Minnesota 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 MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits).
MN, reviewed October 2026
Check your load for Minnesota
Oversize permit required in Minnesota
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Minnesota Truck Legal Width, Height & Length
A truck and load at or under these dimensions can travel Minnesota 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 | Single vehicle 45 ft; combination vehicles 75 ft; mobile cranes 48 ft (MnDOT permit-need table). |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
Minnesota Oversize Load Travel Hours
- Daily movement window
- Generally no restriction unless noted on the permit. Twin Cities/Duluth metro rush hour: no travel weekdays 6:00-8:30 a.m. and 3:30-6:00 p.m. over 14 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long. Over 16 ft wide in the 7-county Twin Cities metro, travel limited to 12:00-5:00 a.m. Mon-Fri.
- Weekend movement
- Summer weekends (May 29-Aug 31, 2026): no travel 4-8 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays for loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long. Otherwise no general weekend ban stated.
- Holiday restrictions
- For loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long: no travel statewide from 2:00 p.m. the day before the holiday to 2:00 a.m. the day after (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's). Fishing Opener weekend also restricted. Overweight-only loads are not restricted. See this year's holiday dates for all states.
Minnesota Pilot Car Requirements
On multi-lane divided roads a certified rear escort is required over 15 ft wide (bottom) or 16 ft (top) or over 110 ft long, front and rear over 150 ft long; undivided roads need front and rear at 15 ft wide or 110 ft long.
| First pilot car (width) | 15 ft 0 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Two pilot cars (width) | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
| Height-pole escort | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
| Length escort | 110 ft 0 in long and over |
Minnesota pilot car requirements by load width and height. Crossing a border? Compare with Iowa, South Dakota.
How to order a Minnesota oversize permit
MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits)
Overweight as well? Check axle limits with the bridge formula calculator.
Crossing Minnesota without Minnesota apportioned plates? Estimate the temporary trip permit cost with the trip permit cost estimator.
Minnesota Oversize Load FAQs
- What are the oversize load travel hours in Minnesota?
- Generally no restriction unless noted on the permit. Twin Cities/Duluth metro rush hour: no travel weekdays 6:00-8:30 a.m. and 3:30-6:00 p.m. over 14 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long. Over 16 ft wide in the 7-county Twin Cities metro, travel limited to 12:00-5:00 a.m. Mon-Fri. Weekends: Summer weekends (May 29-Aug 31, 2026): no travel 4-8 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays for loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long. Otherwise no general weekend ban stated.
- When is a pilot car required in Minnesota?
- On multi-lane divided roads a certified rear escort is required over 15 ft wide (bottom) or 16 ft (top) or over 110 ft long, front and rear over 150 ft long; undivided roads need front and rear at 15 ft wide or 110 ft long.
- What is the legal truck width in Minnesota?
- The standard legal width in Minnesota 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 Minnesota without a permit?
- The legal height limit in Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
- For loads over 12 ft 6 in wide or 110 ft long: no travel statewide from 2:00 p.m. the day before the holiday to 2:00 a.m. the day after (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's). Fishing Opener weekend also restricted. Overweight-only loads are not restricted.
- How do I get an oversize or overweight permit in Minnesota?
- Apply through MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits) 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 Minnesota rules as reviewed October 2026 and is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control. Note: Escort rule is for multi-lane divided roads: one (rear) escort over 15 ft wide at bottom; undivided roads require front and rear at the same width, plus a lead Peace Officer if any part crosses the centerline. Two-escort on divided roads is length-based (150 ft), not width-based. Height pole not stated on escort page. General Provisions PDF dated 01/2022; holiday schedule is the 2026 page. MnDOT may require additional escorts.