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Permits for construction-equipment hauling
Reviewed by Korey Sharp-Paar · Updated
Hauling excavators, dozers, cranes, and graders almost always triggers per-trip oversize and overweight permits in every state of travel under 23 CFR §658. Permits are submitted to the state agency once your details are checked, and the permit is emailed as soon as the state issues it, from $85 per state per trip plus state DOT fees, with route engineering for non-standard pieces.
Why construction equipment is permit-heavy
Most heavy construction equipment crosses both the 80,000-lb federal weight limit (23 CFR §658.17) and the standard 8'6" width / 13'6" height limits when loaded on a lowboy. A CAT D8 dozer at ~83,000 lbs combined with a 25,000-lb lowboy puts the rig at 108,000+ lbs and 12+ feet wide - triggering both an overweight permit and an oversize permit in each state of travel. Larger equipment (cranes, earth-movers, paving equipment) routinely runs 130,000+ lbs and 14+ feet wide.
See our state-by-state oversize/overweight guide for the per-state fee detail and our superload explainer for loads that need engineered routes.
What's included
- Per-trip oversize/overweight permits in every state of the route
- Route engineering coordination for outsized pieces
- Escort and pole-car requirement identification
- Permit issuance follows state DOT business hours
- Annual permit applications where states offer them
Construction equipment permit questions
What permits do I need to haul a CAT D8 dozer or larger?
A D8 dozer plus lowboy typically grosses 90,000-110,000 lbs and runs 11-12 ft wide. That triggers per-trip overweight permits (over 80,000 lbs GVW) and per-trip oversize width permits (over 8'6") in every state of travel. Tracked equipment also typically needs a Class 7 Special Hauling Vehicle (SHV) designation in some states. Plan on a permit per state per trip plus state DOT fees.
Can I get an annual permit for repeat construction-equipment hauls?
Some states offer annual oversize/overweight permits for repeat haulers - Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana have well-established annual permit programs. Annual permits typically cap GVW and dimensions; loads exceeding the annual-permit ceiling still require per-trip permits even if the carrier holds the annual. Annual permits work well for fleets running consistent equipment routes.
Do I need a state operating permit on top of the oversize permit?
Often yes. Trip permits cover the specific oversize/overweight move; state operating authority (CA, TX, OH) plus weight-distance permits (NY HUT, KYU, NM, CT, Oregon) apply on top for general state operation. A new construction-equipment hauler operating multi-state typically holds the operating-authority permits as a baseline plus per-trip oversize permits for individual moves.
Other permit contexts
You might also need
- UCR registration - FastUCRFiling
- Driver screening - FastDriverScreening