Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | Missouri legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 14' (Interstate/designated highways); 13'6" beyond 10 air-miles; 15' in commercial zones |
| Width | 8'6" (no permit) |
| Front Overhang | 3' (auto transporters) — general front overhang UNCONFIRMED |
| Rear Overhang | 4' (auto transporters) — general rear overhang UNCONFIRMED |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in Missouri, 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 | 22,400 lbs | Governed by bridge-formula analysis rather than a flat cap |
| Tandem axle | 46,000 lbs (tridem 60,000 lbs; quad 72,000 lbs) | Per bridge formula — verified during MoDOT's structural/bridge analysis |
| Tridem axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | 160,000 lbs (standard permit ceiling); 152,000 lbs for certain specialized-equipment configurations |
Superload: Loads over 160,000 lbs gross, 16' wide, 16' high, or 150' long require a minimum 2-week route evaluation and bridge/structure review
Permit types we file in Missouri
Single Trip PermitValid for 7 moving days between one origin and destination.
Annual Blanket PermitSingle- or multiple-commodity annual permits, expiring each Dec. 31.
Special Use PermitDistrict-office-issued permits for noncommercial house moves and commercial-zone bridge analyses.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | 150' (standard permit ceiling) |
| Width | 16' (all zones, standard permit ceiling) |
| Height | 16' (all zones, standard permit ceiling) |
| Rear Overhang | 4' (auto transporters); 6' (stinger-steered auto transporters) |
Exceeding 16' wide, 16' high, 150' long, or 160,000 lbs gross moves a load into Missouri's superload category.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- Widths 12'6"–14': front escort on two-lane highways; rear escort on divided highways.
- Widths 14'–16': front + rear escorts on two-lane/undivided highways.
- Heights over 15'6" require a front height-pole/detection vehicle; over 17' also requires law enforcement.
When you can travel
- General daylight-only rule: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
- Metro weekday curfews for oversize loads in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield areas.
- Holiday ban beginning noon the last business day before major federal holidays.
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.
Missouri specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for Missouri 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 MoDOT and can change. We confirm the current rules for your exact load before filing.