Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: When do I need a Caltrans Transportation Permit?

Eligibility for a Permit:

Permits can only be issued for the movement of loads and/or vehicles when there exists good cause and the loads and/or vehicles are reasonably non-divisible. General guidelines toward divisibility are:

Non-divisible means any load or vehicle **exceeding applicable length, width, height, or weight limits** which if separated into smaller loads or vehicles would:

1. Compromise the intended use of the vehicle, i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended.
2. Destroy the value for the load or vehicle, i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended.

*** For a more information on legal truck size and weight limitations please visit the Legal Truck Access page.***

Permits cannot be issued to circumvent the California Vehicle Code. Permits cannot be used to allow movement of vehicles when placed out of service for size or weight infractions.

Q2: What types of permits are available, and how much do they cost?

• Single Trip* ($16): 7 Consecutive Days Duration. A single trip permit is from a single origin to a single destination in one direction of travel.
• Annual ($90): One-Year Duration. Available for certain envelope loads or specific vehicles on specified highways.
• Repetitive ($90): Maximum of 90-Day Duration. Basically a single trip permit for the delivery of the same load over the same route on a repeated basis (i.e., Overwidth pipe to a project).

*For width over 15 feet, length over 135 feet, and special hauling equipment, see Question #14 on this page.

Q3: How do I obtain a Caltrans Transportation Permit?

1. Please see our How to Apply section for more details.
2. Via a PermitService: Experienced personnel who charge a fee to obtain a permit for their client. Recommended for applicants who are not familiar with program requirements.

Q4: What are the acceptable methods for payment?

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover

Payment accepted in person at the counter, through the mail, or through Fax. When paying through mail or fax, include the card number and expiration date in appropriate areas on the application form.

Q5: What are the required accompaniments?

Q6: What about the time and day of authorized travel?

The time of day, and days of travel authorized are addressed in the Special Conditions for 24/7 Travel.

Loads that request travel during holidays may be subject to our Special Conditions for Holiday Travel; travel across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFOBB) may be subject to our Special Conditions for SFOBB.

Loads that exceed 10' in width are subject to curfew in the Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco metropolitan areas.

Q7: In general, when are Pilot Cars and Highway Patrol Escort required ?

Please refer to our Single Trip Pilot Car Maps, Red Route Summary Table (PDF), and our Special Conditions for Loads and/or Vehicles Escorted by Pilot Car(s) (PDF).

If a permit requires CHP escort, the permittee shall coordinate with CHP to schedule the escort.

Q8: What about Lighting requirements?

For enforcement reasons, these questions should be directed to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at (916) 843-3400.

In general . . .

Warning Lights: CVC Sec. 25270: Any pilot car required by the permit referred to in Section 35780 or 35790, or any vehicle or combination of vehicles subject to the permit if specified in the permit, shall be equipped with flashing amber warning lights to the front, sides or rear. The pilot car and any vehicles required by the permit to have flashing amber warning lights, shall display the flashing amber warning lights while actually engaged in the movement described in the permit. The warning lamps shall be removed or covered with opaque material whenever the pilot car is not escorting the movement described in the permit.

Lamp on Projecting Load: CVC Sec. 25103. Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends from the left side of the vehicle one foot or more, there shall be displayed at the extreme left side of the load during darkness: (a) An amber lamp plainly visible for 300 feet to the front and rear of the vehicle. (b) An amber lamp at the front visible for 300 feet to the front and a red lamp at the rear plainly visible for 300 feet to the rear of the vehicle if the projecting load exceeds 120 inches in length. The lamp shall not contain a bulb rated in excess of six candlepower.

Projecting Lights, Mirrors or Devices: CVC Sec. 35109: Lights, mirrors, or devices which are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this code may extend beyond the permissible width of the vehicle to a distance not exceeding 10 inches on each side of the vehicle.

Clearance and Side-Marker Lamps: Shall comply with CVC Sec. 25100.

For more information related to lighting equipment, please refer to Division 12, Chapter 2 of the California Vehicle Code.

Q9: What about Warning Sign requirements?

For enforcement reasons, these questions should be directed to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at (916) 843-3400.

In general . . .

