ILLINOIS O/D PERMITS INFORMATION

PERMITS:
Permits valid for five days.

OPERATING TIME:
Permit loads up to 14'6” wide, up to 15’ high, up to 145' in length, up to 120,000 pounds (or 100,000 pounds on 5 axles) can now travel seven days a week, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Loads exceeding these dimensions are allowed to travel one half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset Monday through Friday, and one-half hour before sunrise until noon on Saturday. Overweight only are allowed continuous travel if the permit shows all other dimensions as legal.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL:
Permit loads on Expressways in Cook County are restricted to a maximum of 120,000 pounds, 12' wide and/ or 13'6". Several special restrictions apply in Cook County, as listed on provision sheets (General Provisions B). Loads over 14'6" wide up to and including 16' wide are limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, St. Clair and Will. Over 16' wide may have additional restrictions. No travel from noon the day before major holidays or holiday weekends.
Illinois Toll Roads: Maximum width is 10' except 12' is allowed on sections that carry I-80 (near Indiana line) and US51 (near Wisconsin line). Gross weight 80,001 – 104,000 costs about $35.00; 104,001 – 120,000 is around $150.00. Maximum gross weight allowed is 120,000. Length exceeding 100' needs prior approval and special permit. Maximum height 14'6"; over 13'6" is $15.00 extra.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS:
Width: 8'6" on designated highways, 8' on non-designated Height: 13'6"
Length: 53' semi-trailer* on designated highways, 65' overall on non-designated. *Kingpin to center of rear axle not over 45'6", or needs to be permitted. Overhang: 3' front, 4' rear. More rear overhang is allowed if within legal length limits.
Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 20,000 Tandem – 34,000 Tridem – 42,500

ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS:
Width: 14'6 Height: 15' (depending on overhead clearances, 3" clearance required) Notes: No interstate routing is allowed for over 15’9” height. Height of 16' or more requires detailed route survey. Length: 145'
Weight Single – 24,000 Tandem – 48,000 Tridem – 60,000 (no single axle to exceed 21,000) Quad – 60,000 on standard permit, up to 100,000 with a superload permit.
Superload Note: Overweight applications get treated as superloads when: On 5 axles, grossing over 100,000 pounds and/or over 44,000 pounds on a tandem group. On 6 or more axles, grossing over 120,000 pounds and/or over 48,000 pounds on any axle group. Note on Lift or Pusher axles: Maximum weight variance between axles in a group is 2,000 pounds.
Loads exceeding these dimensions or weight are considered as superloads. Over 16' wide or 17' high will require a field or district engineering investigation. Over 17' high, all overhead utility companies must be contacted and documentation must be provided.

EXEMPTIONS:
Length limitations do not apply (O/D permit not needed) for vehicles operated in the daytime, Monday through Friday, when transporting beams, poles, pipe, culvert or other objects of a structural nature 80' or less in length (overall length 100' or less). Farm tractors and other implements of husbandry may be hauled without a permit during daylight hours (including weekends) when over width only. Permit is still needed if over 13'6 high, or over weight.

ESCORTS:
Width: Over 14'6 – 1 escort; over 16' – 3 escorts; over 18' – Illinois State Police escorts.
Height: Over 14'6 – 1 escort w/ high pole. Over 16' - route survey to get permit & 1 escort; over 18' – 2 escorts & State Police. Length: Over 110' – 1 escort; over 145' – 3 escorts; over 200' – State Police.
Loads exceeding the any two of the above dimensions – 2 escorts.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Lift axles are not considered for routine issuance. Blades, buckets, counterweights, etc. may be attached. Combination loads cannot be permitted for two overdimensions on two different pieces (example: cannot permit a load with overwidth dozer and overheight backhoe on same load).

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS:
Flags are required on the extremities of all oversize vehicles or loads and all protruding objects. "Oversize Load" signs are required on loads over 10' wide, 14'6 high and/or 75' long. All oversize/overweight permit loads must display an operable oscillating, rotating or flashing amber light or lights on the tractor. Size of the light(s) is not specified, but it must be visible from both sides and the front, and must be strong enough to be seen for at least 500 feet in the daytime. When visibility of the light is blocked from the rear, and for loads over 80' long or combinations over 100' long require a second light is required mounted 10' of rear of the object, mounted as high as practical over it, is required.