Order New Hampshire Oversize Permits Online Now!
New Hampshire Oversize Permits Phone Number: (270)908-9656
New Hampshire Oversize/Overweight Permits Rules and Regulations
New Hampshire Oversize/Overweight permits Validity: Oversize permits issued in New Hampshire remain valid for a total of Five consecutive days. Drivers are required to secure the permit before entering the state.
New Hampshire Traveling Time with Oversize Load: Oversize loads are permitted to travel Monday through Friday, starting 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Travel during weekends or holidays is not allowed for overdimensional loads. Overweight-only loads are not restricted to daylight travel.
New Hampshire Oversize Load Restricted Travel: In Manchester, travel is restricted between 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and 3:00 PM–6:00 PM. Toll Road requirements are similar to other highways. No travel is allowed on major holidays, and some weekend restrictions apply during holiday periods.
New Hampshire Holiday Restriction: Unless otherwise stated on the New Hampshire oversize permit, travel is prohibited for overweight vehicles on the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day.
New Hampshire Road/Bridge Restriction with Oversize Load: New Hampshire follows the Federal Bridge Formula, which may include specific bridge restrictions.
General roadway restrictions include but are not limited to:
- Driving through construction zones
- Ignoring warning signals in work areas
- Failing to yield to emergency vehicles and law enforcement
- Seasonal weight limitations
Frost Law & Spring Thaw Limits
New Hampshire may enforce frost laws, similar to many Canadian provinces and U.S. states.
Specific restrictions for oversize permits may be issued based on load type and road conditions.
During spring thaw, certain state highways may restrict vehicles to:
- 30,000 lbs gross weight, or
- 300 tire-inches of total ground contact width, whichever is less.
Exemptions may apply to hauls of heating fuel, dairy products, maple sap, and septic waste, subject to approval by NHDOT District Engineers, in accordance with RSA Section 236:3-a.
Oversize load Seasonal Restriction in New Hampshire:
During spring thaw season, axle weights may be restricted to 20,000 lbs or less depending on conditions.
New Hampshire Oversize Permits Tire Regulations:
- Tires must be in good operating condition, properly inflated, and have a minimum tread depth of 2/32 inches.
- The maximum allowable weight is 600 lbs per inch of tire width.
- Tires must not have protrusions made of materials other than rubber or tire chains unless deemed necessary for safety or explicitly approved.
Chain Laws For Oversize Load in New Hampshire:
Use of tire chains is allowed when roads become slippery due to snow, ice, or other hazardous conditions, and when safety requires their use.
New Hampshire Legal Dimensions/Size Limit
New Hampshire Oversize Permits Legal Length:
- Length:
On Interstate and other designated routes, semi-trailers are permitted up to 53 feet in length, with a 41-foot measurement from kingpin to the rear tandem center.
Limited to 48 feet on all non-designated roadways.
Length rules do not apply to vehicles transporting items like poles, pipes, logs, timbers, or steel beams, as long as the trailer used is not extendable.New Hampshire Wide Load Limit: Maximum width is 8 feet 6 inches
New Hampshire Legal Height: Maximum allowable height is 13 feet 6 inches
New Hampshire Legal Weight Limit: Up to 80,000 pounds.
Axle Weight Limits: - Single Axle:
20,000 lbs on designated highways
22,400 lbs on other roads - Tandem Axles:
34,000 lbs on designated highways
36,000 lbs on other roads - Tridem Axles: Same limit as tandem.
Note: If gross vehicle weight does not exceed 73,280 lbs, single axles are allowed up to 22,440 lbs and tandems up to 36,000 lbs
Maximum Load Dimensions with permits in New Hampshire
Limits vary depending on the specific route, distance, and any bridge crossings involved
Length: Up to 110 feet
Width: Up to 16 feet
New Hampshire Oversize Permits Wide Load Requirements
Loads exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width require an oversize permit from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
“Oversize Load” signage must be displayed on both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Hauling vehicles and non-police escort vehicles must be equipped with functioning top-mounted amber strobe or flashing lights.
Width between 12′ and 14′: 1 escort vehicle required
When the load has both a rear overhang of 15 feet or more and a width of 12 feet or greater, two escort vehicles are necessary
Width over 14′: 2 State Police escorts required.
