Permit Duration

California oversize permits are valid for seven days.

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OPERATING TIME

Continuous travel normally allowed if load does not require escorts

, detours off of state routes, and does not exceed a two-vehicle

configuration. Load must be lighted for night travel.

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RESTRICTED TRAVEL: 

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Restricted times (no travel) for loads over 10′ wide, Monday

through Friday: Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego areas:

7:00 am – 9:00 am & 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Los Angeles area:

6:00 am – 9:00 am & 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. *San Francisco/Oakland

Bay Bridge: 6:30 am – 9:00 am & 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm.

*Over 11′ wide or overheight require highway patrol escort.

Over 12′ wide restricted to 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Monday – Friday.

Call 707-648-4180. Holiday travel restrictions usually apply only

for larger loads.

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Legal Dimensions Without Permit

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Length 

75′ (65′ on non-designated highways)

48′ semitrailer

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Note: 53′ semi-trailers are not legal unless the kingpin to center of

rear axle does not exceed 40′. Longer trailers can be permitted

only if they are stretched for a specific load, or it can otherwise

be justified by the load.

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Overhang

10′, as long as length including overhang does not exceed 75′

overall.

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Width:

8’6″ 

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Height:

14′ (over height not permitted on flatbed, see next section)

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Weight:  

80,000 Gross.

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• Steer – 12,500

• Single – 20,000

• Tandem – 34,000

• Tridem – depends on axle spread Spread Axle Tandem

(10′ to  10′-2″ spread) is legal at 40,000 (20,000 – 20,000)

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​ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS

 

Length: Generally up to 135′

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Overhang: When rear overhang puts the tractor/trailer over 75′

total length, California may deny a permit and require the load to

be on a stretch trailer.

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Width: 15' 

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Height: Depends on route. Over legal height not permitted on

a flat-bed trailer unless the load length justifies use of a flatbed.

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Weight:

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• Steer – 12,500

• Single – 20,000

• Tandem – 46,000*

• Tridem – 58,061 to 60,000*

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*These vary depending on axle spacings and routes

(ex: Tridem with 9′ of spacings can get 59,168 pounds).

Spread axle tandems (8′ to 10′-2″ spread) can only have 40,000

pounds maximum. Tridems with over 10′ spacing (5′ – 5′)

can only be permitted for 40,000 pounds maximum.

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​​       Over 15′ wide, 17′ high or 135′ long are considered

                                     super loads.