Oversize & Overweight Permits

State permits, route surveys, pilot cars, and superload routing across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and beyond — one all-in rate, no paperwork chase.

(509) 321-4381 — permit-load quotes typically returned same business day

Beyond the legal envelope

The load is over-dimensional. Now what?

A load becomes "oversize" or "overweight" the moment it crosses 8'6" wide, 13'6" tall, 80,000 lbs gross, or the legal trailer length. Every state on the route gets its own permit. Pilot cars, police escorts, bridge analysis, daylight-only travel windows, weekend blackouts, and pass restrictions all stack on top.

  • WA / OR / ID / MT permits pulled in-house — one all-in rate, no reimbursement chase.
  • WA P/EVO certified pilots (per WAC 468-38-100) and Western Regional Permit for 12-state superload moves.
  • Superload routing — bridge analysis, utility de-energization, sign removal coordinated as one workflow.
  • Pacific Northwest pass-routing — Snoqualmie, Stevens, Lookout, Lolo, US-95 Lewiston grade.
  • FMCSA-licensed broker MC#896325 · $75K BMC-84 bond · Lloyd's of London cargo coverage.
Permit Load Quote

Price my permit load

Most quotes returned within the hour during business hours.

  • 1 Lane
  • 2 Dimensions
  • 3 Contact

Where is it going?

WA / WSDOT lead times: 30 days minimum for loads over 200,000 lb; 7 days minimum for over 16' wide or tall.

How big is it?

Superload thresholds: WA over 16'W / 16'H / 125'L / 200,000 lb. OR over 16'W (Interstate) or 14'W (2-lane). ID over 16'W / 16'H / 120'L. MT Class 1 starts at 18'W or 17'H.

Where do we send the quote?

Quotes are free and there is no obligation to book.

Or call (509) 321-4381

When permits kick in

The legal envelope — and what crosses it

Width

Legal: 8'6"
Permit: over 8'6"
Pilot car: typically 12'+
Escort: typically 14'+

Height

Legal: 13'6" (load + deck)
Permit: over 13'6"
Pole car: typically 14'6"+
Route survey: 15'6"+

Length

Legal trailer: 48' / 53'
Legal overall: 65' to 75' (state-dependent)
Permit: over state legal length
Escort: typically 90'+ overall

Weight

Legal gross: 80,000 lbs
WA corridors: up to 105,500 lbs
ID corridors: up to 129,000 lbs
Superload: 200,000 lbs+

PNW state permits

WA / OR / ID / MT — the four-corner play

Each state runs its own permit office and its own pilot-car rules. We pull all four when the lane crosses all four.

Washington (WSDOT)

  • Single-trip and annual permits via Commercial Vehicle Services
  • Pilot car operators must be WA P/EVO certified
  • Snoqualmie Pass (I-90) restrictions winter Nov–Apr
  • Stevens Pass (US-2) wide-load restrictions in winter
  • Daylight-only Mon–Fri standard; some superloads weekend-allowed

Oregon (ODOT)

  • OD-1A application via ODOT Over-Dimension
  • OR-certified pilot escorts (PEVO) for many wide moves
  • Cascade pass routing (Santiam, Willamette, Government Camp) winter-restricted
  • Bridge ratings strict on US-26 / I-84 east of The Dalles
  • Mt. Hood corridor sensitive in weekend tourist traffic

Idaho (ITD)

  • Single-trip and 365-day permits via ITD Motor Carrier
  • 129,000 lb routes designated on certain corridors
  • Lookout Pass (I-90 ID/MT border) elevation/weather constraints
  • Lolo Pass (US-12) curvy two-lane — superloads need analysis
  • US-95 Lewiston grade restricts certain load combinations

Montana (MDT)

  • MDT Motor Carrier Services single-trip and annual permits
  • One of the more permissive states for night travel
  • Continental Divide crossing (I-90 / I-15) winter weather routing
  • Eastern MT to ND oilfield corridor heavily used for wind components
  • Glacier-area Hwy 2 restrictions in tourist seasons
How a permitted load gets booked

Five steps from quote to delivered

1 — Dims + weight

Width, height, length, gross weight. Photos help when the load is unusual.

2 — Route

States on the path, bridges, low-clearance points, pass elevations.

3 — Permits

Apply at each state DOT, hold for issued permit numbers and effective dates.

4 — Escorts

Book pilot cars / pole car / police escorts to match the permit conditions.

5 — Dispatch

Pickup, daylight-only travel windows, status check-calls, POD on delivery.

Common permit-load shippers

Who calls us for over-dimensional moves

Construction & Crane

Excavators with stick attached, dozers with rippers, cranes, drill rigs, paving equipment, and tower sections.

Energy & Wind

Wind turbine blades, nacelles, tower sections, transformers, generators — the eastern WA / MT wind corridor's bread and butter.

Agriculture

Combines, sprayers, balers with stack wagons attached, irrigation pivots, grain bins, ag-implement assemblies.

Modular & Manufactured Housing

Modular building sections, manufactured-home halves, prefab commercial structures, water tanks.