When full highway closure is necessary: 3 State Police escorts may be required
New Hampshire Oversize Permits Wide Load Restrictions
Holiday Travel Restrictions
Travel Time Restrictions: Permitted wide loads may operate:
Monday through Friday
From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
Road and Bridge Limitations
Seasonal Restrictions
Height: Up to 16 feet
Weight:
- Single Axle: 25,000lbs
- Tandem axle: 50,000lbs
- Tridem axle: 70,000lbs
- Quad axle: 85,000lbs
Superload: Loads exceeding these dimensions or weights may be classified as super loads and require additional approvals.
Bridge Review Required If:
- Any single axle exceeds 27,500 lbs
- Any tandem axle exceeds 25,000 lbs per axle
- Any tridem axle exceeds 22,500 lbs per axle
- Any quad axle exceeds 20,000 lbs per axle
- Total weight for:
5-axle combinations exceed 100,000 lbs
6-axle combinations exceed 120,000 lbs
7-axle combinations exceed 130,000 lbs
8 or more axles exceeds 149,999 lbs
What Are The Requirements For a Pilot Car In New Hampshire
Length Based Escort Requirement in New Hampshire:
- Loads measuring 80 feet or more require one escort.
- Loads over 100 feet may require a State Police escort with a minimum 48-hour advance notice, unless an exemption is granted
Overhang Based Escort Requirement in New Hampshire:
- Over 15 feet of rear overhang requires one escort.
- On two-lane undivided highways, if the overhang exceeds 15 feet and width exceeds 12 feet, two escorts are mandatory.
Width Based Escort Requirement in New Hampshire:
- At 12 feet, one escort is required.
- Over 15 feet 1 inch requires a State Police escort.
- If the load is over 18 feet wide, two State Police escorts are required, and a 48-hour notice must be given. Some routes may require additional escorts at the state’s discretion
Height Based Escort Requirement in New Hampshire:
- For loads exceeding 13 feet 6 inches, a route survey may be necessary.
- Escorts are typically not required for height alone
Signage, Flashing Amber lights and flags Requirements and New Hampshire Additional Information
- A “Oversize Load” sign must be displayed on the front of the lead vehicle and at the rear of the load or trailer, depending on visibility.
- Red flags (minimum 12″ square) must be placed on all extremities when the load extends more than 4 inches beyond the trailer sides.
- For rear overhangs over 4 feet:
If the overhang is less than 2 feet wide, one red flag is required at the end.
If it is wider than 2 feet, two red flags must be used. - Additional lighting is not required unless specified in the permit conditions.
New Hampshire Oversize/Overweight Permit fee:
Permit fees in New Hampshire for oversize and overweight (OSOW) loads vary based on the type of load, total weight, dimensions, and permit duration.
A single-trip permit typically starts at $10, while an annual permit may cost over $115, with additional charges for processing and handling.
Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits:
A single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible loads that exceed legal dimensions or weight. It authorizes one-time movement between two points within the allowed travel schedule.
- Oversize only: Starts at $6
- Oversize + overweight: Starts at $10, plus $2 for every additional 10,000 lbs
- Processing/handling fees may apply
- Round-trip permits are available if the return journey is required
Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits:
Annual permits are valid for 365 days and allow repetitive travel between specified points using the same vehicle and approved route.
Maximum dimensions allowed under this permit:
- Length: 75 feet
- Width: 10 feet 6 inches
- Height: 13 feet 6 inches
- Weight: Must be within legal limits
Permit Fees: - $115 for statewide travel
- $60 for routes within a 100-mile radius, applicable only to New Hampshire-based and registered carriers
Trip Permits (Temporary IRP):
Out-of-state carriers can purchase a 72-hour IRP permit for $15, allowing temporary operation in New Hampshire without IRP registration. Additional processing fees may apply.
Fuel Permits (Temporary IFTA):
A 72-hour IFTA fuel permit is available for $10 for non-IFTA registered vehicles entering New Hampshire. Processing and handling fees may also apply.
Specialty Permits: Special permits may be required depending on load type, dimensions, or circumstances:
- Emergency Permits: Issued during emergency situations such as floods, fires, storms, or public emergencies. These permits authorize immediate movement to protect life or property and may be requested by officials.
- Amber Light Permits: Vehicles escorting oversize loads must have roof-mounted amber warning lights for visibility and safety.
