Wisconsin permits
Wisconsin Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, pole vehicles, hours, holidays and Milwaukee and Madison curfews for oversize and overweight loads in Wisconsin, each checked against the Wisconsin 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 15'W or 140'L
- Night travel
- Up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 150'L
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerWisDOT permits
How Wisconsin sizes up a heavy load
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit issues single trip and multiple trip permits for state trunk highways; county and local highway offices permit their own roads. These are the numbers we plan every Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Wisconsin limits
Wisconsin legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a WisDOT single trip or multiple trip permit.
Wisconsin legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required, Wis. Stat. 348.05, width) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required, Wis. Stat. 348.06, height) |
| Legal length | 45' single vehicle; 70' two vehicle combination; 75' truck tractor and semitrailer; 53' semitrailer on designated highways (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required, Wis. Stat. 348.07, length) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross; 20,000 lbs single axle, 34,000 lbs tandem (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required) |
| Permit needed | Over legal size or weight, for a nondivisible load: a WisDOT permit for state trunk highways, or a local permit for local roads (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required, WisDOT Oversize/Overweight Permits) |
| Single trip permit | Good for 5 days and one trip; WisDOT may extend it once (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required) Check with the state. |
| Multiple trip permit | Good for 3 to 12 months, with no limit on trips (WisDOT Determine if a permit is required) |
| Bad weather | A permit is not valid when fog, smoke, heavy rain, snow, ice or wind make the move unsafe (Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.06, validity) |
Escorts
Wisconsin escort requirements
WisDOT sets escorts by width and length together on its escort chart, adds law enforcement for the biggest loads, and a pole vehicle over 16'H.
Wisconsin escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Up to 12'W | No escort up to 140'L; 1 private escort over 140'L up to 160'L (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Over 12'W up to 15'W | No escort up to 110'L; 1 private escort over 110'L up to 160'L (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Up to 15'W, over 160'L to 200'L | 2 private escorts (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Over 15'W up to 18'W | 1 private escort up to 110'L; 2 private escorts over 110'L (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Over 18'W up to 20'W | 1 private escort and 1 law enforcement escort up to 110'L; 2 private and 1 law enforcement over 110'L (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Over 20'W | 2 private and 2 law enforcement escorts (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) Check with the state. |
| Over 200'L (up to 18'W) | 2 private escorts and 1 law enforcement escort (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Over 350,000 lbs | 1 law enforcement escort (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
| Over 16'H | A pole vehicle, in addition to the escorts above; no more than 2 private escorts in total, including the pole vehicle (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)) |
These counts come from WisDOT's escort chart alone. Check with the state. WisDOT may add escorts for route complexity, turns or traffic, and the permit decides where each escort runs. Escort vehicles follow Wis. Admin. Code Trans 252.
Height and routes
Pole vehicles, signs, flags and lights
What Wisconsin asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Pole vehicle
Over 16'H, a pole vehicle runs with the load. WisDOT lists bridges with less than 16'3" of clearance for routing. (WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018), WisDOT Oversize/Overweight Permits) Check with the state.
OVERSIZE LOAD signs
Over 10'W or over length, one sign on the front of the power unit and one on the rear, at least 7' by 18" with 10" black letters on yellow. (WisDOT Escort, lighting, flagging and signage requirements)
Flags
Red or orange flags at least 18" square at each front and rear corner of an over width load, and at the rear of an over length load (two if the end is more than 2' wide). (WisDOT Escort, lighting, flagging and signage requirements)
Night lights
Loads moving in darkness carry amber lamps at the front edges and red lamps at the rear edges of any projecting load, visible at 500'. (WisDOT Escort, lighting, flagging and signage requirements)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Wisconsin.
Overweight only
Overweight loads that are not oversize may run 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, unless the permit says otherwise. (WisDOT Hours of operation for permitted vehicles, Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.11, times of operation)
Up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 150'L
No hour limits in 67 counties. In Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties, no travel 4 to 8 p.m. on Sundays, on Fridays from the 4th Friday in May to Labor Day, and on restricted travel holidays and the day before. (WisDOT Hours of operation for permitted vehicles, Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.11, times of operation)
Over 12'W, 13'6"H or 150'L
No travel in darkness, from noon Saturday to sunrise Sunday, or 4 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. WisDOT's page adds 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays from the 4th Friday in May to Labor Day. (WisDOT Hours of operation for permitted vehicles, Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.11, times of operation) Check with the state.
Holidays
Over 12'W, 13'6"H or 150'L: no travel from noon the day before until sunrise the day after each restricted travel holiday. WisDOT publishes the list each year; 2026 includes Easter weekend, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, both gun deer season weekends, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. (Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.11, times of operation, WisDOT 2026 holiday hours of operation)
Milwaukee County Expressway
Over legal size, no travel 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, and 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The expressway allows up to 14'W, 14'6"H or 150'L. (WisDOT Hours of operation for permitted vehicles, Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.11, times of operation)
Madison Beltline
Over legal size on a single trip permit, no travel on US 12 and US 18 between Verona Road and Stoughton Road 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. (WisDOT Hours of operation for permitted vehicles) Check with the state.
Superloads
Wisconsin mega load
WisDOT uses the term mega load: over 400,000 lbs gross or 40,000 lbs on an axle line, over 22'W, over 19'H or over 220'L. WisDOT asks carriers to meet with the Permit Office 60 days ahead, send a preliminary proposal at least 30 days ahead and a route survey at least 14 days before the move. (WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (4/15/2017)) 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 Wisconsin?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Wisconsin permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Wisconsin sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the WisDOT 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.
- WisDOT Oversize/Overweight Permits
- WisDOT Determine if a permit is required
- WisDOT Hours of operation for permitted vehicles
- WisDOT Escort, lighting, flagging and signage requirements
- WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (7/9/2018)
- WisDOT Mega Load Guidelines (4/15/2017)
- WisDOT 2026 holiday hours of operation
- Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.11, times of operation
- Wis. Admin. Code Trans 254.06, validity
- Wis. Stat. 348.05, width
- Wis. Stat. 348.06, height
- Wis. Stat. 348.07, length
Questions
Wisconsin permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Wisconsin?
8'6"W, 13'6"H, 75' for a truck tractor and semitrailer and 80,000 lbs gross. Anything bigger or heavier needs a WisDOT permit.
When does Wisconsin require escorts?
WisDOT's escort chart combines width and length. Over 15'W, 1 private escort; over 140'L at up to 12'W, 1 private escort; over 18'W, a law enforcement escort joins.
When does Wisconsin require a pole vehicle?
Over 16'H, a pole vehicle runs with the load in addition to other escorts, with no more than 2 private escorts in total.
Can oversize loads move at night in Wisconsin?
Loads up to 12'W, 13'6"H and 150'L may move at night outside the curfews. Bigger loads may not move in darkness or from noon Saturday to sunrise Sunday.
What are the Wisconsin holiday rules?
Over 12'W, 13'6"H or 150'L, no travel from noon the day before until sunrise the day after each restricted travel holiday on WisDOT's yearly list.
What is a mega load in Wisconsin?
Over 400,000 lbs, 22'W, 19'H or 220'L. WisDOT wants a preliminary proposal at least 30 days ahead and a route survey at least 14 days ahead.
Keep planning
More for your Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.