New Mexico OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – all oversize or overweight loads require a permit from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), Motor Transportation Division.
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 14'
- Length: 65' (combo); 57'6" trailer allowed under certain conditions
- Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW (with standard axle configuration)
Permitted Load Maximums (Typical Upper Limits)
- Width: Up to 20' with proper escorting and review
- Height: Over 16' requires a route survey and utility coordination
- Length: Over 120' requires escort and route review
- Weight: Over 200,000 lbs with engineering analysis and spacing documentation
Superloads require advance notice and may take several business days for processing depending on complexity.
Travel Hours
- Standard: Sunrise to Sunset only
- Weekend: Travel allowed for loads under 10' wide and 100' long with permit
- Holidays: No travel on major holidays or after noon the day prior
- Night travel: May be approved for small loads under 10' wide with proper lighting
Escort Requirements (General Guidelines)
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 12' | 1 Escort (front on 2-lane, rear on 4-lane) |
| Width > 14' | 2 Escorts (front and rear) |
| Height > 16' | High pole car required + route verification |
| Length > 120' | 1 or more Escorts depending on configuration |
Additional Notes
- “Oversize Load” signs, red/orange flags on corners, and amber lights are mandatory
- Mountain passes, high elevations, and weather can significantly affect movement
- Permits issued through the NMDOT Permitting & Routing System (TRP)
Detailed Information
PERMITS: Permits valid for five days. They can also be purchased at Ports of Entry provided the size of the load does not require a bridge check or route survey.
OPERATING TIME: ½ hr before sunrise to ½ hr after sunset Monday through Saturday. If overweight only, continuous travel is allowed. Continuous travel is allowed if not exceeding 10’ wide 14’6” high 120’ long and/or 140,000 lbs.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: Movement prohibited between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the municipalities of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Espanola. In Santa Fe, movement is also prohibited between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., except for SR599. Curfew times do not apply to I-25 through Santa Fe, but they do apply on Interstates in Albuquerque. No movement is allowed when inclement weather such as snow, ice, fog, rain, dust or any other weather condition that restricts visibility to less than 1000', or when wind speed is 25 miles per hour or more. No travel on major holidays. Closure may start at noon on the day before Holiday.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS: Width: 8'6" Height: 14' Length: 57'6" trailer on designated highways, 65' overall length on all other roads. Overhang: 3’ front and 7' rear Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 21,600 Tandem – 34,320 10' Spread – 39,000 Tridem – Depends on spacings.
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS: Width: Depends on routes. Height: Depends on routes. 15’6” needs a route survey; 18' needs utility surveys and clearance from municipal and local authorities. Length: Depends on routes. Weight: 5 axles – 105,000 6 axles – 119,000 7 axles – 127,000 Single – 23,000 on Interstate, 18,000 – 20,000 all other roads, depending on spacings Tandem – 46,000 Tridem – 60,000 Quad – 68,000 Note: NM treats a 10+' spread combination as a tandem rather than two singles.
ESCORTS: Width: Height: Over 14' – 1 escort (a few routes require an escort for over 12' wide); over 20' – police escort and flagman Over 16; – 1 escort and route survey (some routes may require route survey for lower heights) Length: Over 90' – 1 escort; over 110' – 2 escorts.
MISCELLANEOUS: Bulldozer blades and arms over 14' wide (measured at right angles to the trailer axis) shall be detached and hauled in a manner to not create a safety hazard. Dozer blades shorter than 14' wide may be hauled without being detached provided the dozer is firmly supported. If buckets, blades, counterweights, etc., are easy to remove, they must be removed, but can be hauled with the load. Blade can be detached and hauled with the dozer on same trailer if the load would be overweight with or without the blade. It should be stated on the permit. On wide loads, side mirrors must extend far enough to avoid view being blocked by the load.
SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS: "Oversize Load" or “Wide Load" signs required on front of towing unit and on rear of load for any oversize, overweight or overweight only load. Red flags at least 18" square must be affixed to front right and left sides of towing unit and to each corner of the load. Towing vehicles pulling oversize loads that exceed 12' wide may display an amber rotating flashing beacon atop the cab.