PERMITS: Permits are valid for five days.
OPERATING TIME: Permit loads up to 12′ wide, 13′-6″ high, 200′ long authorized 24 hour 7 days a week with one civilian escort when traveling during the hours of darkness. Permit loads up to 14′-6″ wide, up to 15′ high, up to 200′ in length, can now travel seven days a week, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Loads exceeding these dimensions are allowed to travel one half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset Monday through Friday, and one-half hour before sunrise until noon on Saturday. Overweight only are allowed continuous travel if the permit shows all other dimensions as legal.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: Permit loads on Expressways in Cook County are restricted to a maximum of 120,000 pounds, 12′ wide and/or 13′-6″. Several special restrictions apply in Cook County, as listed on provision sheets (General Provisions B). Loads over 14′-6″ wide up to and including 16′ wide are limited to the hours of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday in the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, St. Clair and Will. Over 16′ wide may have additional restrictions. No travel from noon the day before major holidays or holiday weekends.
Illinois Toll Roads: Maximum width is 10′ except 12′ is allowed on sections that carry I-80 (near Indiana line) and US51 (near Wisconsin line). Gross weight 80,001 – 104,000 costs about $35.00; 104,001 – 120,000 is around $150.00. Maximum gross weight allowed is 120,000. Length exceeding 100′ needs prior approval and special permit. Maximum height 14′-6″; over 13′-6″ is $15.00 extra.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS
Length:
- 53′ semi-trailer* on designated highways
- 65′ overall on non-designated
- *Kingpin to center of rear axle not over 45′-6″, or needs to be permitted.
Overhang 3′ front, 4′ rear; more rear overhang is allowed if within legal length limits
Width:
- 8′-6″ on designated highways
- 8′ on non-designated
Height: 13′-6″
Weight: 80,000 Gross
- Single – 20,000
- Tandem – 34,000
- Tridem – 42,500
Length: 145′
Width: 14′-6″
Height: 15′ (depending on overhead clearances, 3″ clearance required)
Notes:
- No interstate routing is allowed for over 15’-9” height
- Height of 16′ or more requires detailed route survey.
Weight:
- Single – 24,000
- Tandem – 48,000
- Tridem – 60,000 (no single axle to exceed 21,000)
- Quad – 60,000 on standard permit, up to 100,000 with a superload permit.
Superload Note: Overweight applications get treated as super loads, when:
When:
- 5 axles, grossing over 100,000 pounds and/or over 44,000 pounds on a tandem group
- 6 or more axles, grossing over 120,000 pounds and/or over 48,000 pounds on any axle group.
Note: on Lift or Pusher axles: Maximum weight variance between axles in a group is 2,000 pounds.
Loads exceeding these dimensions or weight are considered as super loads. Over 16′ wide or 17′ high will require a field or district engineering investigation. Over 17′ high, all overhead utility companies must be contacted and documentation must be provided.
EXEMPTIONS: Length limitations do not apply (O/D permit not needed) for vehicles operated in the daytime, Monday through Friday, when transporting beams, poles, pipe, culvert or other objects of a structural nature 80′ or less in length (overall length 100′ or less). Farm tractors and other implements of husbandry may be hauled without a permit during daylight hours (including weekends) when over width only. Permit is still needed if over 13′-6″ high, or over weight.
