Maryland 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 MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA) Hauling Permit Office.
MD, reviewed October 2026
Check your load for Maryland
Oversize permit required in Maryland
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Maryland Truck Legal Width, Height & Length
A truck and load at or under these dimensions can travel Maryland 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 | Semi-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. |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
Maryland Oversize Load Travel Hours
- Daily movement window
- 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.
- Weekend movement
- No weekend ban stated on the SHA page; curfews noted on the permit apply.
- Holiday restrictions
- Travel is prohibited on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The permit office is also closed on MLK Day, Columbus Day, Election Day and the day after Thanksgiving, but travel is not restricted on those days. See this year's holiday dates for all states.
Maryland Pilot Car Requirements
One escort for permit moves more than 13 ft wide, more than 85 ft long, 14 ft 6 in high or more (pole vehicle), or over 60 tons; two escorts at 14 ft wide or more or 140 ft long or more; police escort at 16 ft wide or more.
| First pilot car (width) | 13 ft 0 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Two pilot cars (width) | 14 ft 0 in wide and over |
| Height-pole escort | 14 ft 6 in tall and over |
| Length escort | 85 ft 0 in long and over |
Maryland pilot car requirements by load width and height. Crossing a border? Compare with Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia.
How to order a Maryland oversize permit
MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA) Hauling Permit Office
Overweight as well? Check axle limits with the bridge formula calculator.
Crossing Maryland without Maryland apportioned plates? Estimate the temporary trip permit cost with the trip permit cost estimator.
Maryland Oversize Load FAQs
- What are the oversize load travel hours in 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. Weekends: No weekend ban stated on the SHA page; curfews noted on the permit apply.
- When is a pilot car required in Maryland?
- One escort for permit moves more than 13 ft wide, more than 85 ft long, 14 ft 6 in high or more (pole vehicle), or over 60 tons; two escorts at 14 ft wide or more or 140 ft long or more; police escort at 16 ft wide or more. Height: 14 ft 6 in and taller (height-pole escort).
- What is the legal truck width in Maryland?
- The standard legal width in Maryland 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 Maryland without a permit?
- The legal height limit in Maryland 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 Maryland?
- Travel is prohibited on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The permit office is also closed on MLK Day, Columbus Day, Election Day and the day after Thanksgiving, but travel is not restricted on those days.
- How do I get an oversize or overweight permit in Maryland?
- Apply through MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA) Hauling Permit Office (1-800-846-6435) 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 Maryland rules as reviewed October 2026 and is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control. Note: Escort rules apply to any highway in the state (not split by road type). The SHA page also states police escort for 16 ft wide or more or 75 tons or more. Manufactured housing units are treated differently (two escorts at 14 ft). Overall combination length limit not stated on the page, so legalLengthText is limited to trailer and permit thresholds. Trip permit fee and duration, and temporary IFTA permit, not verified from official sources. Francis Scott Key Bridge listed as closed.