{ "name": "Maximum legal vehicle size and weight limits by US state", "description": "For each US state, the maximum legal dimensions and gross weight a vehicle plus load may have on state highways before an oversize/overweight permit is required, from the state's own vehicle code or DOT/DMV page: width, height, semitrailer length, combination length, and gross weight. Height genuinely fragments \u2014 13 feet 6 inches in most eastern states (Florida, Ohio), 14 feet in western states (Washington) \u2014 so a load legal in one state needs a permit in the next. Answers 'how tall can a truck be in [state]', 'what is the maximum legal trailer length in [state]', and 'at what point do I need an oversize permit in [state]'. Values verbatim from statute or the agency page; the many exceptions (auto transporters, safety devices, RVs) stay in the source quote, not in extra fields.", "url": "https://referencesource.org/truck-size-weight-limits-by-state/", "licence": "unknown", "last_verified": "2026-08-18", "stale_after": "2027-08-18", "sources": [ "https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/transportation-permits", "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.515.html", "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5577.05", "https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/texas-size-weight-limits", "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.030", "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.010", "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.020" ], "records": [ { "state": "California", "permit_trigger": "loads greater than 8'-6\" wide, 14'-0\" high, and over 80,000 pounds.", "citation": "Caltrans Transportation Permits", "id": "california", "url": "https://referencesource.org/truck-size-weight-limits-by-state/california/", "source": "https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/transportation-permits", "source_quote": "Single Trip Permit (Single Trip I and Single Trip II) - loads greater than 8'-6\" wide, 14'-0\" high, and over 80,000 pounds.", "verified_fields": [ "permit_trigger" ], "derived_fields": [ "citation", "state" ] }, { "state": "Florida", "max_width": "102 inches", "max_height": "13 feet 6 inches", "max_semitrailer_length": "48 feet", "citation": "Fla. Stat. 316.515", "id": "florida", "url": "https://referencesource.org/truck-size-weight-limits-by-state/florida/", "source": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.515.html", "source_quote": "The total outside width of any vehicle or the load thereon may not exceed 102 inches, exclusive of safety devices determined by the department to be necessary for the safe and efficient operation of motor vehicles. The use of public roads that do not have at least one through lane of 12 feet or more in width in each direction, and the use of public roads deemed unsafe for wider vehicles on the basis of safety and engineering analyses, by vehicles exceeding 96 inches in width may be restricted by the Department of Transportation or by local officials for streets and roads under their respective jurisdictions. The total outside width of a noncommercial travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper, motor home, or private motor coach as defined in s. 320.01 may be more than 102 inches if: (a)  The excess width is attributable to appurtenances that do not extend beyond the exterior rearview mirrors installed on the motor home by the manufacturer or the exterior rearview mirrors of the tow vehicle; and (b)  The exterior rearview mirrors only extend the distance necessary to provide the appropriate field of view for the vehicle before the appurtenances are attached. (2)  HEIGHT LIMITATION. — No vehicle may exceed a height of 13 feet 6 inches, inclusive of load carried thereon. However, an automobile transporter may measure a height not to exceed 14 feet, inclusive of the load carried thereon. (3)  LENGTH LIMITATION. — Except as otherwise provided in this section, length limitations apply solely to a semitrailer or trailer, and not to a truck tractor or to the overall length of a combination of vehicles. No combination of commercial motor vehicles coupled together and operating on the public roads may consist of more than one truck tractor and two trailing units. Unless otherwise specifically provided for in this section, a combination of vehicles not qualifying as commercial motor vehicles may consist of no more than two units coupled together; such nonqualifying combination of vehicles may not exceed a total length of 65 feet, inclusive of the load carried thereon, but exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved by the department for use on vehicles using public roads. