PERMITS:
Permits are valid for 5 days.
TRAVEL TIME:
- Overweight permit loads with legal dimensions are authorized to move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Over weight and/or Over-dimension permit loads with dimensions equal to or less than 10′ wide, 13’6″ high, 200′ long are authorized to move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with one additional civilian escort when traveling during the hours of darkness.
- Overweight and/or Over dimension permit loads with dimensions equal to or less than 14’6″ wide, 15′ high, 200′ long are authorized to move from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, 7 days a week.
- Overweight and/or Over dimension permit loads with dimensions equal to or less than 16′ wide, 17′ high, are authorized to move from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset Monday through Friday, and from 1/2 hour before sunrise until noon, Saturday(unless specified otherwise on the provision sheet or permit).
- Overweight and/or Over dimension permit loads with dimensions greater than 200′ long are authorized to move from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset Monday through Friday . No Saturday or Sunday movement is allowed(unless specified otherwise on the provision sheet or permit).
- Overweight and/or Over dimension permit loads with dimensions greater than 16′ wide, 17′ high, are authorized to move from 9:00 a.m. CST to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday . No Saturday or Sunday movement is allowed(unless specified otherwise on the provision sheet or permit).
RESTRICTED TRAVEL:
Permit loads on Expressways in Cook County are restricted to a maximum of 120,000 pounds, 12′ wide and/or 13’6″. Several special restrictions apply in Cook County, as listed on provision sheets (General Provisions B). Loads over 14’6″ wide up to and including 16′ wide are limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, St. Clair and Will counties. Over 16′ wide may have additional restrictions. No travel from noon the day prior to major holidays or holiday weekends.
Maximum width is 12′ and maximum height is 14’6″. Maximum gross weight allowed is 120,000. Length exceeding 100′ needs prior approval and special permit. Separate permits must be obtained from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.
Length limitations do not apply (over dimensional permit not needed) for vehicles operated in the daytime, Monday through Friday, when transporting beams, poles, pipe, culvert or other objects of a structural nature 80′ or less in length(overall length 100′ or less). Farm tractors and other implement of husbandry may be hauled without a permit during daylight hours(including weekends) when over width only. Illinois Oversize Permits is still needed if over 13’6 high, or overweight.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS:
Width: 8’6″ on designated highways, 8′ on non-designated
Height: 13’6″
Length: 53′ semi-trailer* on designated highways, 65′ overall on non-designated.
*Kingpin to center of rear axle not over 45’6″, or needs to be permitted.
Overhang: 3′ front, 4′ rear. More rear overhang is allowed if within legal length limits.
Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 20,000; Tandem – 34,000; Tridem – 42,500
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS:
Width: 14’6
Height: 15′ (depending on overhead clearances, 3″ clearance required)
Note: Maximum height on Chicago highways is 13’6″. No interstate routing is allowed for over 15’9” height. Height of 16′ or more requires detailed route survey.
Length: 145′
Weight: Single – 24,000; Tandem – 48,000; Tridem;–;60,000 (no single axle to exceed 21,000); Quad – 60,000 on standard permit, up to 100,000 with a super load permit.
Note: Overweight applications get treated as super loads when: On 5 axles, grossing over 100,000 pounds and/or over 48,000 pounds on a tandem group. On 6 or more axles, grossing over 120,000 pounds and/or over 48,000 pounds on any axle group.
Note on Lift or Pusher axles: Maximum weight variance between axles in a group is 2,000 pounds. Over 16′ wide or 17′ high will require a field or district engineering investigation. Over 17′ high, all overhead utility companies must be contacted and documentation must be provided.
EXEMPTIONS:
Length limitations do not apply (over dimensional permit not needed) for vehicles operated in the daytime, Monday through Friday, when transporting beams, poles, pipe, culvert or other objects of a structural nature 80′ or less in length (overall length 100′ or less). Farm tractors and other implements of husbandry may be hauled without a permit during daylight hours (including weekends) when over width only. Permit is still needed if over 13’6 high, or over weight.
ESCORTS:
Width: Over 14’6 – 1 escort; over 16′ – 3 escorts; over 18′ – State Police escort.
Height: Over 14’6 – 1 escort with high pole; over 18′ – 2 escorts and State Police.
Length: Over 110′ – 1 escort; over 145′ – 3 escorts; over 200′ – State Police.
Note – Loads exceeding any two of the above dimensions – 2 escorts.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
Flags are required on the extremities of all oversize vehicles or loads and all protruding objects. “Oversize Load” signs are required on loads over 10′ wide, 14’6 high and/or 75′ long. All oversize/overweight permit loads must display an operable oscillating, rotating or flashing amber light or lights on the tractor. Light(s) must be visible from both sides and the front, and must be strong enough to be seen for at least 500 feet in the daytime. When visibility of the light is blocked from the rear, and for loads over 80′ long or combinations over 100′ long require a second light mounted 10′ of rear of the object, as high as practical over it.