State Oversize Permits & Escorts Information

Maryland

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Maryland DOT Phone Number: (410) 545-0300

DOT Website

PERMITS: Maryland oversize permits are valid for five travel days. Must have permit prior to entering the state.

OPERATING TIME: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, Monday through Friday and Saturday until Noon (see Restricted Travel, below, for some exceptions). Also, beginning April 1, 2013, Maryland started allowing night travel from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am when dimensions do not exceed 12’ wide, 75’ long, 14’-6” high and 120,000 pounds on routes that are not otherwise restricted. Night travel must be requested when applying for the permit. This is listed as a pilot program so it may change.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL: No movements across any toll facilities allowed from noon Friday until 9:00 am Monday. This restriction is also applied to all of I-95 from Baltimore to the Delaware line. Over 12′ wide or over 92,000 pounds can only travel 9:00 am to 3:30 pm (and Saturday until Noon) when on the Capital Beltway I-495/I-95 and Baltimore Beltway I-695. If 14′ wide or more, travel is only allowed from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm (and Saturday until Noon on any highway. No travel on six major Holidays and Holiday weekends (check with the Permit Office).

BALTIMORE CITY: Baltimore permits for the predefined route into or out of Dundalk Marine Terminal are now included with the Maryland state permit provided the dimensions are under 120,000 pounds, 12′ wide, 14′-6″ high and 85′ long. Loads with other Baltimore destinations or origins, or loads exceeding these dimensions have to be ordered separately from Baltimore City, which is usually slow with a 24-hour (minimum) turn-around time.

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LEGAL DIMENSIONS

ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS

Length:

  • 53′ semi-trailer on Interstate and designated highways
  • 48′ trailer all other roads
  • Trailers over 48′ are not to exceed 41′ kingpin to center of rear tandem axles, and not more than 4′ set back from front of trailer to kingpin

Overhang:

  • 3′ front
  • 6′ rear

Width:

  • 8′-6″ Interstate & designated highways
  • 8′ all other roads

Height: 13′-6″ (over 13′-6″ not permitted on flat-bed).

Weight: 80,000 Gross

  • Single – 20,000
  • Tandem – 34,000
  • Tridem – 42,500

Length: 120′

Width: 16′

Height: 16’ (overheight cannot be permitted on a flatbed). Over 14′-6″ now requires a route survey.

Weight: 120,000 (non-Interstate) to 150,000 (Interstate)

  • Single – 27,000
  • Tandem – 52,000
  • Tridem – 63,000

Loads exceeding these dimensions are treated as super loads. Over 120,000 pounds gross on any non-Interstate routes is a superload.

Escorts

Length:

  • Over 85′ – one escort
  • 140′ or more – two escorts

Width:

  • Over 13′ – one escort
  • 14′ or more – two escorts
  • 16′ or more – Police escort

Montgomery and Prince George Counties: loads over 12′ wide on two-lane undivided – two escorts

Height: 14′-6″ or more – one escort with height pole (some routes may have other requirements), and a route survey must
accompany application.

Weight:

  • Over 120,000 pounds – one civilian escort, and Police escort is required on entire route if any part of the route is on non-Interstate highways
  • Over 130,000 pounds – Police escort is required even on Interstate-only routes.

MISCELLANEOUS: Construction equipment can have blade or bucket attached up to 12′ wide. Detached blade and dozer cannot be hauled on same load if it is overweight. The blade has to be hauled separately.

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS: “Oversize Load” or “Wide Load” signs are required if the vehicle and load exceeds 9′ in width.

Important Notice:
The following is provided for informational purposes only. We do not procure or arrange permits on behalf of carriers or discuss permit and escort requirements for particular shipments. The following links provide general guidelines for oversize permits and escorts for heavy haul shipping by state/province. State regulations are subject to change; If you find inaccurate information, please let us know, and we will update the page accordingly.