Types of Oversize/Overweight Permits

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What Type of Permit Do I Need?

Legal Limits

  • Width 8 feet 6 inches
  • Height 13 feet 6 inches
  • Weight 80,000 lbs. gross
    • 20,000 lbs. single axle
  • Length 45-foot single vehicle
    • 53-foot trailer, loaded or empty
    • 57-foot lowboy trailers used exclusively for the transportation of construction equipment

Determine if a Permit is Required

  • A permit is issued to a carrier to allow operation of a vehicle or load that exceeds the statutory limits.
  • Permitted loads must be non-divisible.
  • Permits are issued by the Iowa DOT for state and interstate highways only. Separate permits must be obtained from local city or county jurisdictions for travel on those roadways.

Definition of an Indivisible Load

Any load or vehicle exceeding applicable length, height, width or weight limits that if separated into smaller loads or vehicles, would:

  1. Compromise the intended use of the vehicle (i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended).
  2. Destroy the value of the load or vehicle (i.e., make it unusable for its intended purpose).
  3. Require more than eight work hours to dismantle using appropriate equipment. 
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Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permit Types

Single or Round Trip ($35)

  • This is the most common permit that most users will need.
  • Used for any indivisible load that exceeds the legal limits of size and/or weight
  • No limits on gross weight, height, length
  • Max allowed axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Origin and Destination required for superloads that do not originate or terminate in Iowa
  • Required to be registered for at least the total weight that you are being issued a permit for
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single (one way) or 2 trips (return along same route) for Round Trip option during the 5-day period

Single or Round Trip for Self-propelled Cranes ($35)

  • Used for self-propelled cranes only
  • Max allowed axle weight = 24,000
  • Requires approval by DOT bridge and pavement engineers prior to issuance
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single (one way) or 2 trips (return along same route) for Round trip option during the 5-day period

Single or Round Trip for Private SME ($35)

  • Select this permit if you are a private carrier hauling your own equipment not for hire
  • This permit gives an exemption to the requirement to be registered for the weight of your permitted load for private haulers moving their equipment from place to place.
  • If you are a private carrier who also hauls for hire, you must select the normal single trip when hauling for hire
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single (one way) or 2 trips (return along same route) for Round trip option during the 5-day period 

Single Trip for Fire Trucks or Military Vehicles ($0)

  • Select this permit if you are a fire truck dealer or government entity who needs to move a fire truck within Iowa or a branch of the military moving government equipment
  • Route must be approved by DOT bridge and pavement engineers
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single (one way) or 2 trips (return along same route) for Round trip option during the 5-day period

Single Trip with Weight Increase ($35 + Weight Fees)

  • This permit is for house moves only
  • This permit will allow a carrier to increase their registered weight for the duration of the house move
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single (one way) or 2 trips (return along same route) for Round trip option during the 5-day period

Single or Round Trip for S/P Construction Equipment ($35)

  • Allows for self-propelled construction equipment to exceed the axle weight limits based on tire size up to a max of 36,000 lbs.
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single (one way) or 2 trips (return along same route) for Round trip option during the 5-day period

Single Trip for Dual Lane or Dollies ($35)

  • No limits on gross weight, height, length
  • Max allowed axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Origin and Destination required for superloads that do not originate or terminate in Iowa
  • Required to be registered for at least the total weight that you are being issued a permit for
  • Valid for 5 days and 1 trip for single during the 5-day period 
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Multi-Trip Oversize/Overweight Permit Types

Multi-Trip ($200)

  • Allows for unlimited trips between 2 fixed points or origin along a single specified route (such as from the office to a job site and back)
  • Only one route is allowed for which all trips must use. Separate routes will require additional permits
  • Valid for 60 days
  • Max gross weight = 156,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
    • 36,000 lbs. for qualified S/P construction equipment
    • See the General Provisions for tandem axle weights
  • Max Length = 120 feet
  • Max Width = 16 feet
  • Max Height = 15 feet 5 inches 

Special Alternative Energy Multi-Trip ($600)

  • Allows for unlimited trips to and from an alternative energy construction site or staging area for alternative energy transportation. Travel must be between 2 fixed points of origin along a single specified route.
  • Only one route is allowed which all trips must use. Separate routes will require additional permits.
  • Valid for 60 days
  • Max gross weight = 256,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Max width = 16 feet
  • Max height = 16 feet 
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Annual Oversize/Overweight Permit Types

Annual permits must check route for construction restrictions and clearance problems using the vertical clearance maps, bridge embargo maps, pavement restriction maps, and the 511ia.org website prior to moving under permit. Use the following links to find maps:

A Route Approval is needed to approve a route when you exceed certain dimensions on your annual permit.

Annual Oversize/Overweight ($400)

  • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips
  • Max weight = 156,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Max width = 13 feet 5 inches
  • Max length = 120 feet
  • Max height = 15 feet 5 inches
  • No travel allowed on the interstate when gross weight exceeds 80,000 lbs.
  • DOT route approvals required when exceeding certain dimensions listed on permit. Route approval is available under My Queue once the annual permit is highlighted on the table row.

