In Texas, 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 | Texas legal limit | Permit if over |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | Wider |
| Height | 14 ft | Taller |
| Length (combination) | 65 ft | Longer |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | Heavier |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | Heavier |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | Heavier |
Rear overhang is limited to 4 ft without an over-length permit.
2Escort & pilot car requirements
| Once the load is over… | Texas requires |
|---|---|
| 14 ft wide | 1 escort (pilot car) |
| 16 ft wide | 2 escorts |
| 17 ft high | Escort with a height pole / pole car |
| 110 ft long | 1 escort · 125 ft → 2 escorts |
| 18 ft 11 in high or 20 ft wide | Route survey required |
| 20 ft wide | Police escort |
3When you can travel
- Daylight only — 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset.
- Weekends: Weekend travel is allowed.
- Night movement allowed only for overweight-only loads, or on Interstate highways for loads up to 10 ft wide and 100 ft long with legal front and rear overhang; TxDOT may grant other exceptions after a route and traffic study. Local curfews published by TxDMV (mostly weekday rush hours) also apply.
- Holiday blackouts: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
4Superloads in Texas
A load is a superload once it exceeds any of these:
| Superload trigger | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Gross weight | 254,300 lbs |
Superloads require individual review and roughly 21 days of lead time for approval.
5Permit timing
- Superload review: ~21 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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?Texas permit FAQ
When do I need an oversize permit in Texas?
Once a load exceeds any legal limit: 8 ft 6 in wide, 14 ft high, 65 ft long (combination), or 80,000 lbs gross.
When do I need a pilot car in Texas?
Texas requires one escort over 14 ft wide (two over 16 ft), a height pole over 17 ft high, and a police escort over 20 ft wide.
Can you drive an oversize load at night in Texas?
Daylight only, 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset. Night movement allowed only for overweight-only loads, or on Interstate highways for loads up to 10 ft wide and 100 ft long with legal front and rear overhang; TxDOT may grant other exceptions after a route and traffic study. Local curfews published by TxDMV (mostly weekday rush hours) also apply. Weekend travel is allowed within limits.
What counts as a superload in Texas?
Over 254,300 lbs gross. It requires individual review and about 21 days of lead time.
How much does a Texas 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 Texas load with FreightDeck →.
How long does it take to get an oversize permit in Texas?
Texas does not publish a standard processing time for routine permits; superload review takes about 21 days.
Can oversize loads move on weekends and holidays in Texas?
Weekend travel is allowed. Movement stops on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (Whole holiday date; applies only to loads exceeding 14 ft W, 16 ft H or 110 ft L (unless TxDMV exception)); check the permit conditions for exact times.
How much overhang is allowed in Texas?
Rear overhang is limited to 4 ft without an over-length permit.
Does Texas require a route survey?
Yes, once a load is over 18 ft 11 in high or 20 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 Texas?
Texas publishes exemptions or relaxed rules for farm equipment, manufactured homes, and poles/pipe/steel (for example during daylight on non-interstate highways, or up to 50 miles on an interstate. hauled equipment: moved by the owner or owner's agent/employee to deliver to a new owner, to/from a mechanic, or in an ag/forestry operation; dealer-to-dealer moves not exempt. no 14 ft threshold in statute). Exemptions are narrow and usually limited to specific roads and daylight hours; anything else over the legal limits needs a permit.
Does a Texas permit cover New Mexico?
No. Every state issues its own permit, and a move crossing into New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Arkansas needs a separate permit there with that state's escort and travel rules. FreightDeck prices every state on the route in one quote.