Do New Jersey and New York require pilot cars at the same width?

New York requires a pilot car from 12 ft 1 in wide; New Jersey waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in New York only.

Is the legal truck height the same in New Jersey and New York?

Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.

Do I need a separate permit for each state between New Jersey and New York?

Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from NJDOT SUPERLOAD Permit Office (on behalf of NJ MVC) and one from NYSDOT Central Permit Office, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.

Which travel hours apply in New Jersey and New York?

New Jersey: Oversize permits not valid from sunset to sunrise, when visibility is under 500 ft, or in hazardous conditions (night waiver possible with an extra escort). Overweight-only permits travel 24 hours, 7 days. New York: Monday to Friday, daylight only (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset); no night travel unless specified on the permit. Loads 14 ft+ wide/high or 90 ft+ long are barred from business districts 7-9 am and 4-6 pm; loads 16 ft wide, 15 ft high or 100 ft long are barred statewide 7-9 am and 4-6 pm. The conditions printed on the permit control.

New Jersey vs New York Oversize Load Rules

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

I-95, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the New Jersey and New York border

Legal height: Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.
First pilot car: New York requires a pilot car from 12 ft 1 in wide; New Jersey waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in New York only.
Height pole: New York sets a height-pole trigger at 14 ft 0 in; New Jersey does not publish one, so check the permit.

Check one load against both states

Load width (ft)

Load height (ft)

New Jersey

Oversize permit required
No width escort

New York

Oversize permit required
No width escort
Height pole car

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

Side by side

New Jersey and New York oversize load rules compared
Rule	New Jersey	New York
Legal width	8 ft 6 in	8 ft 6 in
Legal height	13 ft 6 in	13 ft 6 in
Legal length	Single vehicle 40 ft (50 ft for indivisible poles/pilings); semi-trailer 53 ft; combinations with two trailers have separate limits under N.J.S.A. 39:3-84.	Single trailer 48 ft on state highways, 53 ft on qualifying/access highways; combination 65 ft on state highways, unlimited on qualifying highways; single vehicle 40 ft; twin trailers 28.5 ft each (VTL 385, per NYSDOT PERM 30).
Gross weight	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs
First pilot car at	14 ft 0 in	12 ft 1 in
Second pilot car at	16 ft 0 in	16 ft 0 in
Height pole at	Not confirmed	14 ft 0 in
Length escort at	100 ft 0 in	80 ft 0 in
Travel hours	Oversize permits not valid from sunset to sunrise, when visibility is under 500 ft, or in hazardous conditions (night waiver possible with an extra escort). Overweight-only permits travel 24 hours, 7 days.	Monday to Friday, daylight only (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset); no night travel unless specified on the permit. Loads 14 ft+ wide/high or 90 ft+ long are barred from business districts 7-9 am and 4-6 pm; loads 16 ft wide, 15 ft high or 100 ft long are barred statewide 7-9 am and 4-6 pm.
Weekends	No weekend ban found for oversize permits; restrictions are holiday and daylight based.	No movement on Sundays. No movement on Saturdays, except loads within 12 ft wide, 85 ft long and legal height that maintain normal highway speed may be permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until 12 noon Saturday.
Trip permit	Not confirmed	$18.75
Permit office	NJDOT SUPERLOAD Permit Office (on behalf of NJ MVC)	888-783-1685 (NYSDOT Central Permit Office)

Go deeper

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

New Jersey and New York FAQs

Do New Jersey and New York require pilot cars at the same width?: New York requires a pilot car from 12 ft 1 in wide; New Jersey waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in New York only.
Is the legal truck height the same in New Jersey and New York?: Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between New Jersey and New York?: Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from NJDOT SUPERLOAD Permit Office (on behalf of NJ MVC) and one from NYSDOT Central Permit Office, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in New Jersey and New York?: New Jersey: Oversize permits not valid from sunset to sunrise, when visibility is under 500 ft, or in hazardous conditions (night waiver possible with an extra escort). Overweight-only permits travel 24 hours, 7 days. New York: Monday to Friday, daylight only (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset); no night travel unless specified on the permit. Loads 14 ft+ wide/high or 90 ft+ long are barred from business districts 7-9 am and 4-6 pm; loads 16 ft wide, 15 ft high or 100 ft long are barred statewide 7-9 am and 4-6 pm. 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.