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Permits by state
What Caltrans requires before an oversize or overweight load moves on the California State Highway System: permit triggers, permit types, pilot cars, and when you can travel. Sourced from Caltrans.
Last verified: against official state sources.
The numbers
| Dimension | Permit needed above |
|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in |
| Height | 14 ft 0 in |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb |
| Length | Varies by combination; verify with the state |
Caltrans issues these permits for state highways only. County and city roads need permits from the local agency.
Source: Caltrans: Transportation Permits. Checked Oct 15, 2026.
Permits
| Permit | Covers |
|---|---|
| Single Trip (I and II) | Loads over 8 ft 6 in wide, 14 ft high, or 80,000 lb |
| Annual | Up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft high, 40 ft kingpin-to-rear-axle; no travel on Red routes |
| Repetitive | Up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, 90 ft long |
| Variance (superload) | Over 15 ft wide, 17 ft high, or 135 ft long, or special hauling equipment beyond standard weight classification |
Routes are color-coded (Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown, Red) on Caltrans pilot car maps, and the color drives pilot car and travel-time rules. Permit fees: verify with the state.
Source: Caltrans: Transportation Permits. Checked Oct 15, 2026.
Pilot cars
Pilot car needs depend on the route color. Highlights from Caltrans:
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12 ft wide, over 120 ft long, over 17 ft high, or over 25 ft front/rear overhang | Pilot car(s) may be required, by route color (see pilot car maps) |
| Yellow routes | Maximum of one pilot car until width exceeds 15 ft |
| Rear overhang over 25 ft | Pilot car follows the load on all routes |
| Over 16 ft wide on Yellow, or over 15 ft on Green/Blue/Brown in daylight | CHP escort; CHP and district set hours |
Sources: Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Ch. 5 (PDF); Caltrans Pilot Car Special Conditions (PDF); Caltrans 24/7 Travel Special Conditions (PDF). Checked Oct 15, 2026.
When you can roll
| Route | Travel with a pilot car |
|---|---|
| Yellow | 24/7 up to 16 ft wide |
| Green | Daylight incl. weekends up to 15 ft; darkness up to 14 ft wide |
| Blue / Brown | Daylight weekdays; no darkness travel; Sat-Sun from ½ hour before sunrise to noon |
| Without a pilot car | 24/7 on all of the above unless the permit says "No Night Travel" |
Holidays (New Year's, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas): loads that require a pilot car may not travel from 4:00 PM to midnight the day before, or from noon to midnight on the holiday and holiday-weekend days. Travel is allowed from midnight or sunrise to noon on those days, subject to the 24/7 policy.
Thanksgiving 2026: applying the rule to a Thursday holiday with Friday off, pilot-car loads stop at 4:00 PM Wed, Nov 25 and are restricted noon to midnight Thu, Nov 26 through Sun, Nov 29. Confirm on your permit.
Sources: Caltrans 24/7 Travel Special Conditions (PDF); Caltrans Special Conditions for Holiday Travel (PDF). Checked Oct 15, 2026.
Permit office
1120 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814. Phone (916) 322-1297, 8 AM to 5 PM Mon-Fri (closed state holidays). After-hours emergencies: (916) 653-3442. Apply online through CTPS (formerly STARS2). dot.ca.gov: Transportation Permits
Rather not deal with it? Run your load through our permit checker, then call (310) 989-6530.
Quick answers
Caltrans requires a permit for loads over 8 ft 6 in wide, 14 ft 0 in high or 80,000 lb on state highways.
Pilot cars may be required by route color for loads over 12 ft wide, 120 ft long, 17 ft high or with more than 25 ft of overhang.
A variance permit covers loads over 15 ft wide, 17 ft high or 135 ft long, or special hauling equipment.
Loads that need a pilot car may not travel from 4 PM to midnight the day before a listed holiday, or from noon to midnight on the holiday and holiday weekend.
Call (916) 322-1297, 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.
Answers summarize the sourced sections above. Last verified Oct 15, 2026.
Keep reading
For lanes, industries and how we plan California moves, see Heavy Haul Trucking in California. For cross-state answers on pilot cars, legal width and height, superloads and holiday rules, see the Heavy Haul FAQ.
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