What can I haul in Utah without an oversize permit?

Anything inside the legal limits for width, height, length by configuration, gross weight, and axle groups, which the limits table on this page carries from the statute and rule. Watch the route-level restrictions that publish separately even for legal loads.

How much does a Utah oversize permit cost?

It depends on the term and the weight band. Oversize permits price by term, and oversize and overweight permits tier by gross weight in each term, with a mileage formula past the heavy ceiling. The sourced fee schedule on this page lists each line item and amount.

When does an oversize load need an escort in Utah?

By dimension, road class, and clock. The table starts a single pilot at published width, length, or overhang lines that differ between freeways and other highways and between day and night, adds a second pilot higher up, and adds police escorts on the largest loads. Above set lines, night movement is not authorized at all.

What counts as a superload in Utah?

A non-divisible load past the heavy gross ceiling or beyond the permitted axle maxima. Those moves get single-trip permits only, priced by the per-mile formula, with route review by the superload team and a published approval window measured in days.

Can an oversize load move at night in Utah?

Sometimes. Night movement is capped rather than banned: the escort table's non-daylight columns set what may move after dark with a pilot, anything beyond those lines waits for daylight, and night lighting requirements apply to wide, long, and overhanging loads. Tow trucks get a narrow exception inside published caps.

How do you get an oversize or overweight permit in Utah?

Online, through UDOT Motor Carrier Division online permitting system (Motor Carrier Services customer login); permits are purchased online with a major credit card before operating in Utah, the permit system named on this page with its login link in the permit office section. Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division runs it; the office's phone and hours are in the same section for moves the system cannot price.

Utah Oversize and Overweight Permits

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Sep 26, 2026

The UDOT Motor Carrier Division sells oversize and overweight permits on single-trip, semiannual, and annual terms through its online Motor Carrier Services system, with every fee fixed by Utah Code 72-7-406 and the operating rules carried in Utah Administrative Rule R909-2 (effective March 16, 2026). Legal no-permit limits are 8 feet 6 inches wide, 14 feet high, and 80,000 pounds gross, with length by configuration; a $30 single-trip oversize permit runs up to 96 continuous hours, and the overweight non-divisible tiers run from $60 single trip to $540 annual at 125,000 pounds, above which a per-mile superload formula applies ($0.012 per mile for each 1,000 pounds above 80,000, minimum $80, maximum $540). Escorts, curfews, holiday stops, and weather shutdowns are all tabulated in the rule.

Utah legal limits (no permit needed at or under these)

Width: 8.5 ftUtah Code 72-7-402(4): a vehicle unladen or with a load may not exceed a width of 8-1/2 feet, measured outside to outside of the widest extremities and excluding lawful appurtenant devices (refrigeration units, hitches, air line connections, load securing devices) that are not designed or used for carrying cargo; load-induced tire bulge is also excluded.
Height: 14 ftUtah Code 72-7-402(5): a vehicle unladen or with a load may not exceed a height of 14 feet, measured from the level road surface to the top of the load or vehicle (R909-2-4(1)(a)).
Gross weight: 80,000 lbUtah Code 72-7-404(4) and R909-2-5(1) Table 2 cap gross vehicle weight at 80,000 pounds. Emergency vehicles may run higher axle figures up to 86,000 pounds gross, and a vehicle fueled primarily by natural gas or powered primarily by electric battery may exceed the limits up to 82,000 pounds gross by the weight difference between its fuel or battery system and a comparable diesel tank and fueling system (R909-2-5(4) and (5)).
Length: truck_tractor: 45 ft
Length: straight_truck: 45 ft
Length: semitrailer: 53 ft
Length: full_trailer: 53 ft
Length: tractor_double_trailer_cargo_length: 61 ft
Length: tractor_triple_trailer_cargo_length: 61 ft
Length: truck_and_single_trailer: 65 ft
Length: truck_and_two_trailers: 65 ft
Length: noncommercial_rv: 65 ft
Length: stringer_steered: 80 ft
Length: dromedary_plus_trailer: 65 ft
Length: saddle_mount: 97 ft
Length: drawbar: 15 ft
Length: front_overhang: 3 ft
Length: rear_overhang: 6 ft
Length: note: R909-2-4 Table 1 sets maximum legal length by configuration: truck tractor and straight truck 45 feet bumper to bumper; semitrailer and full trailer 53 feet; tractor double and triple trailer combinations 61 feet of cargo carrying length (tractor not included); truck and single trailer, truck and two trailers, and noncommercial RV 65 feet bumper to bumper; stringer steered 80 feet; dromedary plus trailer 65 feet (75 feet for Class 1 munitions on interstates, US highways, and reasonable access routes); saddle mount 97 feet total with no more than one power unit, three saddle mounted vehicles, and one full mount; drawbar 15 feet box to box or frame to frame; front overhang 3 feet (4 feet when a stinger steer is in use); rear overhang 6 feet from the rear of the bed or body. 72-7-402(6) adds that there is no overall length limit on a tractor-semotrailer combination when the semitrailer is 53 feet or less, and none on a tractor-double-trailer combination at 61 feet or less of coupled trailer length.

