In Kentucky, any load that exceeds the legal size or weight limits requires an oversize/overweight permit before it moves. Below are the legal limits and the requirements that apply at each threshold.
1When you need a permit
A load is oversize or overweight once it passes any of these:
| Dimension | Kentucky legal limit | Permit if over |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | Wider |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | Taller |
| Length (combination) | 65 ft | Longer |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | Heavier |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | Heavier |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | Heavier |
Kentucky sets no general front-overhang allowance — freight ahead of the trailer counts toward its length limits.
2Escort & pilot car requirements
| Once the load is over… | Kentucky requires |
|---|---|
| 12 ft wide | 1 escort (pilot car) |
| 12 ft wide | 2 escorts |
| 14 ft 11 in high | Escort with a height pole / pole car |
| 75 ft long | 1 escort · 85 ft → 2 escorts |
| 15 ft 6 in high or 16 ft wide | Route survey required |
3When you can travel
- Night travel permitted in defined conditions — Travel allowed 24-7 unless permit specifies otherwise; mobile homes prohibited Sunday.
- Weekends: Weekend travel is allowed.
5Permit timing
- Validity: a single-trip permit is good for ~10 days.
Get the full cost of your load
FreightDeck estimates every cost on an oversize move — permits, escorts, police, route survey, engineering, and the truck rate — for your exact load and route, across all 48 states and Canada, up to superload size.
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?Kentucky permit FAQ
When do I need an oversize permit in Kentucky?
Once a load exceeds any legal limit: 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 65 ft long (combination), or 80,000 lbs gross.
When do I need a pilot car in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires one escort over 12 ft wide (two over 12 ft), and a height pole over 14 ft 11 in high.
Can you drive an oversize load at night in Kentucky?
Kentucky allows night movement in defined conditions (Travel allowed 24-7 unless permit specifies otherwise; mobile homes prohibited Sunday). Weekend travel is allowed within limits.
How much does a Kentucky oversize permit cost?
The state permit fee depends on the load's size and weight. The full cost of a move also includes escorts, police, route surveys, engineering, and the truck rate, which vary by route. FreightDeck estimates all of it for your exact load — price your Kentucky load with FreightDeck →.
Can oversize loads move on weekends and holidays in Kentucky?
Weekend travel is allowed.
How much overhang is allowed in Kentucky?
Kentucky sets no general front-overhang allowance — freight ahead of the trailer counts toward its length limits.
Does Kentucky require a route survey?
Yes, once a load is over 15 ft 6 in high or 16 ft wide. The survey checks every bridge, sign, signal and wire on the route and is filed with the permit; it usually takes longer than the permit itself, so start it first. What a route survey involves →
Are any loads exempt from oversize permits in Kentucky?
Kentucky publishes exemptions or relaxed rules for farm equipment (for example a permit (annual or single trip) is required for manufacturer-to-dealer, dealer-to-manufacturer and dealer-to-dealer moves, and for any move on a fully controlled access highway, toll road parkway or interstate. non-permitted moves must still meet the regulation's safety requirements). Exemptions are narrow and usually limited to specific roads and daylight hours; anything else over the legal limits needs a permit.
Does a Kentucky permit cover Indiana?
No. Every state issues its own permit, and a move crossing into Indiana, Ohio, or West Virginia needs a separate permit there with that state's escort and travel rules. FreightDeck prices every state on the route in one quote.