Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | Minnesota legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 13'6" (no permit) |
| Width | 8'6" (no permit) |
| Front Overhang | 3' beyond front wheels/bumper |
| Rear Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in Minnesota, without a permit and with an overweight permit.
| Axle group | Legal limit | With a permit |
|---|---|---|
| Steer axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | 24,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs (68,000 lbs combined for 2 tandem sets ≥36' apart) | 46,000 lbs (axles 3'5"–8'0" apart) |
| Tridem axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | Set per permit by the state |
Superload: A physical MnDOT route survey is required once a load exceeds 16' high, 20' wide, or 175' long
Permit types we file in Minnesota
Single Trip PermitValid for 7 days for a single non-divisible oversize and/or overweight load.
Annual/Commodity-Specific PermitTerm permits tied to a specific vehicle/commodity — manufactured homes, construction/farm equipment, mobile cranes, boat hauling, forest products, or livestock.
Job Permit60-day multi-trip authorization for repeated moves of the same load type.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 175' before a mandatory route survey is triggered |
| Width | Up to 20' before a mandatory route survey is triggered |
| Height | Up to 16' before a mandatory route survey is triggered |
| Rear Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
MnDOT requires a physical route survey (its practical superload trigger) once a load exceeds 16' high, 20' wide, or 175' long.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- No escort required for widths up to 15' (measured at the load's widest bottom point) or 16' at the top.
- One rear escort required on multilane divided roadways once width exceeds 15'/16' or length exceeds 110'.
- One lead escort plus one rear escort required on undivided roadways once width exceeds 15'/16'.
When you can travel
- Holiday curfew: no travel from 2:00 p.m. the day before through 2:00 a.m. after, for loads over 12'6" wide or 110' long.
- Summer weekend curfew: no travel 4:00–8:00 p.m. Fridays/Sundays for loads over 12'6" wide or 110' long.
- Twin Cities/Duluth metro rush-hour ban: 6:00–8:30 a.m. and 3:30–6:00 p.m. weekdays for loads over 14'6" wide or 110' long.
Signs, flags and lights
Most states require
- An “OVERSIZE LOAD” banner on the front of the truck and the rear of the load.
- Red or fluorescent orange warning flags at each corner and at the widest points of the load.
- Amber warning lights or clearance lights when moving at night, where night travel is allowed.
Minnesota specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for Minnesota are listed on your permit.
- We include them in your permit notes so your driver has them before the trip.
Rules change. Limits and requirements are set by MnDOT and can change. We confirm the current rules for your exact load before filing.