Ohio OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – any load exceeding legal size or weight must have a permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 13'6"
- Length: 65' (combo); 53' trailer allowed
- Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW (standard axle limits apply)
Permitted Load Maximums (Typical Upper Limits)
- Width: Up to 16' with escorts
- Height: Over 14'6" requires utility coordination and route survey
- Length: Over 120' allowed with escort and review
- Weight: 250,000+ lbs with engineering and bridge analysis
Superloads require pre-approval, axle spacing info, and potential police escort depending on route and configuration.
Travel Hours
- Standard: Sunrise to Sunset
- Weekend: Travel allowed Saturday until noon; no travel on Sunday
- Holidays: No movement on holidays or after 12:00 PM the previous business day
- Night travel: May be allowed for loads under 10' wide and 90' long with lighting and approval
Escort Requirements (General Guidelines)
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 13' | 1 Escort (front or rear depending on road type) |
| Width > 14'6" | 2 Escorts (front and rear) |
| Height > 14'6" | High pole escort and utility clearance required |
| Length > 120' | 1 or more escorts depending on configuration |
Additional Notes
- Oversize Load signs, red/orange flags, and amber lights are required on load and escort vehicles
- Ohio Turnpike requires separate permitting and has its own restrictions
- Permits are issued through the Ohio Hauling Permit System (OHPS)
Detailed Information
PERMITS: Permits valid for five days. Must have permit prior to entering the state.
OPERATING TIME: Daytime only for over dimensional loads, Overweight only may travel 24 hours a day provided they can keep up with traffic. Loads over 12' wide are permitted until 3:00 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and on Fridays from April 1 through November 30.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: Movement of vehicles/loads over 12 feet wide is prohibited within many counties between 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For the list of counties, refer to the Ohio Provisions Form OS-1A, a required permit accompaniment. O/D loads are usually not allowed to travel from noon the weekday before major holidays until sunrise the following weekday. Note: Ohio will now allow the driver to stop at any state highway intersection for food, fuel or rest provided the hauler does not travel more than 1 mile from interstate and doesn’t cross under/over any structure.
OHIO TURNPIKE: Driver must phone from pullover area to get clearance for the Turnpike. Permits are issued at the entering toll plaza. Maximum width is 10 feet for continuous travel. Over 11' wide or over 112' long requires pilot car and prior authorization. Maximum height is 13'6". Maximum length without pre-approval is 75’. Maximum gross weight allowed is 90,000 pounds without 2-day pre-approval. Toll charge usually about $25 for standard trip. Overweight charges are additional, approximately $70.00 for up to 90,000 pounds to travel the length of the turnpike.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS: Width: 8'6" Height: 13'6 Length: 53' semi-trailer and load Overhang: 53’ semi-trailer and load including rear overhang (overhang off front of trailer does not count) Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 20,000 Tandem – 34,000 Tridem – 48,000.
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS: Width: 14' Height: 14'6" Ohio won't permit over 14'6" overall height on a step deck when it could on a lower trailer. "Any move over 14'10" high shall be required to coordinate the move with the owners of all overhead signs, signals, utilities, etc., which may obstruct safe, clear movement." Moves over 15'6" are not permitted in Ohio. Length: No set maximum Weight: Single – 29,000 (distance of 16' or more from an adjacent axle) 4’1”) to 50,000 (Spacing more than 4’1”) Tridem – 60,000 (4’1” minimum spacing) Tandem – 36,000 (Spacing equal to or less than Quad – 60,000 (spacing 4’) 80,000 (Spacing 4’1” or greater) Note: All axles must be down on overweight loads. Lift axles must carry within 2,000 pounds of amount of weight of adjacent fixed axles. Ohio has eliminated the requirement that lift axle controls must be outside the truck cab. Loads exceeding these dimensions are considered superloads.
ESCORTS: Width: Over 13' – 1 escort; over 14'6" – 2 escorts; over 16' – police escort; over 13' and over 120,000 pounds GVW – police escort Length: Over 90' – 1 escort Height: Over 14'6" – 1 escort w/ high pole; over 14'10" – 2 escorts; police escort for height depends on routes. Two escorts required if more than one of these conditions exist (for example, over 90' long and over 13' wide).
MISCELLANEOUS: Dozer with blade over 12' wide is restricted to within a 25 mile radius of the point of origin unless a traffic protector device is used. Without protector, the blade must be removed and hauled separately. Blades over 14' wide not permitted to move unless a traffic protector is used, or blade must be removed and hauled separately. Utility poles and steel pipe are exempt from permit for length, but not beams and other materials.
SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS: "Oversize Load" sign is required on front and rear of all oversized vehicles when vehicle or load is over 10' wide, over 14'6" high, or over legal length. Flags are to be displayed on all overdimensional vehicles and loads. Overwidth loads should bear flags at each corner of the vehicle or load, and two flags at the widest extremities of the vehicle or load. Overlength vehicles/loads and loads with a rear overhang of 4' or more shall display a single flag at the extreme rear if the over length or projecting part is two feet wide or less, and two flags if wider than 2 feet to indicate, located to indicate the maximum width. Overhang should be lighted at night. Headlights must be on during the movement of any O/D vehicle or load.