Axle weight limits

Gross weight is one ceiling; each axle group carries its own limit, and a load can be legal on gross weight yet overweight on an axle. Exceeding any of these needs an overweight permit.

Utah legal axle weight limits by axle group
Axle group	Maximum weight
Single wheel	10,500 lb (72-7-404(3)(a): no wheel may carry more than 10,500 pounds; R909-2-5 Table 2 lists the same figure.)
Single axle	20,000 lb (72-7-404(3)(b): a single axle load may not exceed 20,000 pounds.)
Tandem axle	34,000 lb (72-7-404(3)(c): a tandem axle load may not exceed 34,000 pounds.)
Tridem axle	R909-2-5 Table 2: tridem axles must comply with the bridge formula (23 U.S.C. 127(a)(2), incorporated by reference, and 72-7-404(5)), not a flat figure.

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Permit fees

Single trip: $30 (Utah Code 72-7-406(5)(a)(iii): the fee is $30 for a single trip oversize permit, valid for not more than 96 continuous hours. A single trip oversize and overweight permit for a non-divisible load up to 125,000 pounds is $60 under 72-7-406(6)(b), and a superload single trip above the axle or gross maxima is priced by the per-mile formula in 72-7-406(7).)
Annual permit: $90
Annual eligibility: The $90 annual oversize permit (72-7-406(5)(a)(v)) is limited by R909-2-16(1)(b) to dimensions up to, but not exceeding, 14 feet 6 inches in height, 14 feet 6 inches in width, and 105 feet in length; only a single trip oversize permit may be issued beyond those dimensions (72-7-406(5)(c)), except for an annual implement-of-husbandry permit under 72-7-407 and the exceptions listed in that subsection. Overweight annual permits tier at $240, $480, and $540 by gross weight.

Single-trip permit fee schedule

A single-trip permit stacks a base fee with a weight-tiered maintenance fee, and the heaviest loads add a supervision fee.

Utah single-trip oversize permit fee components
Fee component	Applies to	Amount
Oversize permit, single trip	Vehicle or combination exceeding width, height, or length provisions; valid not more than 96 continuous hours	$30
Oversize permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days	$75
Oversize permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days	$90
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, single trip	Non-divisible load exceeding legal weight up to 125,000 pounds gross; valid not more than 96 continuous hours	$60
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days; gross vehicle weight of 84,000 pounds or less	$180
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 84,000 up to 112,000 pounds	$320
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 112,000 up to 125,000 pounds	$420
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days; gross vehicle weight of 84,000 pounds or less	$240
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 84,000 up to 112,000 pounds	$480
Oversize and overweight non-divisible permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 112,000 up to 125,000 pounds	$540
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, single trip	Divisible loads meeting R909-2-21 eligibility; valid not more than 96 continuous hours	$60
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 80,000 up to 84,000 pounds	$180
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 84,000 up to 112,000 pounds	$320
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, semiannual	Valid not more than 180 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 112,000 up to 129,000 pounds	$420
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 80,000 up to 84,000 pounds	$240
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 84,000 up to 112,000 pounds	$480
Oversize and overweight divisible-load permit, annual	Valid not more than 365 continuous days; gross vehicle weight over 112,000 up to 129,000 pounds	$540
Superload single trip above 125,000 pounds or exceeding axle maxima	Single trip only, valid not more than 96 continuous hours; fee is $0.012 per mile for each 1,000 pounds of gross weight above 80,000, subject to a minimum of $80 and a maximum of $540; miles round up to the nearest 50-mile increment, pounds round up to the nearest 25,000-pound increment, and the dollar amount rounds to the nearest $10 increment (72-7-406(7)). The UDOT fee schedule page publishes the same matrix as a table keyed to UCA 72-7-406(7)(c)(i) and (ii) with weights and miles rounded to the next higher increment.	Not confirmed

