Kansas Oversize Permits

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

⚠ 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 ↗

Data confidence: Medium. We could not fully corroborate every figure on this page against a primary official source. Treat these numbers as a starting point and confirm with the permit office before you plan a move.
LEGAL LIMITS HIGH: from official Kansas Revisor (K.S.A. 8-1902 width 102; 8-1904 height 168 and length 45 single/65 combination; 8-1909 gross 80,000). ESCORT+TRAVEL MEDIUM-HIGH: K.A.R. 36-1-36/38; sos.ks.gov + ksdot.gov returned HTTP 403 so verbatim K.A.R. read via Cornell LII (cited to official URLs - confirm against sos.ks.gov). SUPERLOAD MEDIUM: derived from standard-permit maxima. NULLED: escort_height/escort_weight (K.A.R. ties escorts to WIDTH only; secondary 17 ft/90 ft triggers NOT in official reg). holiday null (movement permitted every day). night false (oversize daylight-only; overweight-only may travel at night).

Legal Maximum Dimensions (no permit required)

Width: 8.5ft (102in)
Height: 14ft (168in)
Max semitrailer length: 59.5ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

K.S.A. 8-1904: no vehicle including load may exceed 14 ft (168 in). Exception: cylindrically baled hay may be secured to 14 ft 6 in, and if such a load strikes an overpass or other obstacle the operator is liable for all resulting damages.

Official source for this height limit →

K.S.A. 8-1904 sets 59 ft 6 in for the semitrailer — Kansas is an OUTLIER, not a 53 ft state, and publishing 53 would send a carrier for a permit they do not need. No statutory overall limit for a tractor-semitrailer and no road-class distinction in the statute.

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

Per K.A.R. 36-1-36, escorts are triggered by WIDTH only: loads/convoys MORE THAN 14 ft (168 in) wide. On highways with FEWER THAN FOUR LANES, both a front AND rear escort are required; the rear escort may be eliminated if a warning light is mounted on top of the towing vehicle and on the rear of the load plus an oversize sign. On highways of FOUR OR MORE LANES, a rear escort is required ONLY for superloads and large structures; other loads need no escort. Escort vehicles stay within 300 ft ahead/behind with two-way radio. Superload escort companies must be certified (K.A.R. 36-1-38). For large structures, an escort must be stationed at side-road intersections and must not allow the structure to cross a bridge until all traffic is stopped. Kansas does NOT codify numeric HEIGHT or LENGTH escort thresholds (imposed as permit-specific route conditions). No statewide police-escort width/weight trigger is codified.

Travel Restrictions

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

Per K.A.R. 36-1-36: OVERDIMENSIONAL (oversize) loads are restricted to DAYLIGHT movement (sunrise to sunset) unless the Secretary finds an emergency exists. Loads that are ONLY OVERWEIGHT (legal dimensions) MAY move at night. No movement when visibility is less than one-half mile or during adverse weather. Carriers may move every day of the year, including holidays (subject to the daylight rule for oversize). Metro/rush-hour curfews are not codified statewide but may be imposed as permit-specific conditions in urban areas (Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka).

Holiday blackouts: Major US holidays.

See how Kansas compares to every state ›

Superload Thresholds

Width over: 16.5ft
Height over: 18ft
Length over: 126ft
Weight over: 150,000 lbs

K.A.R. 36-1-37 sets the MAXIMUM dimensions/weights issuable under standard/single-trip permits at 16 ft 6 in (198 in) wide, 18 ft (216 in) high, 126 ft long, and 150,000 lb gross (annual permits capped lower: 15 ft high / 120,000 lb). A SUPERLOAD (a distinct permit category under K.A.R. 36-1-38) EXCEEDS these standard-permit ceilings; superloads and large structures require KDOT engineering/bridge review through K-TRIPS. These thresholds are DERIVED from the K.A.R. 36-1-37 standard-permit maximums; Kansas does not publish a single separately-numbered 'superload = X' line.

Estimated Permit Cost Not available

We could not find a citable, official fee figure for Kansas — rather than guess, contact the permit office directly (see below) for current pricing.

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://k-trips.ksdot.gov/
Phone: 785-368-6501

Planning a move through Kansas?

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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