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Maryland Oversize / Overweight Regulations

What is considered as "Oversized Load" in Maryland?

Dimensions: Width: 8' 6"' Height: 13' 6" Length: Semi-trailer 53' Overall: 74' (Indivisible loads up to 70' may be moved without permit in daylight hours.) Legal Overhang: Front 3', Rear 6' (flags, lamps required for load beyond 4' of rear).

What is considered as "Overweight Load" in Maryland?

Weights: Single Axle: 20,000 lb. Tandem axle: 34,000 lb. Tridem: 42,500 lb. Max Gross Weight: 80,000 lb.

Maryland Oversize / Overweight Permits

Maryland Permit Department Contact Information

410-582-5712

Fax: 800-945-3416

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Eastern

http://ahps.roads.maryland.gov/ahps/

Maryland Pilot Cars / Escorts

One escort required on any highway when:

  • More than 13’ wide (does not include manufactured housing)
  • More than 85’ long
  • 14’6” high or more (pole vehicle required)
  • More than 60 tons gross weight
  • Traveling when weather or road conditions justify the requirement of one escort vehicle

Two escorts two escorts required when:

  • 14’ wide or more including a load that is a manufactured housing unit
  • 140’ long or more

Police Escort:

  • Any permit move that is 16’ wide or more
  • 75 tons gross weight or more
  • The road or weather condition justify
  • Traveling against traffic may require two escort vehicles.
Escort Vehicle Signing and Lighting Requirements
  • Must have two-way radio contact and maintain constant communication.
  • A private escort must have at least one oscillating or rotating yellow light on the roof
  • Headlights must be on while conducting the move.
  • Escort vehicle must display "Oversize" sign on the front and rear
  • Black letters must appear on a yellow background

Maryland Axle Regulations

Maximum Legal Axle Weights

Single                                    20,000 lb.

Tandem                                34,000 lb.

Tridem                                  42,500 lb.

Gross Vehicle Weight        80,000 lb.

Maximum Permitted Weights

Single                                    27,000 lb.

Tandem                                52,000 lb.

Tridem                                  63,000 lb.

Gross Vehicle Weight        120,000 lb.

Gross Vehicle Weight        150,000 lb. (Engineering structural review required for weights over 150,000 lb.)

Note: 30,000 pounds max per axle up to 110,000 pounds GVW;
27,000 pounds max per axle from 110,001 pounds GVW and over.

Maryland Trip and Fuel (IRP / IFTA) Permits

An out-of-state operator must obtain a Maryland 72-Hour Trip Permit, prior to entering Maryland. You can purchase a permit through a vendor or directly through the Motor Vehicle Administration via mail, fax, or in person. 

For more information see: www.mva.maryland.gov/About-MVA

Maryland Overweight / Oversize Fines

The Maryland State Police/Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (MSP/CVED), and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Commercial Vehicle Safety Unit (MDTAP/CVSU), conduct truck size and weight enforcement operations at Truck Weigh and Inspection Stations (TWIS) throughout Maryland. The MDTAP/CVSU normally conducts operations on toll facilities only. Both departments also conduct size and weight enforcement operations through the use of roving patrols equipped with portable scales.

A vehicle found to exceed any allowable weight limit by 5,000 pounds or more may not be moved until the excess weight is unloaded.

A violation of this section that exceeds 5,000 pounds, may subject the exceptional hauling permit to immediate confiscation.

Penalties:

A person may not drive on any publicly maintained highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross weight that exceeds:

Excess Weight                         Fine

1000 lb.                                     $0.01 per lb.

1001 - 5,000 lb.                        $0.05 per lb.

5001 - 10,000 lb.                     $0.12 per lb.

10,001 - 20,000 lb.                  $0.20 per lb.

20,001 lb. and over                 $0.40 per lb.



Running Hours and Holiday Restrictions

Lights:

2 red lights shall be displayed on a rear overhang exceeding 4’ indicating the widest part of the overhang and 1 on each side of the load.

