Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | North Dakota legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 14 ft |
| Width | 8 ft 6 in |
| Front Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
| Rear Overhang | Overhang of 4 ft or more requires marking/flagging |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in North Dakota, 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 | Up to 30,000 lbs, subject to 600 lbs per inch of tire width |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | Up to 40,000 lbs, subject to 600 lbs per inch of tire width |
| Tridem axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | 96,800 lbs (4-axle) to 114,800 lbs (6+ axle) single-unit caps |
Superload: Loads exceeding roughly 200,000 lbs require special heavy-load permitting and route/bridge analysis
Permit types we file in North Dakota
Single-Trip PermitValid for a five-day period for one non-reducible load movement.
Annual Overwidth / Overlength PermitTied to a specific vehicle for repeat oversize moves within a year.
Interstate / Self-Propelled Fixed Vehicle PermitAllows multiple movements within a single 24-hour period.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | Standard permits cover towed vehicles up to 60 ft before extra review |
| Width | No escort required up to 14 ft 6 in (or up to 16 ft on 4-lane highways) |
| Height | No escort required up to 18 ft under standard permit conditions |
| Rear Overhang | 4 ft+ requires flagging |
North Dakota does not publish one single bright-line superload weight figure; loads over roughly 200,000 lbs are handled as special heavy-load moves.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- No pilot car required up to 14 ft 6 in wide / 18 ft high / 120 ft long.
- 1 pilot car required over 14 ft 6 in wide.
- 2 pilot cars required over 16 ft wide.
When you can travel
- No travel from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, unless the load is 12 ft or less wide and 120 ft or less long.
- Loads over 16 ft wide banned after noon Saturday, all day Sunday, and on 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.
North Dakota specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for North Dakota 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.