South Dakota 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 South Dakota Highway Patrol Permit Center / SDDOT (SD Truck Info).
SD, reviewed October 2026
Check your load for South Dakota
Oversize permit required in South Dakota
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
South Dakota Truck Legal Width, Height & Length
A truck and load at or under these dimensions can travel South Dakota 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 | 14 ft 0 in |
| Legal length | Length limits are in SD Motor Carrier Handbook Table 7 (values not retrievable); load or retractable-extension overhang max 4 ft rear and 3 ft front. |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
South Dakota Oversize Load Travel Hours
- Daily movement window
- Oversize movement is generally daylight only. Night movement is allowed only on Interstates and only if no escort is required, width is 10 ft or less, height is 14 ft 6 in or less, a single unit is 45 ft or less, and a combination is 110 ft or less (other unit-length limits apply).
- Weekend movement
- No weekend restrictions; SD Truck Info states South Dakota has no weekend or holiday restrictions (daylight limits still apply).
- Holiday restrictions
- SD Truck Info FAQ: South Dakota does not have weekend or holiday restrictions for oversize loads; depending on load size and route you may be limited to daylight hours. See this year's holiday dates for all states.
South Dakota Pilot Car Requirements
Escort vehicles are required for vehicles wider than 16 feet on the Interstate system and wider than 20 feet on other state highways; escorts run in front on undivided highways and behind on divided highways, and more may be required by route or traffic.
| First pilot car (width) | 16 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 | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
South Dakota pilot car requirements by load width and height. Crossing a border? Compare with Minnesota, Wyoming.
How to order a South Dakota oversize permit
South Dakota Highway Patrol Permit Center / SDDOT (SD Truck Info)
Overweight as well? Check axle limits with the bridge formula calculator.
Crossing South Dakota without South Dakota apportioned plates? Estimate the temporary trip permit cost with the trip permit cost estimator.
South Dakota Oversize Load FAQs
- What are the oversize load travel hours in South Dakota?
- Oversize movement is generally daylight only. Night movement is allowed only on Interstates and only if no escort is required, width is 10 ft or less, height is 14 ft 6 in or less, a single unit is 45 ft or less, and a combination is 110 ft or less (other unit-length limits apply). Weekends: No weekend restrictions; SD Truck Info states South Dakota has no weekend or holiday restrictions (daylight limits still apply).
- When is a pilot car required in South Dakota?
- Escort vehicles are required for vehicles wider than 16 feet on the Interstate system and wider than 20 feet on other state highways; escorts run in front on undivided highways and behind on divided highways, and more may be required by route or traffic.
- What is the legal truck width in South Dakota?
- The standard legal width in South Dakota 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 South Dakota without a permit?
- The legal height limit in South Dakota is 14 ft 0 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 South Dakota?
- SD Truck Info FAQ: South Dakota does not have weekend or holiday restrictions for oversize loads; depending on load size and route you may be limited to daylight hours.
- How do I get an oversize or overweight permit in South Dakota?
- Apply through South Dakota Highway Patrol Permit Center / SDDOT (SD Truck Info) 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 South Dakota rules as reviewed October 2026 and is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control. Note: Legal length table and two-escort, height-pole and length escort triggers not found (null). Handbook says multiple escorts and flaggers are needed if the load extends more than 2 ft into the adjacent lane. Legal height 14 ft (baled hay 15 ft); width 8 ft 6 in.