New York Permits

OVERVIEW

PERMITS: New York oversize permits are 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.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

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 on I-95, I-295 and I-495, traveling from the George Washington Bridge to Long Island
  • Otherwise, 55′ is legal length in NYC

Width: 8′-6″ (8′ in NYC and roads with less than 10′ wide travel lanes)

Height: 13′-6″

Weight: 80,000 Gross

  • Single – 22,400
  • Tandem – 36,000
  • Tridem – 54,000

Note: Axles less than 46″ apart are considered as one axle.

Over length 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

Length: No set amount: state determines on individual basis.

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′

Width: 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.

Weight:

  • Gross Weights
  • 5 axles – 120,000
  • 6 axles – 130,000
  • 7 axles – 140,000
  • Axle Weights
  • Single – Depends on route and tire size
  • Tandem – 50,000
  • Tridem – 60,000
  • Quad – depends on route/tire size

You must be registered for at least the amount of weight you are permitting for New York.

Superloads: Any vehicle or combination which is:

  • over 16′ wide
  • 16′ or greater in height
  • Over 160′ in length
  • 200,000 pounds or greater in gross weight

is treated as a superload. At least two weeks are required for approval.

ESCORTS

Length:

  • 80′ to 99′-11″ – one escort
  • 100′ and over – two escorts, three on two-lane highways
  • 160′ and over – three escorts

New York City:

  • Over 65′ long – one escort
  • Going to Long Island requires 2 escorts

Overhang: Over 10′ front or rear overhang – one escort.

Width:

  • Over 12′ – one escort
  • 16′ and over – at least two escorts (three may be required)
  • Over 16′ – police escort
  • Over 15′ on NY Thruway also requires Thruway Traffic Safety Supervision Escort

New York City:

  • Over 11′ – one escort
  • Over 14′ – two escorts

Height:

  • 14′ and over – one escort with pole, and a route survey is needed to apply for permit
  • Over 15′ may need to provide a bucket truck
  • Over 16′ – police escort
  • On Long Island, escort required for over 13’6 high

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

Length:

  • NY State:100′ and over requires route survey to order a permit
  • New York City:over 80′

Width:

  • NY State:16′ and over requires route survey to order a permit
  • New York City: Over 12′

Height:

  • NY State:14′ and over – route survey required to order a permit
  • New York City:over 14′

Signs, Flags, and Lights: “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.

NOTES

-Loads going into or through New York City require a permit and one escort if overall length exceeds the legal length of 65 feet!  This also applies when trailer is empty after dropping a load in NYC area.

-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.

LINKS

For more in depth information, check out the New York Department of Transportation

For information about our transportation services, head over to our Services page