Pennsylvania permits
Pennsylvania Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, pilot cars, height poles, super loads, travel hours and holiday rules for oversize and overweight loads in Pennsylvania, each checked against PennDOT.
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
- Super load
- Over 201,000 lbs, 160'L or 16'W
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerPennDOT permits
How Pennsylvania sizes up a heavy load
PennDOT issues special hauling permits for state highways in Pennsylvania. These are the numbers we plan every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Pennsylvania limits
Pennsylvania legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a PennDOT special hauling permit.
Pennsylvania legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W (75 Pa.C.S. 4921, width, PennDOT load type quick reference guide) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (75 Pa.C.S. 4922, height, PennDOT load type quick reference guide) |
| Legal length | 53' single trailer (75 Pa.C.S. 4923, length) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross (75 Pa.C.S. 4941, weight, PennDOT form M 936A, permit application) |
| Permit needed | Over any legal width, height, length or weight: a PennDOT special hauling permit (PennDOT, apply for a hauling permit, PennDOT form M 936A, permit application) |
| Super load | Over 201,000 lbs gross, over 160'L or over 16'W (67 Pa. Code 179.1, definitions, PennDOT load type quick reference guide) |
| Turnpike | The PennDOT permit is not valid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike unless the law allows it (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions) |
| Local roads | Local roads and streets shown in brackets on the permit need the local authority's permission (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions) |
| How long a permit lasts | Check with the state. PennDOT's rules and other sources disagree on how long a single trip permit stays valid. (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions) |
Escorts
Pennsylvania escort requirements
Pilot car counts by width, height and length, and when police or certified escorts come in.
Pennsylvania escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 90'L, or a load more than 15' past the rear | 1 pilot car follows (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Over 13'W, two or more lanes in your direction | 1 pilot car follows (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Over 13'W, one lane in your direction | 1 pilot car leads (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Over 13'W up to 14'W, and up to 120'L | Only 1 pilot car; PennDOT may set it in front or behind (75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions, PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Over 13'W and over 120'L | Check with the state. PennDOT's pilot car cheat sheet shows 2 pilot cars (PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Over 14'6"H | 1 lead pilot car with a height pole, 1,000' to 3,000' ahead (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Over 13'W and over 14'6"H | 2 pilot cars, the lead one with a height pole (PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet, 67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions) |
| Urbanized area in the dark | Pilot cars lead and follow (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet) |
| Buildings over 16'W | A State Police or local police escort (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions) |
| Super loads | A certified escort vehicle or a State Police escort, on top of the pilot cars (75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions, PennDOT certified escort policy, PennDOT load type quick reference guide) |
| State Police escort | Apply early enough for PennDOT to notify the State Police at least 24 hours before the move (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT load type quick reference guide) |
PennDOT's certified escort policy also limits the size of super loads a certified escort can take in place of the State Police. Check with the state for those limits.
Height and routes
Height poles, utilities and route surveys
What PennDOT asks of tall and very large loads.
Height pole
Over 14'6"H, a pilot car with a height sensing pole runs 1,000' to 3,000' ahead on all highways to find low overhead obstructions. (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
Utilities
Over 14'6"H, the permit holder notifies affected public utilities at least 24 hours before the move. (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
Route survey
Super loads need a windshield route survey with the application, and PennDOT may ask for one on other very large moves. (PennDOT form M 936A, permit application, PennDOT load type quick reference guide)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Pennsylvania.
Hours
Permitted loads may move from sunrise to sunset every day of the week, except on holidays, in bad weather, in urbanized areas outside their hours and as the permit restricts. (75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
Nights
No movement from sunset to sunrise, except the early morning urbanized area window below or when the permit allows it. (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
Urbanized areas
Movement is allowed 7 days a week only from 3 to 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to sunset, except on holidays. From 3 a.m. to sunrise the load needs extra lighting on all sides, seen from 1,000', and pilot cars in front and behind. (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
Holidays
No movement over New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. PennDOT's 2026 list starts each period at 12 noon; see it for the exact dates. (PennDOT 2026 holiday travel restrictions, 67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions)
Weather
No movement on snow covered or icy roads, in rain, fog or snow that cuts visibility under 1,000', or in wind that pushes the trailer wheels more than 6" off the path of the truck. (67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
Spacing
An oversize permitted load may not travel within 1,000' of another one going the same way. (75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions, PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions)
24 hour moves
Check with the state. State law lets some lighter, narrower loads move 24 hours a day, and other sources give different limits. (75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions)
Superloads
Pennsylvania super load
In Pennsylvania a super load is over 201,000 lbs gross, over 160'L or over 16'W. Super loads are applied for through PennDOT's APRAS web system, not through a permit service, with a preliminary and a final application and a windshield route survey. They run with a certified escort vehicle or a State Police escort. Check with the state for the lead time on the preliminary application. (67 Pa. Code 179.1, definitions, PennDOT load type quick reference guide, PennDOT form M 936A, permit application, 75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions)
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 Pennsylvania?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the PennDOT permit and plan the pilot cars.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Pennsylvania sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the PennDOT 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.
- PennDOT, apply for a hauling permit
- PennDOT form M 936A, permit application
- PennDOT form M 938, permit conditions
- PennDOT load type quick reference guide
- PennDOT pilot car cheat sheet
- PennDOT certified escort policy
- PennDOT 2026 holiday travel restrictions
- 67 Pa. Code 179.1, definitions
- 67 Pa. Code 179.10, general conditions
- 75 Pa.C.S. 4921, width
- 75 Pa.C.S. 4922, height
- 75 Pa.C.S. 4923, length
- 75 Pa.C.S. 4941, weight
- 75 Pa.C.S. 4962, permit conditions
Questions
Pennsylvania permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Pennsylvania?
8'6"W, 13'6"H, a 53' single trailer and 80,000 lbs gross. Anything bigger or heavier needs a PennDOT special hauling permit.
When does Pennsylvania require pilot cars?
Over 90'L, or with a load more than 15' past the rear: 1 pilot car follows. Over 13'W: 1 pilot car, following on roads with two or more lanes in your direction and leading on roads with one. Over 14'6"H: 1 lead pilot car with a height pole. Over 13'W and over 14'6"H: 2 pilot cars.
Does Pennsylvania require a height pole?
Yes. Over 14'6"H, a pilot car with a height sensing pole runs 1,000' to 3,000' ahead, and the permit holder notifies affected public utilities at least 24 hours before the move.
What is a super load in Pennsylvania?
A load over 201,000 lbs gross, over 160'L or over 16'W. Super loads are applied for through PennDOT's APRAS web system, need a windshield route survey and run with a certified escort vehicle or a State Police escort.
When are police escorts required in Pennsylvania?
Buildings over 16'W need a State Police or local police escort. Super loads run with a certified escort vehicle or a State Police escort. PennDOT notifies the State Police at least 24 hours before an escorted move.
Can oversize loads move on weekends in Pennsylvania?
Yes. State law allows permitted loads to move from sunrise to sunset every day of the week, except on holidays, in bad weather, in urbanized areas outside their hours and as the permit restricts.
Are there holiday restrictions for oversize loads in Pennsylvania?
Yes. No movement over New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. PennDOT's yearly list starts each period at 12 noon and gives the exact dates.
Is a PennDOT permit valid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike?
No. The PennDOT permit is not valid on the Pennsylvania Turnpike unless the law allows it, so a Turnpike leg is planned separately.
Keep planning
More for your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.