Industrial & Manufacturing

Pressure vessels, large pumps, transformers, fabricated steel structures, tanks, and oversized tooling.

Oilfield & Pipe

Long-string pipe loads, drilling rig components, frac equipment, mud pumps, tanks bound for the Bakken and beyond.

Where superload starts

State-by-state superload thresholds

Each PNW state draws the superload line differently. The threshold matters because it triggers longer permit lead times, mandatory bridge analysis, and richer escort requirements.

State Superload trigger Lead time
Washington (WSDOT)>16' wide, >16' tall, >125' long, OR >200,000 lbs30-day minimum for >200,000 lb (written application); 7-day minimum for >16'W or >16'H
Oregon (ODOT)>16' wide (Interstate / multi-lane) or >14' wide (2-lane); >17' tall; OR >150' longBridge analysis triggered ~130,000 lb on 7 axles
Idaho (ITD)>16' wide, >16' tall, OR >120' longPermit issued via permits4idaho.com
Montana (MDT)Class 1: 18-34'W, 17-24'H, or 150-200'L. Class 2: >34'W, >24'H, >200'L2026 Trucker's Handbook governs

Sources: WSDOT Commercial Vehicle Services superload page; ODOT Over-Dimension; ITD Commercial Vehicle Services; MDT Motor Carrier Services 2026 Trucker's Handbook.

The real cost layer

Permit and escort cost math

Procurement planning gets easier when the line-item structure is on the table. Here is what actually shows up in a permit-load quote.

WA permit fee structure
  • Self-issue annual permit: $50 (Apr 1 - Mar 31); prorated quarterly to $37.50 / $25 / $12.50
  • Single-trip dimensional only: $10 (3-day validity)
  • Overweight (over 100,000 lb): $4.25 base + $0.50 per 5,000 lb increment; $14 minimum
  • Monthly options: $10 length-only / $20 height-or-width / $30 combined

Source: WSDOT CVS Permit Types & Fees.

ID permit fee structure
  • Single-trip overweight: $40 base + $0.05/ton-mile over 80,000 lb
  • 12-month non-reducible annual: $128 plus quarterly mileage reports
  • 120-hour fuel permit: $60
  • All issued via the permits4idaho.com portal

Source: ITD Commercial Vehicle Services permit price list.

MT permit fee structure
  • Single-trip oversize only: starts at ~$10
  • Not-to-exceed 16'H × 100'L × 150,000 lb: $30
  • 30-day winter weight term permit: $50

Source: MDT Motor Carrier Services permits page; 2026 Montana Trucker's Handbook.

Pilot car & escort cost basis

Pilot escorts bill per mile, not per day:

  • Lead or chase pilot: $1.75-$2.00 per mile
  • High-pole car (height clearance): $2.25-$2.50 per mile
  • Downtime / overnight: $200/day plus motel ($250/day for pole car)
  • WA P/EVO certified operators per WAC 468-38-100; for-hire pilots carry $100K/$300K/$50K minimum insurance

Sources: Sapphire Rose Pilot Car pricing, Heavy Haulers industry rate guide, WAC 468-38-100.

Specialty weight networks

Where the higher weight limits live

Federal GVW caps at 80,000 lb on the Interstate, but specific corridors in WA, ID, and MT allow much heavier combinations. Routing through these networks saves a permit and a layer of escort cost.

Washington Heavy Haul Industrial Corridors (105,500 lb)

  • SR-97 — Canadian border to MP 331.12 at the Oroville railhead
  • SR-128 / SR-193 — Idaho border to the Port of Wilma
  • SR-509 — East D Street to Taylor Way (sealed containers only)

105,500 lb on non-Interstate routes only and requires sufficient axles (typically 7). Useful for cross-border lumber and container drayage where the standard 80,000 lb federal limit would otherwise apply.

Source: RCW 46.44.0915; WSDOT Heavy Haul Industrial Corridors.

Idaho 129K Network

Idaho permits up to 129,000 lb combinations on designated routes — useful for the Lewiston port, Snake River Plain ag, and Treasure Valley industrial. Operational envelope:

  • Maximum overall length: 115 ft
  • Maximum number of vehicle units: 4
  • Maximum cargo units: 3
  • Typically requires 10 axles

Source: ITD 129K FAQ.

WASHTO Western Regional Permit

Twelve western states covered under a single permit, with one operational requirement: the route must include Utah. Processing 24-48 hours. Useful for loads over 15'6" tall, over 17' wide, or over 300,000 lb moving multi-state. Each state's local rules still apply on top of the regional permit.

Source: WASHTO Western Regional Permit Statement.

Idaho seasonal axle reduction

Nov 1 - Apr 1 freeze-thaw window in Idaho can reduce permitted axle weights by up to 25% on specified routes. This is a project-scheduling input for winter permit moves — a load that fits the envelope in October may need an additional permit or a longer routing in December.

Source: Idaho Mountain Pass / ITD seasonal restrictions.