Scroll sideways to see every column.

To price a specific load, try the oversize permit cost estimator, or compare every state on the national oversize permit table.

To see how these fees combine on real loads, walk through Utah oversize permit cost worked examples.

Escort thresholds

Dimension	Threshold	Escorts	Where the escorts ride	Police escort
width, length, or overhang	over 14 ft wide, over 120 ft long, or over 20 ft overhang	1	Daylight hours on a freeway	No
width, length, or overhang	over 12 ft wide, over 105 ft long, or over 20 ft overhang	1	Daylight hours on a secondary highway	No
width	12 ft to 14 ft in width	1	Non-daylight hours on a freeway	No
width	up to 12 ft in width	1	Non-daylight hours on a secondary highway	No
width or height	over 16 ft wide or over 16 ft high	2	Daylight hours on a freeway	No
width, length, or height	over 14 ft wide, over 120 ft long, or over 16 ft high	2	Daylight hours on a secondary highway	No
width, length, height, or overhang	over 14 ft wide, over 105 ft long, over 14 ft 6 in high, or over 10 ft overhang	not authorized during non-daylight hours	Non-daylight hours on a freeway	No
width, length, height, or overhang	over 12 ft wide, over 105 ft long, over 14 ft 6 in high, or over 10 ft overhang	not authorized during non-daylight hours	Non-daylight hours on a secondary highway	No
width, length, or height	over 20 ft wide, over 175 ft long, or over 17 ft 6 in high	2 pilot escorts and at least 2 police escorts	Daylight hours on a freeway	at least 2 police escorts, count determined by the Utah Highway Patrol
width, length, or height	over 17 ft wide, over 175 ft long, or over 17 ft 6 in high	2 pilot escorts and at least 2 police escorts	Daylight hours on a secondary highway	at least 2 police escorts, count determined by the Utah Highway Patrol
overhang	over 20 ft of overhang	1	Front for front overhangs and rear for rear overhangs	No

What the escort itself has to be

Hitting the threshold is only half of it. The escort vehicle, its equipment, its driver's certification and where it rides are all regulated, and the carrier is the one holding the permit when they are not met.

Rule scope: The escort requirements apply only to non-divisible loads (R909-2-14(1)(g)), and a motor carrier shall follow the most stringent requirement that applies in Table 3 (R909-2-14(1)(b)).
Police escort: The number of police escorts is determined by the Utah Highway Patrol and is based on the area, time, difficulty of travel, and applicable state and local rules, laws, and ordinances (R909-2-14(1)(c)); the division may require more pilot and police escorts than Table 3 requires (R909-2-14(1)(e)).
Pilot certification: Pilot escort drivers domiciled in Utah must complete a Utah pilot escort certification course authorized by the division; drivers domiciled outside Utah may operate on another state's certification if the course meets the minimum requirements of the Pilot Escort Training Manual - Best Practices Guidelines as endorsed by the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (R909-2-24(2)). Certification lasts four years with one additional four-year recertification by mail or online; the list of authorized instructors and reciprocity states is available from the division at (801) 965-4892.
Escort vehicle standards: Pilot escort vehicles may be a passenger vehicle or two-axle truck with a 95-inch minimum wheelbase, a maximum gross vehicle weight of 12,000 pounds, no trailer towed, a two-way radio with at least one-half mile range, a roof-mounted OVERSIZE LOAD sign at least 5 feet by 10 inches, two amber flashing lights or an amber beacon visible 360 degrees, and a full equipment list from STOP/SLOW paddles and reflective triangles through a height pole for loads over 16 feet (R909-2-24(4) through (7)).
Escort insurance: A pilot escort driver must carry not less than $750,000 combined single limit coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from escort operations, maintained during the term of the certification (R909-2-24(9)).
Night exception tow trucks: A tow truck towing vehicles may travel outside daylight hours without a certified pilot escort if the total length is 120 feet or less and the total width is 10 feet or less (R909-2-14(1)(f)).
Contact: For convoy approvals and escort program questions contact Motor Carrier Customer Service at (801) 965-4892 or (866) 215-5399 (UDOT pilot/escort page).

