Do Arizona and New Mexico require pilot cars at the same width?

Both states require the first pilot car at 14 ft 0 in wide.

Is the legal truck height the same in Arizona and New Mexico?

Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.

Do I need a separate permit for each state between Arizona and New Mexico?

Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from ADOT Motor Vehicle Division - Enforcement and Compliance, Commercial Vehicle Permits and one from NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau (OS/OW Permit Office), each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.

Which travel hours apply in Arizona and New Mexico?

Arizona: Loads over 10 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, or over 120 ft long move from 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset; night movement from 3:00 a.m. allowed for 10-16 ft wide / 14 ft 6 in-16 ft high loads on non-holiday nights with required escorts (R17-6-401, 402); metro curfews apply over 10 ft wide. New Mexico: Daylight only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset) unless continuous movement is specifically authorized on the permit; no movement in inclement weather. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Arizona vs New Mexico Oversize Load Rules

What changes for an oversize load between Arizona and New Mexico: legal height, pilot car triggers, height poles and travel hours.

I-10, I-40, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the Arizona and New Mexico border

Legal height: Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.
First pilot car: Both states require the first pilot car at 14 ft 0 in wide.
Height pole: Arizona requires a height-pole escort from 15 ft 0 in; New Mexico from 16 ft 0 in.

Check one load against both states

Load width (ft)

Load height (ft)

Arizona

Oversize permit required
No width escort

New Mexico

Oversize permit required
No width escort

11 ft 0 in wide, 14 ft 0 in tall. Length is not checked here.

Side by side

Arizona and New Mexico oversize load rules compared
Rule	Arizona	New Mexico
Legal width	8 ft 6 in	8 ft 6 in
Legal height	14 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Legal length	Single vehicle 40 ft; semitrailer in tractor-semitrailer 57 ft 6 in; truck-semitrailer combination 65 ft overall (A.R.S. 28-1095, with exceptions); each unit of doubles 28 ft 6 in.	Statutory height limit 14 ft per NMAC 18.19.8; legal single-trailer and combination length limits not verified from an official source.
Gross weight	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs
First pilot car at	14 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Second pilot car at	Not confirmed	Not confirmed
Height pole at	15 ft 0 in	16 ft 0 in
Length escort at	Not confirmed	110 ft 1 in
Travel hours	Loads over 10 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, or over 120 ft long move from 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset; night movement from 3:00 a.m. allowed for 10-16 ft wide / 14 ft 6 in-16 ft high loads on non-holiday nights with required escorts (R17-6-401, 402); metro curfews apply over 10 ft wide.	Daylight only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset) unless continuous movement is specifically authorized on the permit; no movement in inclement weather.
Weekends	Saturday and Sunday movement allowed on non-holiday weekends for loads 10-16 ft wide (R17-6-402), subject to route Table 4 and escort requirements.	No weekend restriction in the rule; daylight movement applies any day of the week except holidays.
Trip permit	$5.00	Fee not confirmed
Permit office	ADOT Motor Vehicle Division - Enforcement and Compliance, Commercial Vehicle Permits	505-476-2475 (NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau (OS/OW Permit Office))

Go deeper

Pilot car detail: Arizona, New Mexico
Full guides: Arizona, New Mexico
Running through both without local plates? Estimate the trip permit cost
Moving over a holiday? Check holiday restrictions

Arizona and New Mexico FAQs

Do Arizona and New Mexico require pilot cars at the same width?: Both states require the first pilot car at 14 ft 0 in wide.
Is the legal truck height the same in Arizona and New Mexico?: Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between Arizona and New Mexico?: Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from ADOT Motor Vehicle Division - Enforcement and Compliance, Commercial Vehicle Permits and one from NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau (OS/OW Permit Office), each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in Arizona and New Mexico?: Arizona: Loads over 10 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, or over 120 ft long move from 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset; night movement from 3:00 a.m. allowed for 10-16 ft wide / 14 ft 6 in-16 ft high loads on non-holiday nights with required escorts (R17-6-401, 402); metro curfews apply over 10 ft wide. New Mexico: Daylight only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset) unless continuous movement is specifically authorized on the permit; no movement in inclement weather. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Compiled from each state's published permit rules, reviewed October 2026. Not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.