Maine Oversize Load Permit Requirements
Legal truck dimensions, oversize load travel hours, pilot car and escort requirements, and how to order an oversize/overweight permit from Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services - Overlimit Permit Unit.
ME, reviewed October 2026
Check your load for Maine
Oversize permit required in Maine
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
Plan for 1 pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide (front; exact positions are set by your permit).
Maine Truck Legal Width, Height & Length
A truck and load at or under these dimensions can travel Maine highways without an oversize permit. Exceed any one of them and you need a permit before you move.
| Legal width | 8 ft 6 in |
|---|---|
| Legal height | 13 ft 6 in |
| Legal length | 45 ft single unit, 65 ft combination without a permit (Title 29-A section 2390); semitrailers over 48 ft up to 53 ft are non-conforming and need conditions; 14 ft total height with load (13 ft 6 in structural, 13 ft 6 in on the Maine Turnpike). |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
Maine Oversize Load Travel Hours
- Daily movement window
- Daylight only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset). From April 22 to November 18: Mon-Fri daylight and Saturday until 12 PM on designated routes; from June 3 to August 26 Saturday travel is limited to 9 AM on I-95 and 12 PM on other roads.
- Weekend movement
- Saturday until noon (until 9 AM on I-95 from June 3 to Aug 26) from April 22 to Nov 18; Sunday travel needs pre-clearance from MaineDOT (Sundays in July and August); weekends before/after listed holidays are prohibited.
- Holiday restrictions
- Overlimit loads are prohibited on legal holidays and on the holiday weekends listed in the annual BMV letter (e.g. Sat/Sun before a Monday holiday and Sat/Sun after a Friday holiday); 2026 list: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Christmas Day. Moves only by emergency off-hour permission. See this year's holiday dates for all states.
Maine Pilot Car Requirements
One pilot vehicle for loads over 12 ft wide or over 80 ft long (or over 5 ft rear overhang); police escort plus pilot at 16 ft wide or 125 ft long; pole car when height exceeds 15 ft.
| First pilot car (width) | 12 ft 0 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Two pilot cars (width) | 16 ft 0 in wide and over |
| Height-pole escort | 15 ft 0 in tall and over |
| Length escort | 80 ft 0 in long and over |
How to order a Maine oversize permit
Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services - Overlimit Permit Unit
Overweight as well? Check axle limits with the bridge formula calculator.
Crossing Maine without Maine apportioned plates? Estimate the temporary trip permit cost with the trip permit cost estimator.
Maine Oversize Load FAQs
- What are the oversize load travel hours in Maine?
- Daylight only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset). From April 22 to November 18: Mon-Fri daylight and Saturday until 12 PM on designated routes; from June 3 to August 26 Saturday travel is limited to 9 AM on I-95 and 12 PM on other roads. Weekends: Saturday until noon (until 9 AM on I-95 from June 3 to Aug 26) from April 22 to Nov 18; Sunday travel needs pre-clearance from MaineDOT (Sundays in July and August); weekends before/after listed holidays are prohibited.
- When is a pilot car required in Maine?
- One pilot vehicle for loads over 12 ft wide or over 80 ft long (or over 5 ft rear overhang); police escort plus pilot at 16 ft wide or 125 ft long; pole car when height exceeds 15 ft. Height: 15 ft 0 in and taller (height-pole escort).
- What is the legal truck width in Maine?
- The standard legal width in Maine is 8 ft 6 in (102 inches), the federal minimum width allowed on the National Network of highways. A load wider than that needs an oversize permit.
- How tall can a truck be in Maine without a permit?
- The legal height limit in Maine is 13 ft 6 in, measured from the road surface to the highest point of the vehicle or load. Taller loads need an oversize permit and a surveyed route for bridge and wire clearances.
- Can oversize loads move on holidays in Maine?
- Overlimit loads are prohibited on legal holidays and on the holiday weekends listed in the annual BMV letter (e.g. Sat/Sun before a Monday holiday and Sat/Sun after a Friday holiday); 2026 list: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Christmas Day. Moves only by emergency off-hour permission.
- How do I get an oversize or overweight permit in Maine?
- Apply through Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services - Overlimit Permit Unit (207-624-9000 ext. 52134) or its online permit portal. Have your USDOT number, vehicle and load dimensions, axle weights and route ready. Permit expediting agents can file on your behalf if you need the permit the same day.
Regulations change. This page summarises published Maine rules as reviewed October 2026 and is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control. Note: Maine-only vs multi-state permits differ: multi-state pilots start at 12 ft / 80 ft (Maine-only: over 12 ft and under 16 ft). Single pilot rides rear on divided highway, front on undivided. Police escort required at 16+ ft wide or 125+ ft long, 2 police + pilot at 20+ ft / 150+ ft. Mobile/modular homes have additional day-of-week restrictions. Legal weight on Interstate is 80,000 lb (up to 100,000 lb for 6-axle tractor with tri-axle trailer on non-interstate). Maine Turnpike has its own limits and $10 turnpike permit. escortTwoWidthFt = 16 means pilot plus police escort. Holiday end time not stated.