Maryland vs Virginia Oversize Load Rules

What changes for an oversize load between Maryland and Virginia: legal height, pilot car triggers, height poles and travel hours.

I-95, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the Maryland and Virginia border

Legal height
Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.
First pilot car
Virginia requires a pilot car from 12 ft 0 in wide; Maryland waits until 13 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Virginia only.
Height pole
Virginia requires a height-pole escort from 14 ft 5 in; Maryland from 14 ft 6 in.

Check one load against both states

Maryland

  • Oversize permit required
  • No width escort

Virginia

  • Oversize permit required
  • No width escort

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

Side by side

Maryland and Virginia oversize load rules compared
RuleMarylandVirginia
Legal width8 ft 6 in8 ft 6 in
Legal height13 ft 6 in13 ft 6 in
Legal lengthSemi-trailers over 48 ft up to 53 ft are allowed on interstates and the Maryland truck route system; indivisible loads over 70 ft need a permit (pilings, poles and mill logs over 75 ft); load extensions max 3 ft front and 6 ft rear.Trailer 48 ft (53 ft trailers allowed on the interstate system); single motorized vehicle 40 ft; vehicle/trailer combination 65 ft; overhang 4 ft rear / 3 ft front.
Gross weight80,000 lbs80,000 lbs
First pilot car at13 ft 0 in12 ft 0 in
Second pilot car at14 ft 0 in14 ft 0 in
Height pole at14 ft 6 in14 ft 5 in
Length escort at85 ft 0 in120 ft 0 in
Travel hoursLoads up to and including 225k GVW, 13 ft 11 in wide, 14 ft 6 in high and 139 ft long may move 24/7. Loads 14 ft wide or more: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on any highway. Superloads (over 150,000 lb): day moves 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., night moves 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. Toll, bridge and tunnel curfews noted on permit.Normal travel is sunrise to sunset (some superloads may be required to move in darkness). No permitted travel within city/town limits 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., except overweight-only or overlength-only (up to 85 ft incl. rear overhang) configurations.
WeekendsNo weekend ban stated on the SHA page; curfews noted on the permit apply.No general weekend ban in 24VAC20-82-110 other than holiday periods; DMV may add day/time restrictions on an individual permit.
Trip permitFee not confirmedNot confirmed
Permit office1-800-846-6435 (MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA) Hauling Permit Office)(804) 786-2787 (Virginia DMV Hauling Permits Section)

Go deeper

Maryland and Virginia FAQs

Do Maryland and Virginia require pilot cars at the same width?
Virginia requires a pilot car from 12 ft 0 in wide; Maryland waits until 13 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Virginia only.
Is the legal truck height the same in Maryland and Virginia?
Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between Maryland and Virginia?
Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA) Hauling Permit Office and one from Virginia DMV Hauling Permits Section, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in Maryland and Virginia?
Maryland: Loads up to and including 225k GVW, 13 ft 11 in wide, 14 ft 6 in high and 139 ft long may move 24/7. Loads 14 ft wide or more: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on any highway. Superloads (over 150,000 lb): day moves 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., night moves 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. Toll, bridge and tunnel curfews noted on permit. Virginia: Normal travel is sunrise to sunset (some superloads may be required to move in darkness). No permitted travel within city/town limits 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., except overweight-only or overlength-only (up to 85 ft incl. rear overhang) configurations. 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.