Texas Oversize / Overweight Regulations

What is considered as "Oversized Load" in Texas?

Dimensions: Width: 8' 6" Height: 14' Semi-trailer of 2 vehicle combo: 59' Two-vehicle combo: 65'

What is considered as "Overweight Load" in Texas?

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

Texas Oversize / Overweight Permits

Texas Pilot Cars / Escorts

Dimension   Measurement                        Number and Placement of Escort(s

Width           Exceeding 14' to 16'                    1 Front – two-lane highway
Exceeding 16'                               1 Front and 1 Rear – all roads

Height      Exceeding 17'                               1 Front – equipped with height pole                
                                                     1 Front and 1 Rear – all roads

                                                                                     Exceeding 18'                                1 Front - equipped with height pole
           1 Front and 1 Rear – all roads

Length          Exceeding 110' to 125'               1 Front – two-lane highway
                                         1 Rear - divided highway

                       Exceeding 125'                           1 Front and 1 Rear – all roads

                                      Front overhang exceeds 20'      1 Front - two-lane highway
         1 Rear – four or more lane highway

                     Rear overhang exceeds 20'         1 Rear – all roads

If a load exceeds escort requirements in two dimensions, front and rear escorts are required.

Special provisions are allowed for convoys of up to four loads to travel together.

Texas Axle Regulations

Maximum Legal Weight Allowed

Texas has established size and weight limits for vehicles and loads moving with or without oversize and/or overweight permit on Texas roadways and bridges. Weight includes the weight of the vehicle or combination, plus the weight of the load being transported.

Axle Group                  Maximum

Single                           20,000 pounds

Tandem                        34,000 pounds

Triple                           42,000 pounds

Quadrum                     50,000 pounds

Gross Vehicle Weight  80,000 pounds

Note: An axle group must have a minimum spacing of 40 inches between axles within the group. The Federal Bridge Formula is to be used to determine the maximum legal weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles.

Maximum Permit Weight Allowed

The maximum permit weight for an axle or axle group is based on 650 pounds per inch of tire width or the following axle or axle group weight, whichever is the lesser limit.

Axle Group                                                    Maximum

Single                                                        25,000 pounds

Tandem (Two Axle)                                46,000 pounds

Tridem (Three Axle)                                60,000 pounds

Quadrum (Four Axle)                              70,000 pounds

Quint (Five Axle)                                     81,400 pounds

Six or More Axles                                    Requires engineering study of the equipment and measurements.

 

Texas Trip and Fuel (IRP / IFTA) Permits

Fuel Permit

Interstate motor carriers are required to pay state fuel use tax and have the option to obtain an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) license that provides for the consolidated reporting of fuel taxes or a fuel trip permit.

The fuel trip permit costs $50.00. For information on obtaining an IFTA permit or a fuel trip permit, refer to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Trip Permit

A non-refundable processing and handling fee of $4.75 is assessed per permit. The fee covers the cost to process the permit.

72-Hour Permit - $25

144-Hour Permit - $50

Note: Personal checks will not be accepted.

You may purchase permits in advance of a proposed trip and several permits may be obtained at one time with the times of validity to run in chain-like fashion, having one permit become effective immediately upon the expiration of the preceding one.

Texas Overweight / Oversize Fines

Vehicles found to be illegally overweight in. Texas are presently fined, from $100 to $150 for the first offense (within one year of the first offense), $150 to $250 for the second offense (within one year of the first offense), and $200 to $500 for the third offense (within one year of the second offense).

The second offense can also lead to imprisonment of up to sixty days, while the third offense can lead to imprisonment of up to six months. While the driver of an overloaded vehicle is charged with the offense, recent legislation has made it possible to also prosecute the person responsible for overloading the vehicle.

Fines for Overweight loads are:

WEIGHT                              FINE

Less than 2,500 lb.            $100 - $500

2,500 – 5,000 lb.               $500 - $1.000

5,001 – 10,000 lb.             $1.000 - $2.500

10,001 – 20,000 lb.           $2.500 - $5.000

20,001 – 40,000 lb.           $5.000 - $7.000

More than 40,000 lb.       $7.000 - $10.000

Running Hours and Holiday Restrictions

Warning Lights and Placement

  No lighting requirements are mentioned for haul vehicles. Escort vehicles may require warning lights.

Oversized Load" Banner Regulations and Requirements

  In Texas, signs are required only on escort vehicles.

Flag Requirements
  Red or fluorescent orange flags, 12" square required at all extremities of the load.

Flags, Lights and Banners

Running Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, including Saturday and Sunday.

Loads not exceeding 10 ft. wide, legal height (14 ft.) or 10 ft.′ long with legal front and rear overhang may travel at night on Interstate system only.

Overweight only may have continuous movement.

City/county curfew times are listed on permit.

Travel allowed on major holidays depending on dimension

Texas Tire Regulations

All tires on a vehicle will have proper tread depth of at least 2/32 of an inch and be in safe operating condition.

All tires must appear to be properly inflated - even though a gauge check is not required.

Tires should be inspected visually, and the tread should be measured with a tread depth gauge calibrated in 32nds of an inch if it does not have tread wear indicators.

A tire used on a moving vehicle may not have on its periphery a block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or other protuberance of a material other than rubber that projects beyond the tread of the traction surface, unless the protuberance:

(1) Does not injure the highway

(2) Is a tire chain of reasonable proportion that is used as required for safety because of a condition that might cause the vehicle to skid.

Texas Annual Permits

Maximum Limits: 

Length: 125′

Overhang: 30′

Width: 20′

Cost: 

Annual Envelope (Company or Vehicle Specific) $4,000

Trip fee: A fee based on the number of counties chosen for travel is added to the base and administrative fee

Number of Counties            County fee                         NEW total fee

1-5                                              $175                                           $270

6-20                                            $250                                           $345

21-40                                          $450                                           $545

41-60                                          $625                                           $720

61-80                                          $800                                           $895

81-100                                       $900                                           $995

101-254                                     $1000                                        $1095

Time, it takes to receive: 1 business day

Mailing method: online

Commodity specific? Truck specific

Need to obtain a route? No

Texas Road Conditions

TxDOT and the government of Texas urge people driving through work zones and areas that are under any type of construction to slow down.

Respect traffic signs and stay alert while driving through these zones.

TxDOT advises to stay calm and be patient when driving through work zones, reduce speed and pay attention to signals, flaggers, and other drivers.

There is a Work Zone awareness campaign in effect where TxDOT reminds the drivers about Move Over/Slow Down law that requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching TxDOT crews, law enforcement, emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped on the roadside or shoulder with flashing blue or amber lights.

Failure to do so can result in fines up to $2,000.

 

Texas Manufactured Houses and Mobile homes

Single Trip Permit 

TxDMV issues a single-trip permit for the movement of manufactured housing or buildings exceeding Texas legal size limits when transported on any returnable undercarriage or temporary chassis system.

Single-trip manufactured housing permits may only be used for one movement, during the times specified on the permit (not to exceed five days.

You may not transport manufactured housing on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Manufactured housing exceeding legal gross, axle or axle group weights must obtain a General Single-Trip Permit.

In the case of a double-wide manufactured house, moving on its own set of axles, each half requires a permit. To move the double-wide manufactured house as one unit on a set of house moving dollies requires a permit for a house move.

Annual Permit 

A manufactured housing annual permit is for the transportation of a manufactured house from a manufacturing facility to a temporary storage location, not to exceed 20 miles from the point of manufacture. 

Fee: $1,500

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Oversize / Overweight Regulations By State