West Virginia permits
West Virginia Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, pole cars, travel days and Turnpike rules for oversize and overweight loads in West Virginia, each checked against the West Virginia Division of Highways.
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
- 10'6"W on two lane roads, or 75'L
- Travel
- Sunrise to sunset
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerWVDOH permits
How West Virginia sizes up a heavy load
The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Central Permit Office in Charleston issues oversize and overweight hauling permits, mostly through its self issue online system. These are the numbers we plan every West Virginia 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 West Virginia rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
West Virginia limits
West Virginia legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a WVDOH single trip or superload permit.
West Virginia legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W on Interstate, US and WV routes and on roads with lanes of 10' or more; 8'W on narrower local roads (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), W. Va. Code 17C 17 2, width) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), W. Va. Code 17C 17 4, height and length) |
| Legal length | 53' semitrailer (tractor rear axle to trailer first axle no more than 37'); 70' overall on US, WV and county routes; 40' single unit (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), W. Va. Code 17C 17 4, height and length) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross on Interstate, US and WV routes; 65,000 lbs on local service routes; 20,000 lbs on a single axle (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), W. Va. Code 17C 17 9, weight) |
| Permit needed | Over any legal size or weight: a WVDOH single trip permit for a nondivisible load, issued by the Central Permit Office or the self issue online system (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), W. Va. Code 17C 17 11, permits) |
| Single trip limits | Up to 16'W and 120,000 lbs gross (28,000 lbs single, 45,000 lbs tandem, 50,000 lbs tridem axle); no set height or length limit if the route can take it (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state. |
| Permit life | Single trip and superload permits are good for 5 days (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| Overhang | Up to 15' front and 30' rear on any permit; legal overhang is 3' front and 6' rear (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| Insurance | Not filed with the permit office, but the carrier must carry at least $350,000 of coverage (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state. |
Escorts
West Virginia escort requirements
Escort counts change with width, length, overhang and the number of lanes, and a pole car joins over 15'H.
West Virginia escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| 10'6"W to 12'W | 1 escort in front on two lane roads; none on four lane roads (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| 12'1"W to 14'W | Front and rear escorts on two lane roads; 1 rear escort on four lane roads (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| 14'1"W to 15'W | Front and rear escorts on all roads, Monday through Friday (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| 15'1"W to 16'W | Two lane: 2 front and 1 rear. Four lane non Interstate: 1 front and 2 rear. Interstate: 2 rear (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| Over 16'W | Escorts as the permit sets; travel Sunday morning until noon only (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state. |
| 75'L to 95'L | 1 rear escort on two lane roads, Monday through Friday; none on four lane roads (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| 95'1"L to 100'L | Front and rear escorts on two lane roads; 1 rear escort on four lane roads (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| Over 100'L | Front and rear escorts on all roads (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| Overhang over 10' | 1 escort at the overhanging end, front or rear (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
| Over 15'H | A front pole car, in addition to any other escort (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) |
WVDOH districts and the Parkways Authority may add escorts or time limits, but never fewer than these. Escort vehicles carry an amber light, OVERSIZE LOAD signs, flags and a two way radio.
Height and routes
Pole cars, signs and route checks
What West Virginia asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Pole car
Over 15'H, a front pole car runs with the load in addition to any other escort. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023))
Route analysis
WVDOH runs a computer bridge and clearance analysis for every trip; it keeps no general list of allowed weights by route. (WVDOH hauling permits FAQ) Check with the state.
Yeager Bridge
On the Turnpike, the Yeager Bridge clears 15'10"H (16'H at the center). (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state.
Signs and flags
Escort vehicles show OVERSIZE LOAD signs 5' by 12" with 10" letters, and red or orange flags at least 18" square. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023))
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in West Virginia.
Daylight
Oversize loads move sunrise to sunset. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), WVDOH hauling permits FAQ)
Up to 14'W
Sunrise to sunset, seven days a week on all routes except the Turnpike, when requested; some escort rules still hold a load to Monday through Friday. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state.
Over 14'W
Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023))
Over 16'W
Sunday morning until noon only. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state.
Weekends
Weekend travel must be asked for on the application; WVDOH checks the route and traffic before it allows it. (WVDOH hauling permits FAQ, WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023))
Night travel
Only overweight loads that are not oversize, up to 110,000 lbs gross, on multi lane highways; two lane requests are case by case. (WVDOH hauling permits FAQ)
WV Turnpike
Over 14'W up to 18'W, sunrise to sunset Monday through Thursday; 18'1"W to 24'6"W, Sundays before noon only. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023)) Check with the state.
Holidays
No permit travel on holidays. School bus hour or other curfews may be put on the permit. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023))
Superloads
West Virginia superload
Past any single trip limit (16'W, 120,000 lbs gross or the axle limits) the load is a West Virginia superload. There is no set weight or size cap, but every superload must pass a bridge analysis and the route must suit the size. WVDOH says superload permits need at least 48 hours to process. (WVDOH Permit Information (revised 3/17/2023), WVDOH hauling permits FAQ)
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 West Virginia?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the West Virginia permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official West Virginia sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the WVDOH 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
West Virginia permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in West Virginia?
8'6"W on Interstate, US and WV routes, 13'6"H, a 53' semitrailer and 80,000 lbs gross. Anything bigger or heavier needs a WVDOH permit.
When does West Virginia require escorts?
On two lane roads from 10'6"W or 75'L; on four lane roads from 12'1"W or 95'1"L. Over 14'W, front and rear escorts run on every road, and overhang over 10' needs an escort at that end.
When does West Virginia require a pole car?
Over 15'H, a front pole car runs with the load in addition to any other escort.
Can oversize loads move at night or on weekends in West Virginia?
Oversize loads move sunrise to sunset. Weekend travel must be requested and WVDOH decides it by route. Night travel is only for overweight loads that are not oversize, up to 110,000 lbs, on multi lane highways.
What is a superload in West Virginia?
A load past the single trip limits of 16'W, 120,000 lbs gross or the axle limits. It needs a bridge analysis, and WVDOH asks for at least 48 hours to process it.
How long is a West Virginia permit good for?
Single trip and superload permits are good for 5 days.
Keep planning
More for your West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.