"Oversize Load" Banner

"WIDE LOAD" or "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are required if load exceed 9' in width. Warning signs are required on the front and back of all oversize loads. Size: 7' long, 18" high Letters Black, 10" high, on Background: yellow

Flag Requirements

All Oversized Loads: red or orange fluorescent flags during daylight hours at least 18” square fastened by at least one corner on a staff placed at the widest extremities.


Flags, Lights and Banners

Moves for loads up to and including 150k GVW, 13’ wide, 14’6” high, 90’ long may move 24/7.

All other loads are one-half hour after sunrise and one-half hour before sunset. No Sunday travel is permitted.

Except that:
The permittee or user may move any vehicle and load that together exceeds 45 tons gross weight or is 100’ or more in length or 12’ or more in width over I-495 and I-95 (Capital Beltway) or I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

If 14’ wide or more, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on any highway.

Travel is prohibited on the following: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

The MDOT SHA Permit Office is closed on the above-mentioned holidays as well as on Martin Luther King Day, Columbus Day, Election Day, and the day after Thanksgiving, but travel is not restricted on these additional days.

Maryland Tire Regulations

Chains and Studded Tires

In case of declared snow emergency, chains will be required on certain designated highways.

Studded snow tires are not allowed on vehicles having a registered gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds. 

Tire Condition

A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway unless the motor vehicle is equipped with tires in safe operating condition, in accordance with requirements approved by the Administrator.

If a police officer, at any time, has reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle is unsafe or equipped with tires in violation of the provisions of this section, the police officer may require the driver of the vehicle to stop and submit the vehicle tire to an inspection. If the inspection discloses the vehicle to be in violation, the officer may issue a summons for the violation.

Regrooved Tires

Regrooved or recut tires. are prohibited unless the tire is specifically designed to be regrooved or recut, and following such procedure, the tire complies with standards established by the United States Department of Transportation.

Studs and Cleats

Studs, cleats, etc., are prohibited in Maryland except that:

It is permissible for a vehicle not registered or required to be registered in this State to use tires as described in this subsection

Owners of vehicles registered in Allegheny County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Garrett County, or Washington County are exempt from the prohibition of the use of tires described studded tires.

Maryland Annual Permits

For Routine Permits, dimensions may not exceed: 

  • Width: 12 feet 
  • Height: 14 feet
  • Length: 75 feet
  • Gross weight may not exceed 80,000 pounds (40 Tons)

Truck-Tractor must be properly registered in Maryland. (If IRP registered, the cab card must be available for inspection). (Note: the truck-tractor may be apportioned for Maryland). 

Semi-trailer or trailer must be properly registered in Maryland. 

A vehicle under its own power must display a Maryland Special Mobile Equipment Plate. 

Cost: The monthly permit fee is $50.00. 

The yearly permit fee is $500.00. 


Maryland Road Conditions

When driving through work zones, even the smallest mistake can be deadly. These simple tips could save your life in a work zone:

  • Orange signs, cones and barrels, mean roadside work zone ahead.
  • Stay alert! Look for reduced speed limits and narrow driving lanes
  • Merge early. If drivers merge as soon as they see the signs, traffic will flow more smoothly.
  • Slow down. You may encounter slowed or stopped traffic in an instant.
  • Don’t follow too closely. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of your vehicle.
  • Minimize distractions. Remember Maryland State law bans hand-held cell phones and texting.
  • Plan ahead.
  • Select an alternate route if necessary.
  • Learn about current and planned lane closures with 511 or MDOT SHA’s Coordinated Highways Response Team web site at http://chart.state.md.us/

Maryland Manufactured Houses and Mobile homes

The same restrictions and operating requirements apply to Manufactured Housing units as other over-dimensional loads described in "Pilot Car Requirements" and "Overweight Loads" as described above.


Oversize / Overweight Regulations By State