West Virginia

West Virginia Oversize Permits & Escorts Information

Do you need oversize load permits in the state of West Virginia? Find out the maximum width and weight allowed on West Virginia highways, the legal operating times, the oversize load signage rules, and when West Virginia requires pilot cars. The following data is for informational purposes only. We are not a permit service, do not arrange permits for carriers, and do not answer permit and escort requirement questions.

Oversize Load Limits

Maximum load sizes before a permit is required:

• Length: 53′ (with measurement from rear tractor axle to first trailer axle not exceeding 37′) on Interstate and designated highways. 48′ trailer and 60′ overall on non-designated roads.
• Width: 8’6″
• Height: 13’6″
• Weight: 80,000 lbs gross
• Overhang: 6′ in the front; 3′ off the rear

Permits

West Virginia oversize permits are valid for five calendar days. Permits are required prior to entering the state. For more information, visit the West Virginia Department of Transportation.

Legal Operating Times

• Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday.
• Weekend allowed on Interstate highways and divided routes if less than 95′ long, 14′ wide, 14’6″ high, or 15′ total overhang.
• Weekend allowed on US and selected WV routes if less than 75′ long, 12′ wide, 14′ high, and 10′ total overhang.
• Weekend allowed on all other routes when less than 75′ long, 12′ wide, 13’6″ high, and 10′ total overhang.
• No travel on major holidays (New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day).
• Continuous 24/7 travel allowed for overweight only loads not exceeding 110,000 lbs. Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday, for overweight only loads exceeding 110,000 lbs.
• No night travel or overnight parking allowed on the Parkway. Loads over 14′ wide allowed only Monday through Thursday travel.

Pilot Cars & Escort Vehicles

Escort vehicle or pilot car required for heavy-haul or oversize loads if:

• Length: 75′ to 95′ requires one rear on two-lane roads.
• Width: 10′6″ to 12′ wide requires one front two-lane roads. Up to 12′ wide requires no escorts on four-lane roads. 12′1″ to 14′ wide requires one front and one rear on two-lane roads and one rear on four-lane roads. 14′1″ to 15′ wide requires one front and one rear. 15′1″ to 16′ wide requires two front and one rear on two-lane roads and one front and two rear on four-lane roads. Police escort required for weekend travel without a permit. Districts and Parkways (Turnpikes) may require additional escorts.
• Height: Over 15′ high requires one front with a height pole.
• Weight: Undefined.
• Overhang: Exceeding 10′ in front requires one front. Exceeding 10′ in rear requires one rear.

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Requirements

Pilot cars and escort vehicles must have a gross weight of at least 2,000 lbs but less than 26,000 lbs. A bumper or roof-mounted “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign must be visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle. The sign must be at least 5′ long and 12″ tall with a yellow background and black letters at least 10″ tall and 1.5″ wide. Two red or orange safety flags at least 18″ of long and/or tall must be mounted at a 40- to 70-degree angle on all four corners of the vehicle. Company identification signs, at least 8″ tall and 12″ wide, displaying the company’s name and phone number, must be placed on both the left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle. An amber-colored rotating, flashing, or strobe light with 360-degree visibility from a minimum of 500′ must be horizontally mounted to the vehicle. All pilot cars and escort vehicles must be equipped with a CB radio or 2-way communication device, a “STOP”/“SLOW” sign at least 18″ in diameter with letters at least 6″ tall, a red safety-colored flag at least 18″ square with a handle, three reflective emergency road triangles or 18″ traffic cones, two “OVERSIZE LOAD” banners (yellow with black lettering), a safety colored (red, orange, yellow, or lime-green) vest, jacket, or shirt to be used while directing traffic, and two 5-pound fire extinguishers type A, B, and C. For a vehicle to qualify, all pilot car/escort vehicles .

Oversize Load Sign Requirements

“OVERSIZE LOAD” signs and six flags are required on the front and rear of all oversize loads. One flag should be displayed on each side of the front bumper of the cab and one on each top corner of the load. Overhangs exceeding 4′ require flags or flashing amber lights. Overweight only loads require no signs or flags.

The data on this page is for informational purposes only, and we do not guarantee its accuracy.