Escort rules beyond the thresholds

Knowing when you need an escort is half of it. These are the Utah rules on who may run one, what the vehicle has to carry, and how the move is conducted.

Rule scope: The escort requirements apply only to non-divisible loads (R909-2-14(1)(g)), and a motor carrier shall follow the most stringent requirement that applies in Table 3 (R909-2-14(1)(b)).
Police escort: The number of police escorts is determined by the Utah Highway Patrol and is based on the area, time, difficulty of travel, and applicable state and local rules, laws, and ordinances (R909-2-14(1)(c)); the division may require more pilot and police escorts than Table 3 requires (R909-2-14(1)(e)).
Pilot certification: Pilot escort drivers domiciled in Utah must complete a Utah pilot escort certification course authorized by the division; drivers domiciled outside Utah may operate on another state's certification if the course meets the minimum requirements of the Pilot Escort Training Manual - Best Practices Guidelines as endorsed by the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (R909-2-24(2)). Certification lasts four years with one additional four-year recertification by mail or online; the list of authorized instructors and reciprocity states is available from the division at (801) 965-4892.
Escort vehicle standards: Pilot escort vehicles may be a passenger vehicle or two-axle truck with a 95-inch minimum wheelbase, a maximum gross vehicle weight of 12,000 pounds, no trailer towed, a two-way radio with at least one-half mile range, a roof-mounted OVERSIZE LOAD sign at least 5 feet by 10 inches, two amber flashing lights or an amber beacon visible 360 degrees, and a full equipment list from STOP/SLOW paddles and reflective triangles through a height pole for loads over 16 feet (R909-2-24(4) through (7)).
Escort insurance: A pilot escort driver must carry not less than $750,000 combined single limit coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from escort operations, maintained during the term of the certification (R909-2-24(9)).
Night exception tow trucks: A tow truck towing vehicles may travel outside daylight hours without a certified pilot escort if the total length is 120 feet or less and the total width is 10 feet or less (R909-2-14(1)(f)).
Contact: For convoy approvals and escort program questions contact Motor Carrier Customer Service at (801) 965-4892 or (866) 215-5399 (UDOT pilot/escort page).

Conditions attached to every permit

The standing conditions Utah writes into the permit itself, which apply whether or not they are printed on your copy.

Registration prerequisite: The department may not issue a permit, and a permit is not valid, unless the vehicle or combination is properly registered for the weight authorized by the permit, or registered for a gross laden weight of 78,001 pounds or over if the gross laden weight authorized by the permit exceeds 80,000 pounds (72-7-406(4)).
Permit application content: An application states the proposed maximum wheel loads, axle loads, and all axle spacings; the maximum load and vehicle sizes; the specific roads requested; and whether the permit is for a single trip or other seasonal or time limits (72-7-406(6)).
Compliance conditions: To obtain a permit the motor carrier must comply with financial responsibility obligations (49 CFR Part 387 interstate and R909-1 intrastate), the vehicle must be properly registered under UCA 41-1a-2, drivers must be properly licensed with appropriate endorsements, and the carrier must comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180), and the Unified Carrier Registration as required (R909-2-8(3)).
Carry requirement: The driver must ensure the permit is present in the vehicle or combination and available for inspection; an electronic copy is acceptable (72-7-406(3) and R909-2-8(2)).
Entry exceptions: A permit must be obtained before operating within Utah, except when entering northbound I-15 at the St. George Port of Entry, westbound I-80 at the Echo Port of Entry, and eastbound I-80 at the Wendover Port of Entry (R909-2-8(1)).
Liability and indemnity: The applicant or permittee assumes responsibility for crashes, including injury and damage to public or private property, and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the department from claims resulting from permitted operations (R909-2-8(5) and (6)).
Divisible load rule: Except for a permitted 14 feet 6 inch high divisible move under 72-7-406(5)(b), the department may not issue an oversize and overweight permit to transport a load that is reasonably divisible (72-7-406(2)); non-divisible is defined in R909-2-3(34) with an eight-work-hour dismantling test and the applicant carries the burden of proof.