Small Annual Oversize ($50)

  • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips
  • Max weight = 80,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Max width = 12 feet 5 inches
  • Max height = 13 feet 10 inches
  • Max length = 120 feet
  • Valid on all state and interstate highways with no route approvals needed

Large Annual Oversize ($50)

  • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips
  • Max weight = 80,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Max width = 16 feet
  • Max height = 15 feet 5 inches
  • Max length = 120 feet
  • Valid on all state and interstate highways
  • DOT route approvals required when exceeding certain dimensions listed on permit. Route Approval permit type available on the application page of IAPS system

All-Systems Oversize Permit ($160)

  • Allows for unlimited trips on all state and certain city/county roads. Refer to the All Systems Oversize permit route map for a list of participating counties and the roads allowed for travel under this permit.
  • Valid for 12 months
  • Max weight = 80,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Max width = 16 feet
  • Max height = 15 feet 5 inches
  • Max length = 120 feet 

All-Systems Overweight Permit ($500)

  • Valid for 12 months
  • Allows for unlimited trips on all state and some city/county roads. Refer to the All Systems overweight permit route map for a list of participating counties and the roads allowed for travel.
  • Not valid on Interstate highways
  • 20,000 pounds per axle maximum
  • Maximum weight = 12% over current maximum legal weights based on number of axles and distance between axles:
    • 5 axle maximum: 89,600 lbs.
    • 6 axle maximum: 100,800 lbs.
    • 7 axle maximum: 107,520 lbs.
  • Note: Permit not required to haul 90,000 on 6 axles, or 96,000 on 7 axles pursuant to the existing weight tables in Iowa Code 321.463(6)(c)(1)

Bridge Exempt Permit ($25)

  • This is an annual permit for SME vehicles that exceed the Maximum Gross Weight Table for NonPrimary Highways – Table 1. The table can be found on page 22 of the Iowa Truck Information Guide
  • Must be 45 feet or less in length
  • May not exceed 80,000 lbs. gross, 20,000 lbs. on a single axle
  • If the vehicle exceeds the weight limits or is greater than 45 feet long, a single trip permit can be used

Compacted Rubbish Vehicles ($100)

  • Allows for compacted rubbish vehicles to operate up to 36,000 lbs. on the rear tandem axle for noninte rstate roads
  • Interstate limits are 20,000 lbs. single axle and 34,000 lbs. rear tandem axle
  • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips

Crane Small – 80k and Under ($400)

  • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips
  • For self-propelled cranes only
  • Shall not exceed 80,000 pounds gross, 24,000 pounds maximum per axle

Fluid Milk Product ($400)

  • Valid for 12 months, unlimited trips for the transporting of Fluid Milk Products
  • May not exceed 96,000 lbs. gross, 20,000 lbs. on a single axle
  • May travel on the interstate and cannot cross bridges found on the Iowa DOT website under Bridge Embargo Fluid Milk Products Map

Raw Milk ($25)

  • Annual permit authorizing a raw milk transporter to transport by motor truck raw milk to or from a milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station.
  • May not exceed 80,000 lbs. gross, 20,000 lbs. on a single axle. 

Raw Forest Product ($175)

  • Annual permit authorizing divisible loads of raw forest products to be transport by motor truck from fields to storage, processing, or other commercial facilities.
  • Max weight = 156,000 lbs.
  • Max axle weight = 20,000 lbs.
  • Max width = 8 feet 6 inches
  • Max length = 120 feet
  • Max height = 13 feet 6 inches
  • No travel allowed on the interstate highway system 
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Temporary Registration/Fuel & Non-Oversize/Overweight Permits

Registration Trip ($10)

  • Temporary registration permit for vehicles that do not have an apportioned registration
  • May not be used to satisfy International Registration Plan requirements for oversize/overweight loads
  • Valid for 72 hours

Fuel Trip ($20)

  • Temporary fuel permit for vehicles that do not have an IFTA sticker
  • Valid for one trip in a 72-hour period

Temporary Weight Increase ($ varies)

  • Permit for house movers to increase their registered weight when they are operating solely on county/city roads and do not have a state permit
  • Valid for 1 trip in a 5-day period
  • House moves only

Unladen Weight Permit ($10)

  • Permit for owner/operators who have broken their lease with a carrier. The unladen weight permit allows them to travel from point of origin to point of destination; indicating a mid-point, while pursuing a
    new lessee.
  • Not valid for carrying a load
  • A separate permit must be obtained for each tractor and each trailer
  • Valid for 15 days 

Commercial Repair ($0)

  • Permit allows for a trip to and from a facility for maintenance and/or repair of the vehicle
  • Cannot carry a load
  • Valid for 30 days

RAD Transport Permits ($ varies)

  • Permits required by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) for the transport of radioactive waste through Iowa
  • These permits are for legal loads only; if a radioactive shipment exceeds the legal dimensions or weights a single trip permit must also be issued
  • For transport on both road and rail & high/low levels of radioactivity 
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