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a truck tractor-semitrailer combination engaged in the transportation of automobiles or boats may transport motor vehicles or boats on part of the power unit; and, except as may otherwise be mandated under federal law, an automobile or boat transporter semitrailer may not exceed 50 feet in length, exclusive of the load; however, the load may extend up to an additional 6 feet beyond the rear of the trailer. The 50-feet length limitation does not apply to non-stinger-steered automobile or boat transporters that are 65 feet or less in overall length, exclusive of the load carried thereon, to stinger-steered boat transporters that are 75 feet or less in overall length, exclusive of the load carried thereon, or to stinger-steered automobile transporters that are 80 feet or less in overall length, exclusive of the load carried thereon. For purposes of this subsection, a \u201cstinger-steered automobile or boat transporter\u201d is an automobile or boat transporter configured as a semitrailer combination wherein the fifth wheel is located on a drop frame located behind and below the rearmost axle of the power unit. Automobile transporters operating under this subsection may backhaul cargo or general freight if the weight of such cargo or freight does not exceed the limits imposed under s. 316.535 . Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), any straight truck or truck tractor-semitrailer combination engaged in the transportation of horticultural trees may allow the load to extend up to an additional 10 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle, provided the trees are resting against a retaining bar mounted above the truck bed so that the root balls of the trees rest on the floor and to the front of the truck bed and the tops of the trees extend up over and to the rear of the truck bed, and provided the overhanging portion of the load is covered with protective fabric. (a)  Straight trucks. — A straight truck may not exceed a length of 40 feet in extreme overall dimension, exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved by the department for use on vehicles using public roads. A straight truck may attach a forklift to the rear of the cargo bed, provided the overall combined length of the vehicle and the forklift does not exceed 50 feet. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a straight truck may tow no more than one trailer, and the overall length of the truck-trailer combination may not exceed 68 feet, including the load thereon. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, a truck-trailer combination engaged in the transportation of boats, or boat trailers whose design dictates a front-to-rear stacking method may not exceed the length limitations of this paragraph exclusive of the load; however, the load may extend up to an additional 6 feet beyond the rear of the trailer. (b)  Semitrailers. — 1.  A semitrailer operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination may not exceed 48 feet in extreme overall outside dimension, measured from the front of the unit to the rear of the unit and the load carried thereon, exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved by the department for use on vehicles using public roads, unless it complies with subparagraph 2. A semitrailer which exceeds 48 feet in length and is used to transport divisible loads may operate in this state only if issued a permit under s. 316.550 and if such trailer meets the requirements of this chapter relating to vehicle equipment and safety. Except for highways on the tandem trailer truck highway network, public roads deemed unsafe for longer semitrailer vehicles or those roads on which such longer vehicles are determined not to be in the interest of public convenience shall, in conformance with s. 316.006 , be restricted by the Department of Transportation or by the local authority to use by semitrailers not exceeding a length of 48 feet, inclusive of the load carried thereon but exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved by the department for use on vehicles using public roads.", "verified_fields": [ "max_height", "max_semitrailer_length", "max_width" ], "derived_fields": [ "citation", "state" ] }, { "state": "Ohio", "max_width": "One hundred two inches, including load", "max_height": "thirteen feet six inches", "max_semitrailer_length": "Fifty-three feet", "citation": "ORC 5577.05", "id": "ohio", "url": "https://referencesource.org/truck-size-weight-limits-by-state/ohio/", "source": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5577.05", "source_quote": "(5) One hundred two inches, including load, for all other vehicles, except that the director may prohibit the operation of one hundred two-inch vehicles on such state highways or portions of state highways as the director designates. (C) No such vehicle shall have a length in excess of: (1) Sixty-six feet for passenger bus type vehicles and articulated passenger bus type vehicles operated by a regional transit authority pursuant to sections 306.30 to 306.54 of the Revised Code; (2) Forty-five feet for all other passenger bus type vehicles; (3) Fifty-three feet for any semitrailer when operated in a commercial tractor-semitrailer combination, with or without load, except that the director may prohibit the operation of any such commercial tractor-semitrailer combination on such state highways or portions of state highways as the director designates. (4) Twenty-eight and one-half feet for any semitrailer or trailer when operated in a commercial tractor-semitrailer-trailer or commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination, except that the director may prohibit the operation of any such commercial