Special Hauling Permit Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Turnpike (OTC) the same facility?
• If I have an ODOT Permit and it routes me on the OTC do I need another permit?
• Do I need an ODOT Permit if I will only be on the OTC and not on Ohio State Roads?
• What is the maximum amount of weight allowed?
• Can over-dimensional or overweight vehicles travel on the turnpike?
• Can I get an overweight permit to carry more than one steel coil?
• What are the dimensional and weights allowed for short doubles?
• Can B-Trains travel on the turnpike?
• Can Rocky Mountain Doubles travel on the turnpike?
• What is considered an overweight axle?
• What is the maximum rear overhang allowed?
• Can I travel at night if my vehicle is over-dimensional?
• When can I get an over-dimensional/overweight permit at the entering toll plaza?
• How do I get an over-dimensional permit at the entering toll plaza?
• When do I have to apply in advance for an over-dimensional/overweight permit?
• How do I get an over-dimensional/overweight permit in advance?
• When a certified weight slip is required can I use an old weight slip if it is an identical load to one that was moved in the past?
• When I have to fill out an application fro every trip?
• What will my toll fare be if I travel on the Ohio Turnpike?
• What is the cost of an over-dimensional/overweight permit?
• Can I travel on the turnpike with haz-mat loads?
• Do I need a permit for haz-mat loads?
• If there is a high wind ban if effect, what vehicles are prohibited from traveling?
• Where can I find information for hauling Long Doubles or Triples on the turnpike?

Q. Is the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Turnpike Commission (OTC) the same facility?
A. No, they are operated separately.
ODOT is run by the state and issues special hauling permits for the state routes in Ohio except for the turnpike.
OTC is run by an appointed commission.  Special hauling permits for the turnpike are issued only by the turnpike.

Q. If I have an ODOT Permit and it routes me on the OTC do I need another permit?
A. The state may route you onto the turnpike but advises on the permit that you need permission to travel from the proper authority and advises to contact the turnpike commission.  Depending on the dimensions and weight of the vehicle and load you may require a turnpike permit. Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. Do I need an ODOT Permit if I will only be on the OTC and not on Ohio State Routes?
A. No.

Q. What is the maximum amount of weight allowed?
A. The maximum gross weight allowed, without a special hauling permit, is 90,000 lbs. as long as the axle weights are legal. Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. Can over-dimensional or overweight vehicles travel on the turnpike?
A. Yes, with special hauling permits.  Some dimensions and weights require prior approval by the Traffic Engineer. Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. Can I get an overweight permit to carry more than one steel coil?
A. No, overweight permits are not issued for non-divisible loads.

Q. What are the dimensions and weights allowed for short doubles?
A. Short doubles are allowed to weigh 90,000 lbs. gross weight as long as the axle weights are legal.
If you weigh over 90,000 lbs., it would be a divisible load and you would have to drop one trailer.
Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. Can B-Trains travel on the turnpike?
A. Yes, B-Trains are treated the same as Short Doubles.

Q. Can Rocky Mountain Doubles travel on the turnpike?
A. Yes, but they need to be in the Long Combination Program and they are limited to box trailers only.

Q. What is considered an overweight axle?
A. Any axle over the below allowable weights:

Single axles (axles spaced 8 ft. and over) - 21,000 lbs.  

Tandem axles (spaced 4 ft. or less) - 24,000 lbs. for the tandem (12,000 per axle)

Tandem axles (spaced over 4 ft. but less than 8 ft.) - 34,000 lbs. for the tandem (17,000 per axle)

(Tri-axles: same as for tandems, depending on the axle spacing, either 12,000 or 17,000 per axle)

Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. What is the maximum rear overhang allowed?
A. We don’t have a maximum rear overhang.  Toll Collectors are authorized to deny any vehicle that has a rear overhang that is deemed too long or unsafe.  Rear overhangs beyond 4 ft. are restricted to daylight travel only.  Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. Can I travel at night if my vehicle is over-dimensional?
A. Vehicles exceeding 10 feet in Width and 90 feet in length or with a rear overhang exceeding 4 feet are restricted to daylight travel only: Monday thru Friday and Saturday until Noon.  Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. When can I get an over-dimensional/overweight permit at the entering toll plaza?
A. Many over-dimensional vehicles may obtain a permit at the entering toll plaza depending on the dimensions.  All overweight permits need to apply in advance.   Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.

Q. How do I get an over-dimensional permit at the entering toll plaza?
A. Over-dimensional vehicles need to pull over to the right side, prior to the tollbooths and use the intercom phone by the ‘Park Here’ sign.  The toll collector will advise them what lane to enter and put the applicable permit fees into the toll ticket.   Click here to view Permit Fee Schedule.

Q. When do I have to apply in advance for an over-dimensional/overweight permit?
A. Vehicles exceeding 11 ft. Wide, 112 ft. Long, over 90,000 lbs. gross weight or with overweight axles must apply in advance and be pre-approved by the Traffic Engineer.

Q. How do I get an over-dimensional/overweight permit in advance?
A. Fill out the Overweight and Over-dimensional Application and fax in with any required documentation prior to date of travel.  Click here to view Special Hauling Permit Information.  Click here to for Over-dimensional/Overweight Application and click here for the Interchange List.

Q. When a certified weight slip is required can I use an old weight slip if it is an identical load to one that was moved in the past?
A. No, each load is required to be weighed.  The piece could be loaded differently and different axles could be heavier than the last time. 

Q. Do I have to fill out an application for every trip?
A. Yes, special hauling permits are issued per (one-way) trip only.  Annual or blanket permits are not issued.

Q. What will my toll fare be if I travel on the Ohio Turnpike?
A. Toll fees are calculated by gross weight (vehicle and load) and mileage between entering and exiting toll plazas.
Click here to view Mileage table.
Click here to view Fares table.
Over-dimensional/Overweight vehicles or vehicles with overweight axles click here to view Permit Fee Schedule.

Q. What is the cost of an over-dimensional/overweight permit?
A. There is a base permit fee of $20.00 and then the cost of each over-dimension is added to the base fee.

If vehicle is gross overweight and has axles are overweight there is a .50 per mile overweight axle fee added to the permit fee.  There may be additional costs for same day service if prior approval is not obtained and/or any revisions.  Click here to view Permit Fee Schedule.

Q. Can I travel on the turnpike with hazmat loads?
A. Yes, the Ohio Turnpike is a designated hazmat route.  There are 6 hazmat placards that are required to register prior to entering the tollbooth lanes: Explosives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, Inhalation Hazard 2, Inhalation Hazard 6 and Radioactive 7.  Click here to view hazmat guidelines.

Q. Do I need a permit for hazmat loads?
A. The only hazmat loads that require permits are Explosives 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3.  You can obtain the permit at the entering toll plaza.  Single trip permit is $20.00.  Click here to view hazmat guidelines.

Q. If there is a high wind ban in effect, what vehicles are prohibited from traveling?
A. Click here for High Wind Ban information.

Q. Where can I find information for hauling Long Doubles or Triples on the turnpike?
A. The ‘Provisions’ and an ‘Application to Operate’, for Long Doubles and Triples, may be reviewed or printed from our web site.  After reading those documents please contact the Traffic Engineer’s office with any questions and to enroll in the program.  Click here for Long Combination Vehicle Program information.