In New Jersey, 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 | New Jersey legal limit | Permit if over |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | Wider |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | Taller |
| Length (combination) | 75 ft | Longer |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | Heavier |
| Single axle | 22,400 lbs | Heavier |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | Heavier |
New Jersey 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… | New Jersey requires |
|---|---|
| 14 ft wide | 1 escort (pilot car) |
| 16 ft wide | 2 escorts |
| 14 ft high | Escort with a height pole / pole car |
| 100 ft long | 1 escort · 120 ft → 2 escorts |
| 14 ft 6 in high or 14 ft wide | Route survey required |
3When you can travel
- Daylight only — sunrise to sunset.
- Weekends: Weekend travel is allowed.
- Oversize prohibited sunset-to-sunrise; nighttime waiver available from Chief Administrator for business hardship, traffic-congestion reduction, or emergency; waiver requires +1 additional escort..
- Holiday blackouts: New Year's Day, Memorial Day and Friday before, Independence Day, Labor Day and Friday before, Thanksgiving Day and Wednesday before, Christmas Day.
5Permit timing
- Validity: a single-trip permit is good for ~5 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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?New Jersey permit FAQ
When do I need an oversize permit in New Jersey?
Once a load exceeds any legal limit: 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 75 ft long (combination), or 80,000 lbs gross.
When do I need a pilot car in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires one escort over 14 ft wide (two over 16 ft), and a height pole over 14 ft high.
Can you drive an oversize load at night in New Jersey?
Daylight only, sunrise to sunset. Oversize prohibited sunset-to-sunrise; nighttime waiver available from Chief Administrator for business hardship, traffic-congestion reduction, or emergency; waiver requires +1 additional escort. Weekend travel is allowed within limits.
How much does a New Jersey 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 New Jersey load with FreightDeck →.
Can oversize loads move on weekends and holidays in New Jersey?
Weekend travel is allowed. Movement stops on New Year's Day, Memorial Day and Friday before, Independence Day, Labor Day and Friday before, Thanksgiving Day and Wednesday before, and Christmas Day (Whole day; Sunday holiday -> following Monday; Saturday holiday -> preceding Friday); check the permit conditions for exact times.
How much overhang is allowed in New Jersey?
New Jersey sets no general front-overhang allowance — freight ahead of the trailer counts toward its length limits.
Does New Jersey require a route survey?
Yes, once a load is over 14 ft 6 in high or 14 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey publishes exemptions or relaxed rules for manufactured homes, farm tractors/machinery/implements - width set by mvc rule (not a blanket exemption); no interstate/freeway/parkway, and hay/straw loads up to 105.5 in (for example special house-moving permits). Exemptions are narrow and usually limited to specific roads and daylight hours; anything else over the legal limits needs a permit.
Does a New Jersey permit cover New York?
No. Every state issues its own permit, and a move crossing into New York, Pennsylvania, or Delaware needs a separate permit there with that state's escort and travel rules. FreightDeck prices every state on the route in one quote.