tractor-semitrailer-trailer or commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination on such state highways or portions of state highways as the director designates; (5)(a) Ninety-seven feet for drive-away saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations and drive-away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combinations when operated on any interstate, United States route, or state route, including reasonable access travel on all other roadways for a distance not to exceed one road mile from any interstate, United States route, or state route, not to exceed three saddlemounted vehicles, but which may include one fullmount; (b) Seventy-five feet for drive-away saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations and drive-away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combinations, when operated on any roadway not designated as an interstate, United States route, or state route, not to exceed three saddlemounted vehicles, but which may include one fullmount; (6) Sixty-five feet for any other combination of vehicles coupled together, with or without load, except as provided in divisions (C)(3) and (4), and in division (E) of this section; (7) Forty-five feet for recreational vehicles; (8) Fifty feet for all other vehicles except trailers and semitrailers, with or without load. (D) No such vehicle shall have a height in excess of thirteen feet six inches, with or without load.", "verified_fields": [ "max_height", "max_semitrailer_length", "max_width" ], "derived_fields": [ "citation", "state" ] }, { "state": "Texas", "max_width": "8'6\"", "max_height": "14\u2019", "max_semitrailer_length": "59 feet", "max_gross_weight": "80,000 pounds", "citation": "TxDMV Texas Size/Weight Limits", "id": "texas", "url": "https://referencesource.org/truck-size-weight-limits-by-state/texas/", "source": "https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/texas-size-weight-limits", "source_quote": "The following maximum dimensions may be operated on Texas\u2019 highways without a permit . Width Passenger vehicle (and its load) - 8' All other vehicles (and loads) - 8'6\" Height All vehicles: 14\u2019 Length Vehicle Type | Length Limit | Single motor vehicle | 45 feet | Truck-tractor | Unlimited | Semitrailer, of two-vehicle combination | 59 feet | Two-vehicle combination, other than a truck-tractor combination 1 | 65 feet | Three-Vehicle combination other than truck-tractor combination 2 | 65 feet | Each trailer or semitrailer of a twin-trailer combination | 28.5 feet | Stinger-steered auto/boat or traditional auto/boat transporter (truck-tractor) 3 | Unlimited | Truck towing a trailer transporting boats | 65 feet | Front overhang | 3 feet | Rear overhang | 4 feet | Weight 4 Gross - 80,000 pounds maximum", "verified_fields": [ "max_gross_weight", "max_height", "max_semitrailer_length", "max_width" ], "derived_fields": [ "citation", "state" ] }, { "state": "Washington", "max_height": "fourteen feet", "citation": "RCW 46.44.020", "id": "washington", "url": "https://referencesource.org/truck-size-weight-limits-by-state/washington/", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.020", "source_quote": "It is unlawful for any vehicle unladen or with load to exceed a height of fourteen feet above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.", "verified_fields": [ "max_height" ], "derived_fields": [ "citation", "state" ], "also_reported": [ { "field": "max_width", "value": "eight and one-half feet", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.010", "source_quote": "The total outside width of any vehicle or load thereon must not exceed eight and one-half feet;", "as_of": "2026-08-18" }, { "field": "max_semitrailer_length", "value": "53 feet", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.030", "source_quote": "(2)(a) It is unlawful for any person to operate upon the public highways of this state any combination consisting of a tractor and semitrailer that has a semitrailer length in excess of 53 feet or a combination consisting of a tractor and two trailers in which the combined length of the trailers exceeds 61 feet, with or without load.", "as_of": "2026-08-18" } ], "disagreements": [ { "field": "citation", "versions": [ { "value": "RCW 46.44.020", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.020", "source_quote": "It is unlawful for any vehicle unladen or with load to exceed a height of fourteen feet above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.", "as_of": "2026-08-18" }, { "value": "RCW 46.44.010", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.010", "source_quote": "The total outside width of any vehicle or load thereon must not exceed eight and one-half feet;", "as_of": "2026-08-18" }, { "value": "RCW 46.44.030", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.44.030", "source_quote": "(2)(a) It is unlawful for any person to operate upon the public highways of this state any combination consisting of a tractor and semitrailer that has a semitrailer length in excess of 53 feet or a combination consisting of a tractor and two trailers in which the combined length of the trailers exceeds 61 feet, with or without load.", "as_of": "2026-08-18" } ] } ] } ] }