Annual Oversize

Iowa General Provisions For Oversize Load Permit

The state of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation and any  other permit issuing authority assume no responsibility for the property  of the permit holder. During movement under permit, the permit holder  must meet the terms and conditions of the permit and must take all  reasonable precautions to protect and safeguard the lives and property  of the traveling public and adjacent property owners. A copy of a  current certificate of public liability insurance in the amounts of  $100,000 bodily injury each person, $200,000 bodily injury each  occurrence, and $50,000 property damage must be carried in the vehicle  for which the permit has been issued. 

The state of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Transportation and  any other permit issuing authority assume no responsibility for the  property of the permit holder. During movement under permit, the permit  holder must meet the terms and conditions of the permit and must take  all reasonable precautions to protect and safeguard the lives and  property of the traveling public and adjacent property owners. A copy of  a current certificate of public liability insurance in the amounts of  $100,000 bodily injury each person, $200,000 bodily injury each  occurrence, and $50,000 property damage must be carried in the vehicle  for which the permit has been issued.

Nothing shall exempt the permit holder from compliance with any load  limitations, which have been or might be established on any bridge or  road that is posted with embargo signs. 

The permit and any revisions will be void if the actual weights or  dimensions exceed what is indicated on the permit or its revisions. 

Permits can be issued only for loads that are a single article that  cannot be reasonably broken down to make it legal in size and weight. 

The permit must be carried in the cab of the vehicle for which it has been issued and be available for inspection. 

Movement is allowed seven days a week except for designated holidays  and for special events when abnormally high traffic counts can be  expected. The designated holidays are: Memorial Day, Independence Day,  and Labor Day. No movement will be allowed on these holidays or after 12  noon on days preceding these holiday weekends which include holidays  that fall on Monday, except as provided for in Section 321.457 of the  Code. 

Any reportable accident involving a vehicle operating under permit  must be reported in writing to the Director of the Office of Motor  Carrier Services, Park Fair Mall, 100 Euclid Ave., P.O. Box 10382, Des  Moines, IA 50306-0382. 

Annual Permits Only – All vehicles and loads not exceeding 12 feet, 5  inches in width or 75 feet in length shall have unlimited trip  distance. All loads not to exceed 14 feet 6 inches in width or 100 feet  in length shall need route approval from the permit issuing authority if  move exceeds 50 miles. All loads not to exceed 16 feet 0 inches in  width or 100 feet in length require route approval irregardless of the  distance. Maximum dimensions for hay 12’5" wide, 13’6" high, 75’ long. 

Escort Requirements – Escorts must be at least 18 years old, possess a  valid chauffeur or operator’s license, and carry proof of public  liability insurance in the amounts of $100,000/$200,000/$50,000. The  escort vehicle must be approximately the size of a normal passenger  automobile or pickup and must have an amber revolving light. The light  must be at least 7" high and 7" in diameter, with at least a 100  candlepower lamp providing 360° warning (or a strobe light), and  be mounted on top of the escort vehicle. An 18" square red flag must be  on each corner of the front bumper of the vehicle. 

One escort, front or rear, is required when: 

  1. Width exceeds one-half the roadway width, or exceeds 14’ on  the interstate system. Mobile homes or factory built structures do not  need an escort if they do not exceed 16’6" and travel on the interstate  or four-lane highway. An amber revolving light or strobe light must be  displayed on the rear of the mobile home or factory built structure and  on the toting vehicle.        
  2. Height exceeds 14’ 4" (a height pole must be carried in the escort vehicle).      
  3. Length exceeds 100’.

Either one escort – or an amber revolving light at least 7" high and  7" in diameter with at least a 100-candlepower lamp providing 360°  warning (or strobe light), visible from front and rear, mounted on the towing unit – is required when:   

  1. Length exceeds 80’ but does not exceed 100 feet.
  2. Front-end projection exceeds 25 feet.
  3. Rear-end projections exceeds 20 feet.
  4. Weight exceeds 80,000 pounds.

An amber revolving light or a strobe light is required on the rear of the load when the rear-end projection exceeds 10 feet. 

Over-dimension Signs – A sign reading "Oversize Load" must be used  when loads exceeding the legal limits are moved under oversize permits.  The sign must be at least 18 inches high by 7 feet long with a minimum of 12 inches  black letters, with a 1 ½" stroke, on the yellow background, and mounted  on the front bumper and on the rear of all loads exceeding 75’ in  length, 8 feet 6 inches in width, and or 14 feet in height. The rear sign for mobile  homes must be mounted at least 7 feet above the highway surface, measuring  from the bottom of the sign. 

In addition to the signs, red flags at least 18" square must be  mounted as follows: one flag at each front corner of the towing unit and  one flag at each rear corner of the load. In addition, there must be a  flag at any additional protrusion in the width of the load. 

The signs or warning devices must be mounted so they can be removed or covered when the vehicle is within legal dimensions. 

Any vehicle or implement designated for use off the highway and  operated on the highways at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less shall  be equipped with a reflective device of a type approved by the Iowa  Department of Transportation and an amber flashing light, both visible  from the rear. 

All signs not meeting the above specifications must be approved by the Office of Motor Carrier Services. 

Requirements for Continuous Moves – Vehicles and loads may travel by  permit between sunset and sunrise if, in addition to the general  provisions and general requirements specified by the permit, the  following conditions are met.                

  1. a. Dimensions shall not exceed: 
    1. Width 11 feet
    2. Height 14 fee, 4 inches
    3. Length 100 feet
    4. Weight Permitted axle limits

b. travel must be on roadways with a minimum width of 22 feet and minimum land width of 11 feet.

c. Safety lighting shall be provided at the widest part of a load. The lamps may be placed at the outer ends of the load itself or on appurtenances which are equal in width to the widest part of the load and positioned at both the extreme front and rear off the vehicle or trailer as follows.

  1. One lighted red lamp on each side at the rear of the load. 
  2. One lighted yellow or amber lamp on each side at the front of the load.

Telephone number for more information: 515-237-3264