North Dakota oversize permit requirements
North Dakota is the state where the pole exemption does not apply. Poles, pipes, beams and utility poles travel exempt from length and overhang permits across much of the country — Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Ohio all allow it in some form. North Dakota does not. A load of poles that crossed three states without paperwork needs a permit the moment it arrives here, and that is the single most common surprise on this route.
Otherwise the state is generous and simple. Movement is sunrise to sunset including Saturday and Sunday, with the only weekend restriction falling on the largest loads: over sixteen feet wide and a hundred and ten feet long, no travel after noon on Saturday or at all on Sunday. The permit runs three days.
Routine permits allow eighteen feet of width and eighteen feet of height with a hundred and twenty feet of length — figures matched only by Montana and Iowa. The legal tridem allowance of forty-eight thousand pounds is well above the regional norm too. The seasonal restriction to plan around runs from February through May on the non-Interstate highways, varying by route.
Legal dimensions
At or under these figures, no oversize permit is required in North Dakota.
- Width
- 8′6″
- Height
- 14′0″
- Gross weight
- 80,000 lb
- Overhang
- Governed by the 75′ overall limit rather than published separately
- Single axle
- 20,000 lb
- Tandem
- 34,000 lb
- Tridem
- 48,000 lb
Routine permit limits
Above legal dimensions and up to these figures, North Dakota issues a permit as routine business. Beyond them the load becomes a superload, reviewed case by case.
- Length
- 120′
- Width
- 18′
- Height
- 18′
- Steer axle
- 12,100 lb on 11″ tires
- Single axle
- 24,000 lb
- Tandem
- 45,000 lb
- Tridem
- 60,000 lb
- Quad
- 68,000 lb
Escort requirements
A load reaching any of these figures needs an escort in North Dakota — the figure is the first size that requires one, so a load measuring exactly this much already needs it.
- Width
- 16′1″
- Height
- 15′0″
- Length
- 120′1″
When the load may move
Permit validity. Permits are valid for three days.
Operating time. Sunrise to sunset, including Saturday and Sunday.
Restricted travel. Loads over 16′ wide and 110′ long may not travel after noon on Saturday or at any time on Sunday. Major holidays and holiday weekends carry restrictions that depend on the dimensions of the load. Seasonal weight restrictions run February through May on non-Interstate highways, varying by route.
Worth knowing
- The exemption for poles, pipes, beams and utility poles does not apply in North Dakota — a load that crossed neighbouring states without a length permit needs one here.
- The legal tridem allowance of 48,000 lb is well above the regional norm.
- Routine width and height of 18′ are matched only by Montana and Iowa.
- Legal length is 53′ for the semitrailer and load, with 75′ overall including rear overhang.
- A load beyond the routine limits or over 150,000 lb is a superload.
North Dakota permits, answered
Are poles exempt from length permits in North Dakota?
No — and this is the most common surprise on the northern route. Poles, pipes, beams and utility poles are exempt in several neighbouring states but not here, so a load that crossed three states without paperwork needs a permit on arrival.
Can an oversize load travel at the weekend in North Dakota?
Yes, sunrise to sunset, unless the load is over 16′ wide and 110′ long — those may not travel after noon on Saturday or at all on Sunday.
How wide and tall can a load be on a North Dakota permit?
18′ in both dimensions, with 120′ of length — matched only by Montana and Iowa.
When do North Dakota seasonal weight restrictions apply?
February through May on the non-Interstate highways, varying by route.
How long is a North Dakota oversize permit valid?
Three days.
Crossing more than North Dakota?
A permit is per state. If the route leaves North Dakota, these are the states it most likely enters.
Get a permit quote for North Dakota
Enter the load once and the estimator prices every state on the route, flags where an escort is required, and turns the quote into an order.
Price a permit for North Dakota →Compiled from published state DOT sources. Regulations change — confirm the current rules before dispatch. Last reviewed 2026-07-30.