Maine Oversize Permits

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

⚠ 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
Max overall combination length: 74ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

29-A M.R.S. §2380 (Height and width restrictions): a vehicle with a permanent or temporary structural part more than 13 ft 6 in (162 in) measured vertically from level ground may not be operated on a public way or bridge. Overlimit movement permits are issued under §2382.

Official source for this height limit →

29-A MRSA 2390 opens with 45 ft per vehicle and 65 ft per combination — NEITHER is the operative figure for a tractor-semitrailer. The real rule is a 53 ft semitrailer within a 74 ft overall cap off the National Network; above 74 ft you are confined to Interstates, the Maine Turnpike and specified US-1 segments. No permit has been needed for 53 ft since 1 Jan 2004. Length rules do NOT differ between the Turnpike and I-95 — the Turnpike-specific restrictions are height and width (13 ft 6 in / 14 ft 6 in), not length.

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: 14.5ft wide
Height escort required over: 15ft tall

One pilot (escort) vehicle is required when the load is more than 12 ft (144 in) wide, more than 80 ft long, or has more than 5 ft of rear overhang. A single pilot travels in FRONT on undivided highways and in the REAR on divided highways. TWO pilot vehicles (front and rear) are required when width exceeds 14 ft 6 in (174 in). A Maine State Police escort is required when width is 16 ft or more, length is 125 ft or more, or rear overhang is more than 15 ft; at 20 ft or more wide or 150 ft or more long, two police escorts plus a pilot vehicle are required. A height 'pole car' is mandatory when overall height exceeds 15 ft (180 in). Pilot GVWR under 8,500 lb; driver 18+ and licensed two consecutive years; amber lights and OVERSIZE LOAD signage required.

Travel Restrictions

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

Overdimensional moves are DAYLIGHT-ONLY: 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset, Monday through Friday (exceptions: emergency off-hour moves and overweight-ONLY moves). Saturday travel allowed only until 12:00 PM (noon); from June 3 to August 26, Saturday travel on I-95 ends at 9:00 AM and noon on other roads. Sunday travel in July and August, and travel on any holiday year-round, requires pre-clearance by the Maine DOT Traffic Engineering Division. Separate permits and rules apply on the Maine Turnpike.

Holiday blackouts: Overdimensional travel is NOT authorized on legal holidays or holiday weekends (year-round) unless special permission is obtained under Chapter 157 Section 15. Maine BMV also notes prohibition on legal holidays and on weekends during July and August. Sunday/holiday moves in the restricted periods require Maine DOT Traffic Engineering pre-clearance.

See how Maine compares to every state ›

Superload Thresholds

Weight over: 177,000 lbs

Maine does not use the term 'superload'; the rules use 'extreme load.' Weights exceeding the standard overweight permit weight tables (top standard tier roughly 177,000 lb for an 8-axle configuration) are considered extreme loads and may require detailed engineering review by Maine DOT and/or the Maine Turnpike Authority. Dimensional moves at 16 ft+ wide, 125 ft+ long, or over 15 ft high trigger police escort and/or engineering review. No single clean numeric width/height/length 'superload' definition; the 177,000 lb figure is the extreme-load engineering-review threshold.

Estimated Permit Cost Verify before relying

Statute sets a $6–$30 range; the specific fee actually charged within that range was not found

Source: 29-A M.R.S. §2382 — 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://www.movememaine.com/
Phone: 207-624-9000 ext. 52134

Spring restrictions (Mud Season) apply Feb-May on many secondary roads.

Planning a move through Maine?

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.

Check my load in Maine Route Planner Find an Escort