- Loading Zone Permits: A special permit is available for non-commercial vehicles to access commercial loading zones for delivery purposes.
Oversize/Overweight Load Penalties in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, fines for operating oversize or overweight vehicles vary based on how much the vehicle exceeds legal weight limits, as outlined in state regulations.
General Penalties for Exceeding Legal Weight
- First offense: Fine up to $100
- Subsequent offenses within the same registration year: Fine up to $250
Penalties Under RSA 266:18-a and RSA 266:18-b
Fines for exceeding weight limits defined in these statutes are calculated based on the severity and number of violations:
- First offense:
$100, or
$0.02 per pound over the legal limit, whichever results in a higher fine - Second offense:
$250, or
$0.02 per pound over the limit, whichever is greater - Third or subsequent offenses (up to 15,000 lbs overweight):
$250, or
$0.02 per excess pound, whichever is higher - For excess weight between 15,001 – 30,000 lbs:
$0.03 per pound over the legal limit - For excess over 30,000 lbs:
$0.04 per pound over the legal limit
Additional Violations
- Overweight on Interstate or Defense Highways: Penalties align with those for general weight violations, as listed above.
- Violating Posted Bridge Weight Limits: Fines of up to $200
- Crossing Excluded Bridges While Overweight: Fines of up to $400
FAQ’s
You can contact at (270)908-9656 Express Heavy Haul for New Hampshire Oversize Permits.
An oversize load in New Hampshire refers to any vehicle or combination of vehicles and loads that exceed the legal size and weight limits set by the state. Vehicles exceeding regular limits for height, width, length, or weight must obtain special permits to travel legally on public highways.
The maximum dimensions allowed under permit in New Hampshire can vary depending on the route and conditions. Generally, loads beyond 16 feet wide, 16 feet high, 150 feet long, or weighing over 250,000 pounds are considered superloads and may need special routing, additional permits, and escort vehicles.
The maximum legal height for a vehicle in New Hampshire without a permit is 15 feet. Any height above the standard legal maximum requires an oversize permit.
The legal maximum width without a permit in New Hampshire is 8 feet 6 inches (102 inches). Any load wider than the allowed limit must secure an appropriate oversize permit.
New Hampshire’s oversize regulations govern the movement of vehicles exceeding legal size or weight limits. Carriers must obtain appropriate permits before operating such loads, adhere to route restrictions, and comply with escort and safety requirements.
The cost of a wide load permit in New Hampshire depends on the size and type of load. As of the latest guidelines, fees typically start at around $25 to $100 for single trip permits, with additional charges for larger or heavier loads.
Yes, New Hampshire allows the use of electronic oversize permits, which can be downloaded and shown digitally on a mobile device, provided they are legible and accessible during inspections.
Generally, oversize loads are allowed to move only during daylight hours, defined as 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Night travel may be permitted for certain loads, but only with prior approval noted on the permit.
Escort vehicle requirements in New Hampshire depend on the size of the load. Typically, one or more pilot cars are required for loads wider than 12 feet or taller than 15 feet, and police escorts may be necessary for extremely large or heavy shipments.
Oversize rules in New Hampshire include obtaining permits in advance, adhering to designated travel times, displaying appropriate signs and lighting, and using escorts when required. These regulations are in place to ensure public safety and minimize road damage.
Any load exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width is classified as oversize in New Hampshire and requires a permit.
Oversize vehicles are generally allowed to operate from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, Monday through Saturday. Travel on Sundays and holidays is usually restricted unless specifically allowed by the permit.
Nighttime movement of oversize loads is not typically permitted in New Hampshire. Exceptions may be granted for certain routes or under specific conditions, but they must be clearly stated in the issued permit.
A single trip permit for New Hampshire can be ordered through Our Website Express Heavy Haul, or by calling us at (270)908-9656
Oversize load travel is allowed during daylight hours only, which is 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. No movement is allowed on major holidays or Sundays unless authorized.
Get in Touch with Us
Lets Get Started
Get Your New Hampshire Oversize Permits - Trucking Permits
If your vehicle exceeds those numbers, it’s likely overweight or hauling an oversize load. Let Express Heavyhaul Trucking Permits help get you your New Hampshire oversize or overweight permit. State Direct. 24/7 Live Service. Order Online Today. Trip & Fuel Combo Permits. Types: Oversize, Overweight, Trip.
