Iowa Oversize Permits

Legal size/weight limits, escort thresholds, travel restrictions, and permit office contact for Iowa.

⚠ REFERENCE ONLY — NOT A PERMIT. VERIFY WITH THE STATE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL.

These figures are a reference summary of publicly published state rules, not a substitute for a state-issued permit and not legal advice. Rules change — always confirm current limits and requirements directly with the state permit office before you plan or run a move. Last verified: 2026-07-16. Oversize Ops is NOT responsible and CANNOT be held liable for decisions made from this reference. Official source ↗

Legal Maximum Dimensions (no permit required)

Width: 8.5ft (102in)
Height: 13.5ft (162in)
Max semitrailer length: 53ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

Iowa Code 321.456 (Height of vehicles): a vehicle unladen or with load shall not exceed a height of 13 ft 6 in (162 in). (⚠️ 321.457 is maximum LENGTH — a common mis-citation.)

Official source for this height limit →

Iowa Code 321.457: 53 ft semitrailer, no statutory overall limit for a tractor-semitrailer. ⚠️ The 65 ft in 321.457(2)(h) is for CARGO-CARRYING POWER UNITS plus trailer, not truck tractors. Lowboys hauling construction equipment: 57 ft.

Official source for these length limits →

Escort / Pilot Car Thresholds (see glossary for terms, certification requirements for the driver)

These escort figures are route-dependent — they can change with road classification, lane width, two-lane vs multilane, and time of day. Confirm with the permit office before dispatching.

Front escort required over: 12ft wide
Rear escort required over: 12ft wide
Both escorts required over: 14ft wide
Height escort required over: 14.5ft tall

Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-511.20 sets escorts by WIDTH and ROADWAY TYPE. Over 12'0" to 14'6" wide: one escort - FRONT on a two-lane highway, REAR on a multilane highway; in this band the escort may be replaced by an amber/strobe light on the power unit and rear of the load. Over 14'6" to 18'0" wide: one escort (front on two-lane, rear on multilane) with NO light substitution. Iowa does NOT require simultaneous front AND rear escorts at any width. HEIGHT: over 14'6" (174 in) up to 20'0", a FRONT escort with a height/measuring pole is required on both road types. LENGTH: loads over 120'0" require one REAR escort. Escorts may NOT stop traffic - an on-duty peace officer must handle any needed traffic control. escort_front and escort_rear both 144 because which position applies depends on roadway type.

Travel Restrictions

Night travel: Generally allowed
Weekend travel: Generally allowed
Sunday travel: Generally allowed

Per Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-511.3, movement is daylight (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset) unless further restricted. Continuous night movement IS allowed only for loads within ALL of: width <=11'0", height <=14'6", length <=100'0", legal axle weights, on a roadway >=22 ft wide with lanes >=11 ft, with required lighting. Larger loads are daylight-only. Movement only when roads are clear of ice/snow and visibility >=1/4 mile. No general Saturday/Sunday prohibition in code, but individual single-trip permits may carry stricter windows.

Holiday blackouts: Per Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-511.3: no movement on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day; no movement after 12:00 noon the day preceding; and no movement during the full holiday weekend when the holiday falls on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. Movement may resume one-half hour before sunrise the day after.

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Extreme-Load Escalation Triggers

This jurisdiction does not define a "superload" class. The figures below are triggers for other escalations — read the note beneath them before planning against these numbers.

Width over: 15ft
Length over: 150ft
Weight over: 200,000 lbs

Iowa (Ch. 761-511) does NOT define a codified numeric 'superload' threshold. Single-trip permits are issued case-by-case, limited by actual clearances and bridge capacities. Two related hard triggers: carrier must contact affected utilities when height exceeds 16'0", and a height-pole front escort is required above 14'6". Iowa's annual OSOW permit caps at 13'5" wide, 15'5" high, 120' long, 156,000 lb; beyond that requires a single-trip permit with route review.

Estimated Permit Cost Verify before relying

$35 single-trip / $70 round-trip base

⚠ A new per-ton overweight fee (HF 979) took effect Oct 2025; its exact rate was not locatable at publish time.

Source: Iowa DOT — verify current fee with the permit office before budgeting a move.

Permit fee only — does not include escort/pilot-car service costs (market-rate, arranged separately) or third-party permit-service fees. This is an estimate for planning purposes, not a quote.

Get a Permit

Online portal: https://ia.gotpermits.com
Phone: 515-237-3264

Spring thaw weight restrictions apply statewide Feb-May.

Planning a move through Iowa?

Enter your load's exact size to see whether it needs a permit or escort here, plan a truck-legal route, or find a transporter or escort.

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