Travel restrictions

Daylight only: No (Night movement is not banned outright; the non-daylight columns of R909-2-14 Table 3 instead cap what may move at night (one pilot escort up to 12 to 14 feet wide depending on highway class, not authorized above the listed thresholds) and R909-2-14(2) adds night lighting requirements, including amber and red marker lights for extreme width, lighting every 25 feet on loads over 92 feet long, and a beacon visible 500 feet for overhangs over 20 feet. Daylight means one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (R909-2-3(8)).)
Curfews: R909-2-12: travel is prohibited for loads or vehicles more than 12 feet wide, 105 feet overall length, or 14 feet 6 inches high, Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain time, on highways south of the Perry Willard Interchange (I-15 Exit 357); highways in Weber, Davis, and Salt Lake Counties; highways in Utah County north of I-15 Exit 261; SR 68 north of milepost 16 in Utah County; I-80 from Exit 140 on the east side to Exit 99 on the west side of Salt Lake County; and I-84 west of milepost 94.
Weekend / holiday: R909-2-13: travel is prohibited for loads more than 12 feet wide, 105 feet overall length, or 14 feet 6 inches high on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Restrictions run from 2 p.m. the day before the holiday to sunrise the day after. For Monday holidays, restrictions begin 2 p.m. the Friday before through midnight Friday, normal travel resumes sunrise Saturday through Sunday midnight, and the restriction resumes 12:01 a.m. Monday until Tuesday sunrise.
Wind / weather: R909-2-11: for divisible loads, no LCV, tractor-trailer combination over 81 feet cargo carrying length, or truck and two-trailer combination over 92 feet bumper to bumper may operate when wind exceeds 45 mph, any snow or ice accumulation is on the roadway, or visibility is under 1,000 feet. For non-divisible loads, no oversize vehicle or load more than 10 feet wide, 105 feet long, or with 10 feet of front or rear overhang may operate with snow or ice accumulation or visibility under 1,000 feet. These requirements supersede any other conflicting provisions of the rule.

Daylight hours rule: Night movement is not banned outright; the non-daylight columns of R909-2-14 Table 3 instead cap what may move at night (one pilot escort up to 12 to 14 feet wide depending on highway class, not authorized above the listed thresholds) and R909-2-14(2) adds night lighting requirements, including amber and red marker lights for extreme width, lighting every 25 feet on loads over 92 feet long, and a beacon visible 500 feet for overhangs over 20 feet. Daylight means one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (R909-2-3(8)).
Weather: Weather travel restrictions run under 49 CFR 392.14 and R909-2-11; the division may also prohibit movement of oversized loads during days of anticipated high traffic volume, weather conditions, or special events (R909-2-13(5)).

Superload and beyond-permit review

Loads past the standard single-trip permit thresholds get individual state review rather than an off-the-shelf permit.

Non-divisible loads exceeding 125,000 pounds gross weight or the R909-2-22(4) Table 6 axle weights may only purchase single-trip permits priced by the 72-7-406(7) mileage formula. Exception processing kicks in earlier on dimensions: loads exceeding 17 feet 6 inches in height, 17 feet in width, or a gross weight over 300,000 pounds are only processed Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time and may take up to 14 days for approval (UDOT Oversize & Overweight Provisions page); R909-2-16(4) sets the route-authorization protocol for loads over 17 feet wide on two-lane routes, over 20 feet wide on interstates, or over 17 feet 6 inches high, including online application at least two business days in advance and utility company authorizations and clearances at the permittee's cost.

