Virginia OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – any load exceeding legal dimensions or weight requires a permit from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV), Hauling Permits Section.
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 13'6"
- Length: 65' (combo); 53' trailer allowed
- Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW (with standard axle spacing)
Permitted Load Maximums (Typical Upper Limits)
- Width: Up to 16' with proper escorts
- Height: Over 14' requires a route survey and utility coordination
- Length: Over 125' requires routing review and escorts
- Weight: Over 150,000 lbs with bridge and engineering analysis
Superloads require advance coordination, engineering evaluation, and may involve Virginia State Police escorts.
Travel Hours
- Standard: Sunrise to Sunset (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset)
- Weekend: No travel after 12:00 PM Saturday or any time on Sunday
- Holidays: No travel on major holidays or after noon the prior weekday
- Night travel: Allowed for smaller loads under 10' wide and under 14' high with proper lighting and approval
Escort Requirements (General Guidelines)
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 12' | 1 Escort (rear on multi-lane, front on 2-lane) |
| Width > 14' | 2 Escorts (front and rear) |
| Height > 14' | High pole escort and utility clearance required |
| Length > 125' | 1 or more escorts depending on route and configuration |
Additional Notes
- Loads must display “Oversize Load” signs, red/orange flags, and amber flashing lights
- Urban areas like Northern Virginia may have time-of-day restrictions
- Permits are issued through the Virginia Hauling Permit System (Vahps)
Detailed Information
PERMITS: Permits valid for thirteen consecutive days. For loads over 14’ wide, permits valid for five days. Must have permit prior to entering the state.
OPERATING TIME: Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday. Overheight Over length only, if length is not over 85’ and rear overhang does not exceed 10’ are allowed continuous travel. Overweight only can have continuous travel.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: Except when travel is on the Interstate system, no travel is permitted within the corporate limits of cities/towns between the hours of 7:00 to 9:00 AM or 4:00 to 6:00 PM. In addition, these curfew hours apply to Interstate routes in the Capital Beltway area (I-495, I-395, I95), in the Richmond area (I-64 between I-95 and I-295 east and west, on I-95 from Route 73 North of Richmond to I-295 South of Richmond), within the city limits of Petersburg (South of Richmond) on I-85 and I-95, on I-581 and Loop 419 in the Roanoke area, and in the Tidewater Area (Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth on I-64 south of US17, and on I-264, I-464, I-564, and I-664). No travel on major holidays and holiday weekends. Newport News-Portsmouth-Norfolk area note: Permits are required on all but the main Interstate Highways in this area. Fines are very high for unauthorized travel. Permit turnaround time is 24 – 72 hours, so planning ahead is recommended.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS: Width: 8'6" Height: 13'6" Length: 48' semitrailer/53' semi trailer, with 41' kingpin to center of rear tandem; 65' on non-designated highways Overhang: 3' front, 4' rear Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 20,000 Tandem – 34,000 Tridem – 42,500 (designated highways, 9' axle spacing)
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS: Width: 15' Height: 15' Length: 150' Overhang: Rear overhang not to exceed 1/3 length of load, 2/3 of which must rest upon truck or trailer bed. Weight: Single – 24,000 Tandem – 44,000 Tridem – 54,500 Quad – 64,500 Loads exceeding these dimensions are treated as super loads. Allow 5 to 10 days for processing.
ESCORTS: On Interstate Highways: Width: Over 14'5" – 1 escort (pole). Length: Over 120' – 1 escort; over 150' – 2 escorts. Over 12' – 1 escort; over 14' – 2 escorts; over 16' – 3 escorts; over 18' on case-by-case basis. Height: Overhang: Over 10' front or 15' rear – 1 escort. On 2-lane highways: Width: Over 12' – 2 escorts; over 14' – 3 escorts; over 16' – 4 escorts; over 18' on case-by-case basis. Height: Over 14'5" – 1 escort (pole). Length: Over 90’ – 1 escort; over 150’ – 2 escorts. Overhang: Over 10' front or 15' rear – 1 escort.
MISCELLANEOUS: The attachment shall be pointed to the rear. Blade, bucket or scoop attachments that are 12 feet wide or less may remain attached to the equipment.
SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS: "Oversize Load" signs are required on front and rear of the vehicle/load for all over-dimensional permit loads. Flags must be displayed on all four corners of all oversize loads, and at the widest extremities of the vehicle or load on wide loads and at the extreme rear of overlength loads. Flags must also be used on rear overhangs exceeding 4 feet, and a red light visible for at least 500 feet must be displayed if traveling at night. When vehicle/load exceeds 12' wide or 75' long, flashing amber lights, visible for 500', must be displayed on the tractor and at the upper rear end of the load or vehicle. However, amber lights are not needed if the load is accompanied by escort vehicles with amber flashing lights on each escort vehicle. Signs are not required for movements that are overweight only.