New York OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – all oversize or overweight vehicles require a permit from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) or NY Thruway Authority for specific routes.
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 13'6"
- Length: 65' (combo); 53' trailer permitted with conditions
- Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW (with axle spacing limits)
Permitted Load Maximums (Typical Upper Limits)
- Width: Up to 16' with escorts
- Height: Over 14' requires route survey and utility clearance
- Length: Over 100' requires detailed review and escort
- Weight: Over 160,000 lbs with bridge and structure analysis
Superloads require extensive pre-approval and coordination with multiple NY agencies depending on the route (state highways, Thruway, city streets).
Travel Hours
- Standard: Sunrise to Sunset
- Weekend: No travel allowed after 12:00 PM Saturday or on Sunday
- Holidays: No travel on major holidays or after 12:00 PM the preceding day
- Night travel: Only allowed by special provision for loads under 12' wide
Escort Requirements (General Guidelines)
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 12' | 1 Escort (rear on multilane, front on 2-lane roads) |
| Width > 14' | 2 Escorts (front and rear) |
| Height > 14' | High pole escort required with documented clearance |
| Length > 100' | 1 or more Escorts depending on road and configuration |
Additional Notes
- All oversize loads must display “Oversize Load” signs, red/orange flags, and amber lights
- NYC and Long Island require separate local permits with tight restrictions and curfews
- Permits issued via the New York State Highway Oversize/Overweight Permit System (HOOCS)
- New York State Thruway, bridges, and tunnels may have additional restrictions
Detailed Information
PERMITS: State permits valid for five travel days. New York City permit is good for one several hour period, either day or night depending on dimensions and routes. New York Thruway usually one to three days.
OPERATING TIME: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, Monday through Friday, and may travel on Saturday until Noon, if not over 12' wide or 85' long, legal height, and able to "maintain traffic flow speed." This includes I-84 and other NY Thruways. Overweight only up to 96,000 pounds may travel 24/7. Movement not allowed on major holidays, and Friday afternoons before some holiday weekends. New York City: Night travel may be allowed or it may be required in New York City or on Long Island, depending on dimensions.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: At 14' wide, 14' high, 90' long, no travel through business districts between 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. At 16' wide, 15' high, 100' long or greater, no state travel between 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.. No travel on major holidays. Travel shut down is usually 12:00 Noon the day before a holiday or holiday weekend. NYC is more restrictive. Other time restrictions may be listed on permits for local areas. New York City: Separate permit is needed. Travel restrictions are numerous and permits/escorts are expensive. Permits for city are issued for one period either at night or during the day, not both. Over 10' wide, except on Interstate and truck routes, has to be a night move (10:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and 12:01 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Friday night- Saturday morning (after midnight) and Sunday night-Monday morning. On Interstate and George Washington Bridge only, over 10' and less than 12' wide may travel Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Over 80,000 pounds gross weight has to be a night move, route survey required to get permit. (Note: NYC DOT sometimes requires night travel for smaller loads). Special permission may also be needed on bridges going into NYC. NY Thruway: Separate permit is needed for the Thruway. Thruway includes I-87 (NYC to Albany), I-95 (NYC to Connecticut), I-287 (connecting I-87 with I-95), I-90, and I 190 (connecting Buffalo with Niagara Falls). Loads over 13'6" height are not allowed. Overweight permits are very expensive on the NY Thruway.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS: Width: 8'6" (8' in NYC and roads with less than 10' wide travel lanes) Height: 13'6" Length: 53' semi-trailer on Designate Highway system and NY Access Highways; 48' trailer and 65' overall length on non-qualifying highways, in NYC and on NY Thruway. Trailer exceeding 48' must have kingpin setting of 43' or less from kingpin to center of rear axle. NYC: 53' semi-trailers and units longer than 65' overall only legal. Otherwise, 55' is legal length in NYC. Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 22,400 Tandem – 36,000 Tridem – 54,000 Note: Axles less than 46" apart are considered as one axle.
Overlength Permit Exemptions: Permits are not required for loads of poles, girders, beams, columns or similar objects if only legal length is exceeded. This may not apply in NYC area.
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS: Width & Length: No set amount – state determines on individual basis. NY Thruway – 16' wide maximum. Height: 14' and over (over 13'6 on Thruway) requires a route survey. Overhang: Maximum rear overhang shall not exceed 1/3 the length of load, 2/3 of which must rest on the trailer bed. Front overhang may not exceed 15'.Weight: Depends on routing and tire size. You must be registered for at least the amount of weight you are permitting for New York. Single – Depends on route/tire size Tandem – 50,000 Tridem – 60,000 Quad – depends on route/tire size. Superloads: Any vehicle or combination which is over 16' wide, 16' or greater in height, over 160' in length or 200,000 pounds or greater in gross weight is treated as a superload. At least 2 weeks are required for approval.
ESCORTS: Width: Over 12' – 1 escort; 16' and over – 4 escorts (2 front, 1 rear, & police) Over 15' on NY Thruway also requires Thruway Traffic Safety Supervision Escort. New York City: over 11' – 1 escort, over 14' – 2 escorts. Height: 14' and over – 1 escort with pole, and a route survey is needed to apply for permit. 16 & over- 1 high pole and police. On Long Island, escort required for over 13'6 high Length: 80' to 99'11" – 1 escort; 100' and over – 2 escorts, 3 on two-lane highways; 160' and over – 4 escorts & police. New York City: Over 65' long – 1 escort; going to Long Island requires 2 escorts. Overhang: Over 10' front or rear overhang – 1 escort. Weight: Over 200,000 pounds – police escort. Speed, etc.: Police escort also required whenever a vehicle must centerline a bridge or highway. Escort also required if permit vehicle cannot maintain normal highway speeds (within 20 mph of posted speed).
ROUTE SURVEYS: Width: Height: Length: NY State: 16' and over requires route survey to order a permit. New York City: Over 12' NY State: 14' and over – route survey required to order a permit. New York City: over 14'. NY State: 100' and over requires route survey to order a permit, New York City: over 80'.
BRIDGES: Toll for most legal weight loads is $30.00 State bridges (like the George Washington Bridge) charge it only one way if coming out empty; city bridges charge it both ways. Bridge permits are needed for some loads.
SIGNS & FLAGS: "Oversize Load" signs are required to the front and rear on all oversized loads, including high loads. Red or orange fluorescent flags (18" square), mounted on staffs, are required at all corners at the extremities of load or trailer for any over width or over length load. (For night moves, use amber warning lights to front or side in place of flags, and red warning lights to rear). Overhang of 4' or more requires flags on staff at end of load or lights at night (two flags required at extremities of overhang if width of overhang is more than 2'). All headlights and external lights must be turned on for wide, high, or over length loads. For wide or high loads (over 8'6" wide or 13'6" high), power unit must have a minimum of one amber light (6" minimum to 9" maximum in size) located on top of the vehicle and visible in a 360-degree radius. In New York City, loads over 10' wide must have two flashing yellow lights at each end of the load; loads over 14' wide require two steady yellow lights attached to rear of the load.