Applications are evaluated with the assistance of the Motor Carrier Division superload team and other agencies such as structures, region right of way, and other state agencies (UDOT page citing UCA 72-9-104). Overweight or oversize loads using dual lane trailers over 10 feet wide that do not pass bridge validation require clearance from the UDOT Structures Division, a minimum of 14 business days, single trip only, with a new approval required for each repeat configuration or route.

Gross weight lb: 125,000

More Utah permit rules

Single trip fee USD: 30
Single trip fee note: Utah Code 72-7-406(5)(a)(iii): the fee is $30 for a single trip oversize permit, valid for not more than 96 continuous hours. A single trip oversize and overweight permit for a non-divisible load up to 125,000 pounds is $60 under 72-7-406(6)(b), and a superload single trip above the axle or gross maxima is priced by the per-mile formula in 72-7-406(7).
Annual permit eligibility: The $90 annual oversize permit (72-7-406(5)(a)(v)) is limited by R909-2-16(1)(b) to dimensions up to, but not exceeding, 14 feet 6 inches in height, 14 feet 6 inches in width, and 105 feet in length; only a single trip oversize permit may be issued beyond those dimensions (72-7-406(5)(c)), except for an annual implement-of-husbandry permit under 72-7-407 and the exceptions listed in that subsection. Overweight annual permits tier at $240, $480, and $540 by gross weight.
Annual permit details: covers: oversize annual USD: 90
Annual permit details: covers: overweight annual at or under 84000 lb USD: 240
Annual permit details: covers: overweight annual 84001 to 112000 lb USD: 480
Annual permit details: covers: overweight annual 112001 to 125000 lb USD: 540
Annual permit details: covers: validity: annual permits run not more than 365 continuous days; semiannual not more than 180 continuous days
Annual permit details: validity: 365 continuous days maximum (annual); 180 continuous days maximum (semiannual)
Annual permit details: note: Permits may be transferred from one vehicle to another up to two times per permit for a fee, for annual and semiannual permits moved within a company, vehicle sales or purchases, lease changes with evidence of permit ownership, or a disabled vehicle; a transfer keeps the original expiration date (R909-2-9).
Permitted weight notes: gross cap lb: 125,000
Permitted weight notes: allowances: Nine-foot-wide axles are allowed 7.5 percent more weight than 8-foot-wide axles, ten-foot-wide axles 15 percent more, and an axle group with eight tires rather than four gets 10 percent more than an 8-foot-wide axle group (R909-2-22(8) through (10)).
Permitted weight notes: over cap rule: Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight under 125,000 pounds may be permitted on a single-trip, semiannual, or annual basis up to the Table 6 maxima; non-divisible loads exceeding 125,000 pounds gross or the Table 6 axle weights may only purchase single-trip permits (R909-2-22(4) and (7)).
Escort notes: rule scope: The escort requirements apply only to non-divisible loads (R909-2-14(1)(g)), and a motor carrier shall follow the most stringent requirement that applies in Table 3 (R909-2-14(1)(b)).
Escort notes: police escort: The number of police escorts is determined by the Utah Highway Patrol and is based on the area, time, difficulty of travel, and applicable state and local rules, laws, and ordinances (R909-2-14(1)(c)); the division may require more pilot and police escorts than Table 3 requires (R909-2-14(1)(e)).
Escort notes: pilot certification: Pilot escort drivers domiciled in Utah must complete a Utah pilot escort certification course authorized by the division; drivers domiciled outside Utah may operate on another state's certification if the course meets the minimum requirements of the Pilot Escort Training Manual - Best Practices Guidelines as endorsed by the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (R909-2-24(2)). Certification lasts four years with one additional four-year recertification by mail or online; the list of authorized instructors and reciprocity states is available from the division at (801) 965-4892.
