbs and over, when the load must cross the center line or go the wrong way on a one way road, and on night moves outside NYSDOT Regions 8 and 10.
Can oversize loads move on weekends in New York?
Generally no. Permit loads run Monday through Friday in daylight. Loads up to 12'W and 85'L that keep up with traffic may run until noon Saturday.
What are the New York rush hour rules?
At 14'W, 14'H or 90'L, no business district travel 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. At 16'W, 15'H or 100'L, no travel anywhere in New York at those hours.
Does the Thruway need its own permit?
Yes. The New York State Thruway Authority issues its own permits, ordered through the same HOOCS system as NYSDOT permits.
Keep planning
More for your New York 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 New York 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.