What is the highest load without a permit?

If you own a trucking company in the United States, you may find the number of permits you’re required to have overwhelming. You need Truck permits to pay taxes on gas, drive from state to state, and carry certain products. If you drive an oversized truck, you’ll have to obtain a special permit. The weight limit is different depending on what state you’re driving through.

DOT Numbers

A truck that weighs over 10,000 pounds and crosses state lines needs a USDOT number. You’ll also need a USDOT number if you carry products that are considered hazardous and require placarding.

Kentucky Permits

If you drive through Kentucky on a trip, you’ll need a special permit if your vehicle weighs over 59,999 pounds. The Bluegrass State requires drivers to pay a tax on every mile they drive as well. 

Oregon Trip Permits 

Oregon takes its roads and its air quality seriously. The state requires independent truckers and trucking companies to obtain a trucking permit to operate a vehicle that weighs over 26,000 pounds. As with all states, you must obtain an overweight truck permit if a vehicle weighs over 80,000 pounds. If you have a vehicle that weighs over 105,500 pounds, loaded or unloaded, you won’t be able to drive through the Beaver State. 

New Mexico

New Mexico may be one of the most beautiful states to drive through, but the beautiful view comes with a price. Vehicles that weigh over 26,000 pounds must obtain a highway permit. These permits are $59 for the first truck and $39.00 for any other vehicles you have. 

Oversized Truck Permits

If you drive an oversized vehicle, you must obtain an oversized vehicle permit. Almost every state considers an oversized vehicle to weigh over 80,000 pounds. The width of an oversized vehicle is 8 feet 6 inches, and the height is between 13 feet 6 inches and 14 feet. Nevada is the exception to the rule. You’ll only need an oversized permit if you drive a rig that weighs over 129,000 pounds.

Most states have a weight limit of 20,340 pounds for one axle and 34,000 pounds for tandem axles in the majority of states. Remember that if you’re driving through multiple states, you’ll need a permit for each one. 

Other Things to Take Into Consideration

If you’re operating a wide to oversized load, certain states will have additional requirements. You may need escort vehicles and be limited to the hours you can drive. Some states require banners and flags. Some roads may have to be shut down simply so you can drive your oversized vehicle on them. You’re likely to have to pay additional fees for your trip if this is the case. 

Insurance is often more expensive for oversized vehicles. The type of cargo you’ll be able to carry and the volume you’ll be able to haul will often justify the cost.

Obtaining Permits

Running a trucking business can be a lot of work. You do enough without worrying about calling different states to get these permits. Fortunately, there are trucking compliance companies that can get the permits you’ll need for you. They’ll also store electronic records of these permits so you’ll be ready for your New Entrant Audit.

Any small trucking company should work with a compliance company. In addition to the permits, you’ll have plenty of paperwork that needs to be filled out and hundreds of records that will need to be stored and regularly updated.

Failure to have the proper permits can result in heavy fees. If you have all the right permits, you will find wide-load operations challenging but profitable.