Escort notes: escort vehicle standards: Pilot escort vehicles may be a passenger vehicle or two-axle truck with a 95-inch minimum wheelbase, a maximum gross vehicle weight of 12,000 pounds, no trailer towed, a two-way radio with at least one-half mile range, a roof-mounted OVERSIZE LOAD sign at least 5 feet by 10 inches, two amber flashing lights or an amber beacon visible 360 degrees, and a full equipment list from STOP/SLOW paddles and reflective triangles through a height pole for loads over 16 feet (R909-2-24(4) through (7)).
Escort notes: escort insurance: A pilot escort driver must carry not less than $750,000 combined single limit coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from escort operations, maintained during the term of the certification (R909-2-24(9)).
Escort notes: night exception tow trucks: A tow truck towing vehicles may travel outside daylight hours without a certified pilot escort if the total length is 120 feet or less and the total width is 10 feet or less (R909-2-14(1)(f)).
Escort notes: contact: For convoy approvals and escort program questions contact Motor Carrier Customer Service at (801) 965-4892 or (866) 215-5399 (UDOT pilot/escort page).
Seasonal permits note: No standing seasonal permit class is published in 72-7-406 or R909-2; the department may instead establish seasonal or other time limits on a permit to protect the traveling public and the highway (72-7-406(2)(b)), and the division may prohibit movement during high-traffic days (R909-2-13(5)).
Permit conditions: registration prerequisite: The department may not issue a permit, and a permit is not valid, unless the vehicle or combination is properly registered for the weight authorized by the permit, or registered for a gross laden weight of 78,001 pounds or over if the gross laden weight authorized by the permit exceeds 80,000 pounds (72-7-406(4)).
Permit conditions: permit application content: An application states the proposed maximum wheel loads, axle loads, and all axle spacings; the maximum load and vehicle sizes; the specific roads requested; and whether the permit is for a single trip or other seasonal or time limits (72-7-406(6)).
Permit conditions: compliance conditions: To obtain a permit the motor carrier must comply with financial responsibility obligations (49 CFR Part 387 interstate and R909-1 intrastate), the vehicle must be properly registered under UCA 41-1a-2, drivers must be properly licensed with appropriate endorsements, and the carrier must comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180), and the Unified Carrier Registration as required (R909-2-8(3)).
Permit conditions: carry requirement: The driver must ensure the permit is present in the vehicle or combination and available for inspection; an electronic copy is acceptable (72-7-406(3) and R909-2-8(2)).
Permit conditions: entry exceptions: A permit must be obtained before operating within Utah, except when entering northbound I-15 at the St. George Port of Entry, westbound I-80 at the Echo Port of Entry, and eastbound I-80 at the Wendover Port of Entry (R909-2-8(1)).
Permit conditions: liability and indemnity: The applicant or permittee assumes responsibility for crashes, including injury and damage to public or private property, and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the department from claims resulting from permitted operations (R909-2-8(5) and (6)).
Permit conditions: divisible load rule: Except for a permitted 14 feet 6 inch high divisible move under 72-7-406(5)(b), the department may not issue an oversize and overweight permit to transport a load that is reasonably divisible (72-7-406(2)); non-divisible is defined in R909-2-3(34) with an eight-work-hour dismantling test and the applicant carries the burden of proof.
Overweight fee schedule note: Utah prices overweight non-divisible permits by flat weight-tier fees (single trip $60; semiannual $180/$320/$420; annual $240/$480/$540) rather than a distance-by-weight matrix; the only mileage-priced permit is the superload single trip above 125,000 pounds, at $0.012 per mile per 1,000 pounds above 80,000 with an $80 floor and a $540 ceiling (72-7-406(6), (7), and (8)). Permit fees collected are credited monthly to the Transportation Fund (72-7-406(9)).

Axle group	Max weight lb	Note
Single axle, non-divisible load under 125,000 lb gross	29,500
Tandem axle, non-divisible load under 125,000 lb gross	50,000
Tridem axle		Must comply with the non-divisible bridge table formula (1.47 x 500 (LN / (N-1) + 12N + 36)).
Trunnion axle		Must comply with the non-divisible bridge table formula.

