Wisconsin 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 WisDOT Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Unit.
WI, reviewed October 2026
Check your load for Wisconsin
Oversize permit required in Wisconsin
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
Wisconsin's width-escort thresholds are set in the permit conditions. Confirm with WisDOT Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Unit.
Wisconsin Truck Legal Width, Height & Length
A truck and load at or under these dimensions can travel Wisconsin 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; tractor-semitrailer 75 ft overall with semitrailer up to 53 ft (kingpin-to-rear-axle 43 ft); no overall length limit on designated long-truck routes. |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
Wisconsin Oversize Load Travel Hours
- Daily movement window
- Overweight-only: 24 hours. Loads up to 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 150 ft long: no time limits in 67 counties; in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, Waukesha counties not 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, summer Fridays and holiday periods. Larger loads: no travel in darkness, Sunday 4-8 p.m., Friday 4-8 p.m. between 4th Friday in May and Labor Day. Milwaukee County Expressway and Madison Beltline have commuter-hour bans.
- Weekend movement
- Larger loads (over 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high or 150 ft long) may not operate from noon Saturday until sunrise Sunday, or 4-8 p.m. Sunday. Smaller loads are restricted only 4-8 p.m. Sunday in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties.
- Holiday restrictions
- Larger vehicles may not operate from noon on the day preceding until sunrise on the day following each restricted-travel holiday. Smaller vehicles are restricted 4-8 p.m. on the holiday and the day before in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties. WisDOT's 2025 holiday sheet shows Memorial Day and Labor Day restrictions extending Friday through Monday; Easter weekend and gun deer season opening/closing weekends are also restricted. See this year's holiday dates for all states.
Wisconsin Pilot Car Requirements
WisDOT's escort chart sets private escorts by width and length (two private plus two law-enforcement escorts over 18 ft wide), a pole vehicle over 16 ft high, and one law-enforcement escort over 350,000 lbs.
| First pilot car (width) | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
|---|---|
| Two pilot cars (width) | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
| Height-pole escort | 16 ft 0 in tall and over |
| Length escort | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
How to order a Wisconsin oversize permit
WisDOT Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Unit
Overweight as well? Check axle limits with the bridge formula calculator, or browse motor carriers in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Oversize Load FAQs
- What are the oversize load travel hours in Wisconsin?
- Overweight-only: 24 hours. Loads up to 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 150 ft long: no time limits in 67 counties; in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, Waukesha counties not 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, summer Fridays and holiday periods. Larger loads: no travel in darkness, Sunday 4-8 p.m., Friday 4-8 p.m. between 4th Friday in May and Labor Day. Milwaukee County Expressway and Madison Beltline have commuter-hour bans. Weekends: Larger loads (over 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high or 150 ft long) may not operate from noon Saturday until sunrise Sunday, or 4-8 p.m. Sunday. Smaller loads are restricted only 4-8 p.m. Sunday in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties.
- When is a pilot car required in Wisconsin?
- WisDOT's escort chart sets private escorts by width and length (two private plus two law-enforcement escorts over 18 ft wide), a pole vehicle over 16 ft high, and one law-enforcement escort over 350,000 lbs. Height: 16 ft 0 in and taller (height-pole escort).
- What is the legal truck width in Wisconsin?
- The standard legal width in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin without a permit?
- The legal height limit in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
- Larger vehicles may not operate from noon on the day preceding until sunrise on the day following each restricted-travel holiday. Smaller vehicles are restricted 4-8 p.m. on the holiday and the day before in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha counties. WisDOT's 2025 holiday sheet shows Memorial Day and Labor Day restrictions extending Friday through Monday; Easter weekend and gun deer season opening/closing weekends are also restricted.
- How do I get an oversize or overweight permit in Wisconsin?
- Apply through WisDOT Bureau of Highway Maintenance, OSOW Permit Unit ((608) 266-7320) 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 Wisconsin rules as reviewed October 2026 and is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control. Note: Escort chart PDF (dated 7/9/2018) was extracted with the color grid lost, so width/length escort thresholds could not be reliably read; fragments suggest escort levels change at 12 ft width with 110 ft length, 15 ft width with length over 110 ft, and 18 ft width (2 private + 2 law enforcement), but this is unconfirmed, so escort width/length fields are null. Height-pole (over 16 ft) and the 350,000 lb law-enforcement note are stated explicitly. Height 13.5 ft from Wis. Stat. 348.06 and length from 348.07; 80,000 lb gross is not from a fetched page (federal/standard value). Holiday list from the 2025 holiday PDF (check current year).