KentuckyOversize & overweight permits.

A one-time permit for one origin and destination, tied to the vehicle, route and load.

• $60, plus a 4% credit card fee or a $3 ACH fee
• Valid for 10 days
• Cannot be amended unless the permit office made the error
• Apply on the Kentucky OW/OD portal; no phone orders
• Non-refundable

Vehicle-specific annual permits for nondivisible loads:

• A01, under 14′ wide: $250; up to 13′11″ wide, 120′ long, 13′6″ high and 160,000 lb
• A02, 14′ to 16′ wide: $500; up to 16′ wide, 120′ long, 13′6″ high and 160,000 lb
• Carry the original annual permit in the power unit
• Allow 10–14 business days for processing

On an annual permit, a load over 12′ wide is limited to highways of four or more lanes and the shortest, best two-lane route the Division of Motor Carriers designates.

Above 15′6″ high, file a completed Proposed Route Survey (TC 95-625) along with the TC 95-10 permit worksheet.

Maximum permit weights are allowed only if every bridge and road on the route can carry the load.

• Trunnion axle group weights are set by a route and bridge analysis from the cabinet's Bridge Preservation Branch
• The cabinet sets each single-trip permit's maximum height from underpass and bridge heights on the route

Overweight permits are not issued to:

• Combinations with fewer than five axles
• Single units, except off-road equipment such as road graders, mobile cranes or other self-propelled units
• Vehicles without a declared gross weight of at least 80,000 lb

Off the designated network, each state-maintained highway carries a weight class:

• Class A: 44,000 lb
• Class AA: 62,000 lb
• Class AAA: 80,000 lb

A KYTC permit covers only highways the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet maintains, and it does not replace any other permit.

• Get prior written approval from the Division of Motor Carriers before leaving the approved route

Over 14′11″ high, the front pilot car carries a height pole on two-lane and multi-lane roads.

On two-lane highways:

• Over 75′ long: 1 front
• Over 85′ long: 1 front and 1 rear
• Over 120′ long: 1 front and 2 rear
• Over 12′ wide: 1 front and 1 rear
• Over 16′ wide: 2 front and 2 rear
• Over 14′11″ high: 1 front with a height pole

On multi-lane highways:

• Over 12′ wide: 1 rear
• Over 14′ wide: 1 front and 1 rear
• Over 16′ wide: 2 front and 2 rear
• Over 110′ long: 1 rear
• Over 120′ long: 1 front and 2 rear
• Over 14′11″ high: 1 front with a height pole

A rear pilot car is also required:

• On two-lane roads, when the load cannot keep the posted speed limit
• On four-lane roads, when the load is over 12′ wide and cannot keep 45 mph

The Division of Motor Carriers may require more escort vehicles as a special provision of the permit. Follow the issued permit.

A required pilot car:

• Runs 300′ from the load on open highways, closer or farther when safety or road conditions require
• Lead car shows an OVERSIZE LOAD sign to oncoming traffic: 6–8′ wide, black letters at least 18″ high on yellow
• Keeps radio contact with the load
• Has amber strobe or flashing lights, with headlamps on

If the load would take another lane while crossing a bridge:

• Stop all approaching traffic and keep trailing traffic from passing until the load clears the bridge and moves right
• If traffic backs up behind the load, the load and escorts pull off where there is room

KYTC does not guarantee safe passage. Before and during the move:

• Measure all vertical and lateral clearances along the route
• Get written approval from the landowner or the chief district engineer before cutting, trimming or moving trees, signs, guardrail or other objects
• Repair or pay for any damage to highways, signs, guardrail or other property

The surveyor certifies that the route was physically checked. Form TC 95-625 asks for:

• Overall length, width, height and gross weight
• Height of the pole, set 6″ above the overall height
• Every obstruction with mile points: bridges, lights, wires, mast arms, trees, signs, poles, guardrail and railroads
• A manufacturer's specification drawing
• Places where bucket trucks may be needed
• Loads over 200,000 lb: a side and rear view drawing with axle spacing and weights

Carry the permit in the vehicle during the move and show it to law enforcement or vehicle regulation staff on request.

• A change you make that the Division of Motor Carriers has not authenticated voids the permit
• Each vehicle in a move needs its own permit

Moving within the permit's terms is not a violation if the operator has the permit, or an authenticated copy of it.

The application lists the Kentucky Highway Use (KYU) license or the DOT number, with the power unit's registration, registered weight and axle spacing.

KYTC may require a bond with approved surety to cover damage to state or county highways and bridges.

House move permits need:

• Approval letters from each highway district and utility company involved, uploaded to the OW/OD portal
• Travel between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. only
• No travel on any Interstate or parkway

Manufactured-housing transporters can get an annual permit up to 16′ wide, 120′ long with the towing vehicle, 15′ high and 160,000 lb.

• Follow all escort, marking and safety rules for oversize loads
• Each truck needs GPS that records locations traveled
• $1,000 fine for running over 13′6″ high in a restricted area the cabinet designates
• Daylight hours only, Monday through Saturday; no Sunday travel

Farm equipment moving farm to farm, or between a farm and a repair shop or dealer, needs no permit but must follow the safety rules.

• Permit needed for manufacturer-to-dealer, dealer-to-manufacturer and dealer-to-dealer moves, and on Interstates, toll road parkways and fully controlled access highways
• Over 12′ wide: 1 lead on two-lane roads, 1 trail on four-lane roads
• Over 85′ long on two-lane roads: 1 lead; 120′ or longer on four-lane roads: 1 trail
• Convoys over 12′ wide or 85′ long on two-lane roads: 1 lead for the whole convoy
• Sign, or lights, flashers or flags, on the load or its escort

Route-specific permits that allow divisible loads:

• Metal commodities (not scrap), divisible or not, up to 120,000 lb to or from a metal manufacturing facility in Kentucky or a metal storage facility: $100 single trip or $1,250 annual
• Livestock or poultry feed up to 88,000 lb to a farm or animal facility: $150 annual, no Interstates

Self-propelled specialized mobile equipment may not exceed:

• Single axle 23,000 lb, tandem 46,000 lb, tridem 69,000 lb
• Four axles: 92,000 lb gross; five axles: 115,000 lb gross
• Manufacturers can get a $250 annual road-test permit for unlicensed construction equipment up to 10′ wide and 160,000 lb

A sealed, containerized, ocean-going cargo unit can get an overweight single-trip ($60) or annual ($250) permit.

• Carry an international bill of lading signed by a customs official, or one with an equipment interchange and inspection report showing the seal and container numbers