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Iowa · Oversize & Overweight

Iowa Oversize & Overweight Permits filed with Iowa DOT for you, 24/7

In Iowa, a load over 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high or 80,000 lbs on the interstate needs an Iowa DOT permit. That permit covers state and federal highways only: county and city roads need their own. Send us the load and route: our permit desk quotes the price and files every permit the trip needs.

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What will an oversize permit in Iowa cost?

Enter your pickup and delivery locations, choose your permit type, and compare estimated permit costs across route options.

  1. Oversize and overweight permits across the lower 48 and DC
  2. State-by-state fee breakdown for each route option
  3. Order your permit or talk to a specialist
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Iowa rules

Iowa legal limits and permit rules

The size and weight Iowa allows without a permit, when Iowa DOT requires escorts and when a permitted load may run.

Legal limits without a permit

Width
8 ft 6 in
Height
13 ft 6 in
Single truck
45 ft
Semitrailer
53 ft
Trailer in a double
28 ft 6 in
Single axle
20,000 lbs
Tandem axle
34,000 lbs
Gross, interstate
80,000 lbs
Gross off the interstate, CDL
90,000 lbs on 6 axles, 96,000 on 7

Escorts

Over 12 to 14 ft 6 in wide
Front on two-lane, rear on four-lane; amber lights can replace
Over 14 ft 6 in to 16 ft 6 in wide
Front on two-lane; rear on four-lane, or amber lights
Over 16 ft 6 in to 18 ft wide
Front on two-lane, rear on four-lane, no substitute
Over 14 ft 6 in high
Front escort with a height pole
Over 120 ft long
Rear escort
Escort drivers
18 or older, valid license, liability insurance
State Patrol escort
At least one week's notice

When you can move

Daytime
30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset
At night
Up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, 100 ft long, legal axles
Weekends
Allowed, except holiday weekends
Holidays
Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day: from noon the day before, whole holiday weekend
Weather
Roads clear of ice and snow, visibility at least 1/4 mile
Seasonal limits
Local weight embargoes up to 90 days a year

Source: Iowa Administrative Code 761 chapter 511, Iowa Code chapters 321 and 321E, Iowa Truck Information Guide (Iowa DPS and Iowa DOT). Your permit's own conditions always apply.

Which permit you need

Iowa permits for oversize and overweight loads

  1. One move

    Single-trip permit

    Good for five days. Width and length are limited only by the road's physical clearances; over 16 ft high you contact the utilities on the route.

  2. One route, many trips

    Multitrip permit

    Unlimited trips between one origin and one destination for up to 60 days, up to 16 ft wide, 120 ft long, 15 ft 5 in high and 156,000 lbs.

  3. All year, size only

    Annual oversize permit

    Unlimited distance up to 12 ft 5 in wide, 13 ft 10 in high and 120 ft long; wider and taller tiers come with distance or route limits.

  4. All year, size and weight

    Annual oversize/overweight permit

    Up to 13 ft 5 in wide and 156,000 lbs, off the interstate. Over 100,000 lbs Iowa DOT issues only when the move will not cause undue damage.

Routes and road rules

Where Iowa routes add their own rules

Which road the load uses decides which permit it needs: interstate, state highway, county road or city street.

  1. County roads and city streets

    Iowa DOT permits cover state and federal highways. Leaving them for a county road or city street takes a county or city permit as well.

    Exception:All-systems permits cover state, county and city roads in one.

  2. Interstates closed to annual heavy permits

    Annual oversize/overweight, raw forest product and all-systems permits over 80,000 lbs do not allow the interstate. The route has to stay on non-interstate highways.

    Interstates:I-29, I-35, I-74, I-80, I-280, I-380 and I-680.

  3. Export corridors to South Dakota

    Iowa law sets economic export corridors for Iowa-made goods heading to or through South Dakota, with their own length allowances.

    For:Loads built in Iowa and shipped west.

  4. Border cities

    Iowa border cities may allow vehicles that meet the neighboring state's length and weight laws, so a legal load from Nebraska or Illinois can reach them.

    Where:Cities on the state line, under their own ordinances.

Iowa industries

Iowa permits for the loads Iowa hauls

Beside the general permits, Iowa law has rules written for wind energy, farms, livestock, milk and timber.

  1. Wind and alternative energy

    Special alternative energy permit

    A multi-trip permit for up to 12 months: loads up to 225 ft long, 16 ft wide, 16 ft high and 256,000 lbs.

  2. Farm

    Implements of husbandry and hay

    Farm implements are exempt from size and permit rules off the interstate, and hay and straw loads may be 12 ft 5 in wide without a permit.

  3. Livestock and milk

    Heavier on Iowa highways

    Five-axle livestock trucks may carry 86,000 lbs off the interstate, and an annual fluid milk permit allows 96,000 lbs.

  4. Timber

    Raw forest products

    An annual permit for divisible loads of raw forest products, kept off the interstate.

How it works

Your Iowa permit in three steps

  1. Send the load and route

    Truck, trailer, dimensions, weight, origin and destination. Your fleet details are saved for next time.

  2. We check and file

    Our permit desk checks the Iowa rules for your load and files with Iowa DOT Motor Carrier Services.

  3. Get your permit

    You get the permit PDF, a written route and an interactive route map to share with the driver.

From our permit desk

What we check before filing in Iowa

  1. Does the last mile leave the highway?

    Iowa DOT permits stop where state and federal highways end. If pickup or delivery sits on a county road or city street, we file those permits too.

  2. Night moves can save a day

    Loads up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high and 100 ft long with legal axles may run at night on wide enough roads. We check whether yours qualifies.

  3. Holiday weekends are off

    Around Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day oversize loads stop from noon the day before through the whole weekend. We plan around it.

FAQ

Iowa oversize permit questions

When does a load need an Iowa DOT permit?

When it is over 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high, the legal length (53 ft for a semitrailer) or the weight limits: 80,000 lbs on the interstate and 20,000 lbs per single axle. Off the interstate, CDL trucks may run up to 90,000 or 96,000 lbs depending on axles.

How much does an Iowa oversize permit cost?

It depends on the permit type, size, weight and route. Put your route into our permit cost calculator for an estimate, or send us the load and our permit desk quotes the exact price before filing.

Which oversize loads may run at night in Iowa?

Yes, if the load is no more than 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high and 100 ft long, the axles are legal and the road is at least 22 ft wide. Bigger loads move from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Which holidays restrict oversize loads in Iowa?

Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day: no movement after noon the day before, on the holiday or during the holiday weekend. Special events can add restrictions too.

Does an Iowa DOT permit cover county and city roads?

No. It covers state and federal highways; county and city permits are separate. All-systems permits are the exception and cover state, county and city roads together.

What permit do wind turbine parts need in Iowa?

A special alternative energy multi-trip permit, valid up to 12 months, for loads up to 225 ft long, 16 ft wide, 16 ft high and 256,000 lbs.

How does Route One GO get my Iowa permit?

Send us the truck, trailer, load dimensions, axle weights and route. Our permit desk checks the Iowa rules, files with Iowa DOT and any county or city on the route, and sends you the permits with a route map. Requests are taken 24/7.

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Need a permit in Iowa for this load?

Send the details once. We file with Iowa DOT Motor Carrier Services, plus every other state on your route.

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