The Utah permit office

Apply or log in (UDOT Motor Carrier Division online permitting system (Motor Carrier Services customer login); permits are purchased online with a major credit card before operating in Utah): app.udot.utah.gov/public/mcs/f?p=155:1:::::
Name: Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division
Agency: Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division (permits, routing, superload team, pilot escort certification)
Phone: (801) 965-4892
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends and state and federal holidays
Address: Motor Carrier Customer Service, 4503 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, Utah 84129 (mailing address: Box 148240, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-8240)
Notes: Customer Service handles permit requests, construction restrictions, LCV application requests, port bypass program information, routing assistance, and Unified Carrier Registration information. Loads over 17 feet 6 inches high, over 17 feet wide, or over 300,000 pounds gross are only processed Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time and can take up to 14 days for approval. All sales are final.

Legal limits before you need a permit

The no-permit lines cover width, height, and gross weight, with length set by configuration from straight trucks through saddle-mount combinations, plus overhang allowances and axle group caps with a bridge-formula rule for tridems. Natural gas and battery-electric trucks get a published gross-weight allowance above the standard cap, and emergency vehicles have their own line.

The limits table on this page carries each figure from the statute and the size and weight rule. County and route-level restrictions publish separately, so a load inside the legal limits can still face a route restriction.

Single-trip permits

A single-trip oversize permit covers one move past the dimension lines and runs for a set stretch of continuous hours. Single-trip oversize and overweight permits for non-divisible loads run to the heavy gross ceiling at a flat statutory fee, with a parallel line for qualifying divisible loads. The driver carries the permit in the vehicle, and an electronic copy is acceptable.

Permits must be in hand before you operate in Utah, with narrow entry exceptions at named ports of entry on three interstate entries.

Semiannual and annual terms

Repeated work fits the longer terms. Semiannual permits run up to a set stretch of continuous days and annual permits up to a longer one, with overweight fees tiered by gross weight band in both. The annual oversize term is capped by dimension, and past the heavy ceiling only single trips are available. Permits can move between vehicles a limited number of times per permit for a fee, keeping the original expiration.

Escort requirements

The escort table splits four ways: daylight versus non-daylight, and freeway versus non-freeway highway. The pilot count rises with width, length, and height, the largest loads add police escorts set by the Highway Patrol, and above set lines at night a move is not authorized at all. Front or rear placement follows the overhang.

Pilot escort drivers domiciled in Utah must hold the state certification, good for a set term with one recertification window; out-of-state drivers ride on their home credential when the course meets the published minimums. Escort vehicles carry their own equipment standards and insurance floor, and tow trucks get a night exception inside published length and width caps.

When oversize loads can move

Utah does not ban night movement outright; the non-daylight columns of the escort table cap what may move after dark, with lighting requirements for wide, long, and overhanging loads. Daylight itself is defined in the rule from before sunrise to after sunset.

The curfew rule stops the largest loads in the urban corridor during weekday rush windows, holiday restrictions stop them around set holidays, and the weather rule stops long divisible combinations at the wind line and the largest non-divisible loads on snow, ice, or low visibility.

Superloads

Past the heavy gross ceiling or beyond the permitted axle maxima, only a single-trip permit is available and the fee is computed per mile: a statutory rate per thousand pounds above the base gross weight, with a floor and a ceiling and rounding rules for miles, pounds, and the dollar amount.

Processing differs too. The largest dimension loads are handled only during business hours with a review window measured in days, the superload team and other divisions evaluate the application, and dual-lane trailer arrangements that fail bridge validation need a structures clearance with its own minimum lead time and a fresh approval for each repeat configuration or route. Route authorization for the widest and tallest loads asks for the online application at least two business days ahead plus utility clearances at the permittee's cost.

How to read this page

A value reading "Not confirmed" means we could not verify the figure on an official agency page at review time, so it stays open rather than guessed. Superload moves above the standard permit thresholds get individual review by the state; contact the permit office named on this page. For the rest of the Utah permit stack, see Utah trucking permits.