Wind & transformer freight

What a PNW superload actually looks like

Modern wind turbine blade trailers extend to 180+ ft unmodified and carry blades up to roughly 62 m (~203 ft). Specialized Schnabel-design trailers use telescopic two-part locking to fit blade and carry cylindrical bases low for clearance. The capex reference for context: blade trailers run $120-150K new; Schnabel-style trailers ~$350K.

Real-world reference: Omega Morgan moved a 460,000 lb transformer for Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) from Sundale, WA to Rock Creek, WA — 47 miles, 2 days, on a 360-ft trailer with 48 axles weighing 484,000 lb gross, with a lead Kenworth C500 and two T800 pushers. That trailer has moved more than 30 BPA transformers.

Source: Omega Morgan case study on BPA transformer transport.

BPA & the PNW grid

The transmission backbone we ship into

Bonneville Power Administration controls approximately 75% of high-voltage transmission in the Pacific Northwest — over 15,000 circuit miles and 261 substations. PNW utility freight gravitates to substation upgrades, transformer replacement, and grid-expansion projects coordinated against BPA's planning calendar.

For wind operators (Avangrid, NextEra, EDP Renewables, Pattern Energy) building in WA / OR / MT, the project cargo stream is consistent: nacelles (75-90 tons each), blades (now 60+ m), tower sections, transformers, and the construction equipment that erects them. We dispatch into that gravity well.

Source: Bonneville Power Administration public statistics.

Common questions

Oversize / overweight FAQ

A load needs a permit any time it exceeds the legal envelope: width over 8'6", height over 13'6" (load + deck), length over the state legal trailer length (typically 53' for the trailer alone or 65' to 75' overall combination), or gross weight over 80,000 lbs. Different states draw the line in slightly different places — Washington allows 105,500 lbs on certain corridors, Idaho allows 129,000 lbs combinations on designated routes — so the route, not just the load, decides whether a permit is needed.

We do. Evergreen Shippers handles permit applications, route surveys, and pilot car / escort coordination as part of the brokered move. You see one all-in rate on the invoice rather than chasing permit reimbursement after the fact. The carrier focuses on driving; we handle the paperwork with WSDOT, ODOT, ITD, MDT, and the equivalent agencies in any other state on the route.

Single-state single-trip permits typically run $15 to $90 per state, depending on weight and dimensions. Superload permits (well over legal limits) can cost $200 to $600 per state plus route survey fees ($500 to $5,000 depending on complexity). Pilot car operators charge $1.75 to $2.50 per mile per car, with most states requiring one front pilot and one rear pilot once the load passes a width threshold. Police escorts (required at certain widths or for bridge crossings) run $75 to $200 per hour. The all-in cost is reflected in the rate quote — you do not chase invoices after the fact.

The big four for PNW oversize routing are Snoqualmie Pass (I-90 west of Spokane), Stevens Pass (US-2), Lookout Pass (I-90 ID/MT border), and Lolo Pass (US-12 ID/MT). Each has weather-driven closures from November through April, grade and length restrictions on chained-up loads, and seasonal escort requirements. Stevens Pass in particular restricts wide loads in winter. We monitor WSDOT, ODOT, and ITD road condition feeds before dispatch and re-route in real time if a pass closes mid-haul.

A superload is a freight move that exceeds even the standard oversize/overweight permit limits and requires a custom routing analysis, structural review for bridges and overpasses on the path, and often utility coordination (raising or de-energizing power lines, removing signs and signals). Superloads typically move with one or more pilot cars, police escorts, and a route survey on file. Daylight-only travel and weekend / holiday blackouts are standard. Permitting lead time for a superload can range from a few days to several weeks depending on bridge analysis needs.

Yes. We coordinate certified pilot car operators (P/EVO — Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator certified per the National Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator Training Manual) for the states that require operator certification, including Washington and Oregon. Pole-car operators with height poles for low-clearance routing, front pilots, rear pilots, and law enforcement escorts are all booked as needed for the move.

Generally no. Most states require daylight-only travel for oversize loads — sunrise to sunset Monday through Friday — with weekend / holiday blackouts. Idaho and Montana are slightly more permissive than Washington and Oregon. Routes that include large metropolitan areas often have additional rush-hour restrictions. Travel-time windows are baked into the transit estimate when we quote the move.

Standard flatbeds for slightly-wide or slightly-long loads at legal height. Step decks for height up to ~10'2". RGN/lowboy trailers for the heaviest and tallest equipment, with deck heights as low as 18". Multi-axle and extendable RGNs for superloads (think wind turbine components, transformers, large cranes, drill rigs). Equipment matching is part of the rate-quote process.

Permit load that needs to move?

Call (509) 321-4381 — we'll spec the trailer, pull the permits, and book the escorts in one quote.

Service

Heavy Equipment Hauling

Excavators, dozers, cranes, and oversize machinery transport.

Equipment

Flatbed Freight Broker

48'/53' flatbeds for steel, lumber, building materials.

Equipment

Step Deck, RGN, Lowboy

For taller, heavier, and longer loads.

Local

Spokane Freight Broker

Spokane HQ with daily PNW lanes & asset-based capacity.