Legal size & loaded measurements
General width
8′–8′6″8′6″ on designated highways; the non-designated-highway statute sets 8′, with listed exceptions.
Loaded height
11′6″ / 13′6″11′6″ under the non-designated-highway baseline; 13′6″ for ordinary freight on designated highways. Listed exceptions differ.
Loaded dimensions
Kentucky has a 96-inch/11-foot-6-inch non-designated baseline and a 102-inch/designated-network baseline with different height and length classes; route designation and vehicle configuration are decisive.
Axles, weight & bridges
Use tire width, axle/group spacing, registered weight, designated route, bridge capacity and posted limits; GVW alone is not a Kentucky answer.
Permits, routes & larger loads
Roads & authorities
KYTC permits and designated-network increases apply only to the state/local road authority and route named. Confirm every local road, bridge, route designation and permit restriction.
Larger-load review
The published annual screen reaches 16 feet width, 120 feet length, 13 feet 6 inches height and 160,000 pounds, while manufactured-home and other scoped products differ. Extreme moves need route/bridge specialist review.
State permit fees
Single-trip agency fee example
$60 for this Kentucky planning example: a nondivisible load measuring 8′7″ wide, 13′ high and 70′ overall, at 72,000 lb gross on a five-axle rig with a 48′ trailer. The example uses 100 in-state miles. Change the load details in the calculator for your move.
What the agency estimate includes
The calculator applies Kentucky's maintained single-trip permit schedule to the loaded vehicle and the supplied fee inputs. It itemizes the supported state charges, including weight or distance charges where applicable. Annual permits, special products, local permissions and payment-method charges need their own applicable schedule.
KY / Permit worksheet
Price your Kentucky movement.
Enter the complete loaded vehicle. Get estimated agency fees and escort requirements before sharing your contact details.
The numbers behind your next move.
Your result will show the agency fee breakdown, potential pilot-car requirements, and the rules used to calculate them.
- 01 State agency fee subtotal
- 02 Escort & survey considerations
- 03 Sources & pricing assumptions
Single-state pricing uses the mileage you enter. For a proposed route and intermediate states, use the route calculator.
About the example equipment
The samples use ODPermit’s editable 48 ft flatbed · 5 axles planning profile. Loaded dimensions, gross weight, 100 state miles and Texas registration are example inputs, not a capacity rating or a route approval. Replace them with your actual setup.
Great Dane Freedom trailer specifications — 48 ft platform; the illustrated 40 in drop deck and 20 in drop support a 60 in upper-deck planning height. Combined tare and tractor geometry are editable ODPermit assumptions.
Pilot cars, height poles & surveys
14′6″-wide load example
Example: 14′6″ wide × 13′ high, 75′ overall, 72,000 lb gross, zero overhang or rear projection, ordinary nondivisible freight in daylight. Depending on the road or permit conditions: On two-lane roads, a rear escort is also required when the load cannot maintain the posted speed. It can share any rear position already shown. All road types: 1 front and 1 rear pilot cars.
17′6″-high load example
Example: 9′ wide × 17′6″ high, 75′ overall, 72,000 lb gross, zero overhang or rear projection, ordinary nondivisible freight in daylight. Above 15 ft 6 in high, submit Kentucky form TC95-625 documenting the proposed route survey. Depending on the road or permit conditions: On two-lane roads, a rear escort is also required when the load cannot maintain the posted speed. It can share any rear position already shown. All road types: 1 front (height pole required) pilot car.
Travel hours & road restrictions
Current route restrictions
Check 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. named-county restrictions, over-12-foot annual route limits, wind/adverse conditions, bridge notices, schools, traffic and every permit restriction.
Signs, flags & safety equipment
Oversize load signs
A permitted Kentucky move uses 18-inch red/orange flags, OVERSIZE LOAD signs over 12 feet or with front overhang, amber lighting for front overhang over 10 feet, required pole-trailer lighting, escort radios/lights and any permit safety restriction.
What the driver needs
Prepare the driver packet
The packet must match the issued vehicle/load, route designation, dates, dimensions, axle diagram, clearance/bridge analysis, escorts, restrictions and any local approvals.
Special equipment & permit programs
Special permit programs
Agricultural, livestock, forestry, feed, fluid milk, refuse, construction, manufactured-home, parade-float, sealed-container and self-propelled-equipment programs have scoped exceptions and documents.
BEFORE THE TRUCK ROLLS
Turn the estimate
into a permitted move.
Confirm the loaded measurements, carrier details, travel dates and exact pickup and delivery. We can help coordinate permits, escorts and route surveys around those facts.
THE SOURCE RECORD
Official references.
Read the rule behind each requirement. These are dated references; current restrictions and the issued permit control your move.
- 01KRS 189.221 — Basic height, width, length and weight limits
KRS 189.221(1)-(6) · Page 1
Source record: - 02
- 03601 KAR 1:018 — Special overweight or overdimensional motor vehicle load permits
Section 7
Source record: - 04KRS 189.270 — Special permits to exceed limits
KRS 189.270(1)-(6), (9), (11)-(12) · Page 1
Source record: - 05601 KAR 1:018 — Special overweight or overdimensional motor vehicle load permits
Section 5; Section 10(4)-(5)
Source record: - 06601 KAR 1:018 — Special overweight or overdimensional motor vehicle load permits
Sections 2-3, 6-10
Source record: - 07Kentucky OW/OD permit frequently asked questions
Kentucky OW/OD permit frequently asked questions
Source record: - 08Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — escort requirements and OW/OD summary
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — escort requirements and OW/OD summary
Source record: - 09Kentucky OW/OD summary — overhang and steerable-dolly provisions
Kentucky OW/OD summary — overhang and steerable-dolly provisions
Source record: - 10Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — escort requirements and OW/OD summary
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — escort requirements and OW/OD summary
Source record: - 11Kentucky OW/OD summary — overhang and steerable-dolly provisions
Kentucky OW/OD summary — overhang and steerable-dolly provisions
Source record: - 12
- 13601 KAR 1:018 — Special overweight or overdimensional motor vehicle load permits
Section 11
Source record: - 14601 KAR 1:018 — Special overweight or overdimensional motor vehicle load permits
Sections 13-14
Source record: - 15
- 16