Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | West Virginia legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 13'6" (no permit) |
| Width | 8'6" (102") on qualifying highways; 8'0" (96") standard statutory width otherwise |
| Front Overhang | 3' beyond the front bumper |
| Rear Overhang | Governed by fender-line/flagging rules |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in West Virginia, 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 | UNCONFIRMED — not published on the WV DOH pages accessible for this research |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs (with 36'+ spacing between consecutive tandem sets) | Evaluated per WVDOH bridge-formula weight table by axle-group spacing |
| Tridem axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs on Interstate highways | Set per permit by the state |
Superload: Reviewed case by case
Permit types we file in West Virginia
Single Trip PermitOne-time permit for a specific oversize/overweight move.
Blanket (Annual) PermitTruck-specific permit, available for self-issue, allowing repeated moves within standard limits.
Superload ApplicationIndividually reviewed permit for loads exceeding standard blanket/single-trip thresholds.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | Confirmed at filing |
| Width | Weekend travel is generally granted for loads not over 14' wide (except on the WV Turnpike) |
| Height | Confirmed at filing |
| Rear Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
West Virginia DOH's detailed permit information document could not be retrieved during this research; figures reflect only what was confirmed on other official WVDOT pages. Recommend confirming remaining figures directly with WVDOT before publishing.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- Confirmed for your load at filing.
When you can travel
- Weekend travel is generally granted for loads not over 14' wide, except on the West Virginia Turnpike.
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.
West Virginia specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for West Virginia 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 the state DOT and can change. We confirm the current rules for your exact load before filing.