CONNECTICUT OVERSIZE PERMITS & ESCORTS INFORMATION

Important!
We are not a permit service.  We do not arrange permits for carriers.  The following is for informational purposes only.  We also do not answer permit and escort requirements.  Always read your permits and provisions sheets carefully. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.

 

Connecticut DOT Ph# 860-594-2880

 

PERMITS: Connecticut oversize permits are valid for three days.

OPERATING TIME: Daylight only (one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset), no weekends or holidays. Weekend travel is not allowed for overweight only loads. No moves 6:30 am to 9:00 am or 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Loads 13′-6″ wide or over 14′ high can only travel Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Connecticut is continuing its pilot program allowing some weekend travel. Weekend travel is allowed daylight to 12:00 noon Saturday and Sunday if load does not exceed 12′ wide, 13′-6″ high, 80′ long, or 120,000 lbs on five ore more axles. Weekend must be requested when ordering permit.

Restricted Travel: No travel on major holidays (New Years, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).  If holiday falls on Monday, shut down is at 12:00 noon on the day before the Holiday. These rules may change year to year.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

Length:

  • 48′ trailer.
  • Note: 53′ semi-trailer is only legal on Interstate and Designated Highways if the distance between the kingpin and the center of the rear axle does not exceed 43′. (Kingpin setting does not matter on a single piece OD load permit load but the 43’ maximum does apply on a multiple piece load, even when the extra pieces are legal size).

Note: You can be fined $750 if you have a 53′ semi-trailer traveling without a permit and kingpin setting over 43′ if you are traveling empty unless the return trip is shown on your permit!

Overhang: A permit is required on trailers 48′ long & cover over 4′ needs flagged for day and lighted for night.

Width: 8′-6″

Height: 13′-6″ (Note: CT will not issue a permit for overheight for any kind of a building.)

Weight: 80,000 Gross

  • Single – 22,400
  • Tandem – 36,000
  • Tridem – 42,500

ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS

Length: 130′

Width: 15′-11″

Height: 14′ (Route survey required for height over 14′); 13′-6” is the maximum height for any kind of building.

Weight:

  • Single – 22,500
  • Tandem – 45,000
  • Tridem – 67,500

Connecticut does not go strictly by axle weights. They will go as high as 25,000 on a single, providing that the manufacturer’s rating is not exceeded and provided that the gross is within the limits stated above for 5, 6 or 7 axles.

Over 14′ wide, 14′ high or 120′ long is considered a Super Load. Over 140,000 lbs requires an engineer review.

Note: the maximum superload width in Massachusetts is 16 feet.

ESCORTS

Length:

Divided Highway

  • over 100′ – one escort
  • over 120′ – two escorts

Undivided Highway

  • over 80′ – one escort
  • over 100′ – two escorts

Overhang: Over 25′ – one escort likely.

Width: Over 12′ – one escort on divided highways, two escorts on undivided highways; over 13′-6″ – two escorts, 15′ (over 14’-11”) – three escorts.

Height: Over 14′ – one escort with pole (route survey required before ordering permit). Over 15′-3″ – two or more State Police escorts.

MISCELLANEOUS: On loads up to 14′ wide, blade can remain attached. If overweigth and weight can be reduced by removing the blade, then the blade must be hauled separately. Connecticut does not issue permits for containers. Connecticut will not issue a permit of overheight on any kind of building.

SIGNS & FLAGS: “Oversize Load” signs are required on loads over 10′ wide or 13′-6″ high. Over 4′ of overhang must be flagged during the day and lighted at night. Flags are required on all corners of the permitted vehicle on any oversize or overweight load, and on widest points of wide loads.

Note on 53’ Trailers and 43’ Kingpin limit. See important information in Legal Dimensions section above.