Maine oversize load rules
Legal limits, pilot car requirements, travel restrictions, superload thresholds and permit fees for oversize and overweight loads in Maine.
Legal limits without a permit
| Width | 8′6″ (102 in) |
|---|---|
| Height | 13′6″ |
| Length | 45′ single vehicle · 48′ semitrailer · 65′ combination unless otherwise permitted |
| Weight | 80,000 lb gross on 5-axle combinations (100,000 lb for a 3-axle tractor with tri-axle semitrailer) |
At a glance
| Escorts | 4 escort rules, starting at 12′ wide |
|---|---|
| Superload | 4 review triggers (height, length, weight, width) |
| Travel | 5 restrictions (curfews, night, holidays) |
| Fees | 2 published fee lines |
Escort (pilot car) requirements
- 4 width, height and length thresholds with the escort count for each
- Police escort triggers
- Overhang and route-type conditions
Travel restrictions
- 5 restrictions: curfews, night travel, weekends and holidays
- Which ones apply to a given load size
Superloads
- Exact thresholds and what the state requires past them
- Lead times, route surveys and police escort conditions
Permit fees
- 2 published fee lines with links to the fee schedule
- Validity periods and add-on charges
Common questions
When does a load need a pilot car in Maine?
Over 12′ wide, over 80′ long, or with more than 5′ of rear overhang. At 16′ wide or 125′ long a State Police escort is required.
Can oversize loads move on weekends in Maine?
Saturday mornings until noon during the main season; July and August weekends are not routinely permitted, and Sundays then need MaineDOT pre-clearance.
What is an extreme load in Maine?
125′ or more long, over 15′ high, over 16′ wide or over 160,000 lb is presumed extreme, Maine's term for a superload.
Sources
- Maine BMV overlimit permits
- 29-250 C.M.R. ch. 157 § 8, limitations and restrictions
- 29-250 C.M.R. ch. 157 § 1, definitions (extreme loads)
- 29-A M.R.S. § 2382, overlimit movement permits (fees, police escorts)
- 29-A M.R.S. § 2380 (width and height), § 2390 (length), § 2353 (weight)
Planning reference. Permits carry their own conditions, and city and county roads have separate rules. Confirm with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Overlimit Permits before moving a load. Found an error? Report it.
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