Warning Signs on Loads and/or Vehicles: All loads and/or vehicles being moved on State highways which exceed 8'-6" in width, 80'-0" in length shall display appropriate warning signs.

Signs shall be posted on the front and rear of the vehicle or on the front of the lead vehicle and the rear of the back trailer with multi-vehicle combinations. The lettering shall be a 10-inch minimum height with a 1-5/8-inch minimum brush stroke, and a minimum 1-inch margin all around. All signs shall be black letters on a yellow background, mounted at least 18 inches above the road surface front and rear. Signs shall be neat, clean, legible, mounted securely and visible from straight ahead or behind and to 45-degree either side thereof.

Signs shall be posted on front and rear and shall read "LONG LOAD" or "OVERSIZE". The "LONG LOAD" sign shall be used whenever overall length exceeds 100 feet. The "OVERSIZE" sign shall be used for shorter lengths and other oversize features. The more definitive signs reading "WIDE LOAD", "LONG LOAD", "OVERSIZE LOAD", "EXCESSIVE FRONT OVERHANG" or "EXCESSIVE REAR OVERHANG" may be substituted for the "OVERSIZE" sign when appropriate. The "LONG LOAD" sign shall have preference when length exceeds 100-feet and other oversize features exist.

Warning Signs on Pilot Cars: CVC Sec. 27904.5: Subject to Section 35783.5, a pilot car shall display neat, clean, and legible signs containing the word "OVERSIZE." The words "OVERSIZE LOAD," "WIDE LOAD," or "LONG LOAD" may be substituted as applicable. The sign shall be a minimum of 48 inches above the ground and shall be legible at 45 degrees from either side when read from the front or rear. The sign shall have a bright yellow background with a minimum projected area of 440 square inches. The lettering shall be black with a 1-inch minimum brush stroke width and a 6-inch minimum letter height.

Removal of Warning Signs: CVC Sec. 35783.5: Warning signs required by the terms of a permit shall either be removed from the vehicle or covered from the view of other motorists whenever the vehicle is operating without the load that required the permit.

Q10: What about Flagging requirements?

For enforcement reasons, these questions should be directed to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at (916) 843-3400.

In general . . .

Flags on Vehicles and/or Loads: CVC Sec. 25104: Any vehicle or equipment that requires a permit issued pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 35780) of Chapter 5 of Division 15 because it is wider than permitted under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 35100) of Division 15 shall display a solid red or fluorescent orange flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square at the extreme left front and left rear of the vehicle or equipment, if the vehicle or equipment is being operated other than during darkness.

CVC Sec. 24604: Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends, or whenever any integral part of any vehicle projects, to the rear four feet or more beyond the bed or body of the vehicle, there shall be displayed at the extreme end of the load or projecting part of the vehicle during darkness, in addition to the required tail lamp, two red lights with a bulb rated not in excess of six candlepower plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the sides and rear. At any other time there shall be displayed at the extreme end of the load or projecting part of the vehicle a solid red or fluorescent orange flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square.

 

Warning Flags on Pilot Cars: CVC Sec. 28100: A pilot car shall display at least one red warning flag on each side of the vehicle. The flags shall be a minimum of 16 inches square, and shall be mounted so as to be visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle. The flags shall be removed or covered when the vehicle is not operating as a pilot car.

Projecting Lights, Mirrors or Devices: CVC Sec. 35109: Lights, mirrors, or devices which are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this code may extend beyond the permissible width of the vehicle to a distance not exceeding 10 inches on each side of the vehicle.

Q11: In general, what are the Maximum Permit Weights?

Axle groups with an axle spacing over 10 feet mounted to a common frame must be steerable. For more information regarding maximum permit weights on axle groups, view the Extralegal Weight Charts page.

Single Axle:
20,000 pounds in general. (per CVC Sec. 35550)
20,000 pounds maximum on a steering axle.
22,500 pounds on a single drive axle of a 2-axle tow truck.
28,000 pounds on a single-axle mechanical distribution unit (MDU) heavy haul configuration and some fixed load applications.
Note: No Single Axle shall exceed 30,000 pounds.

Tandem Axles:
46,725 pounds with 4'-6" axle spacing, 8-foot width, 4 tires per axle.
58,406 pounds with 4'-6" axle spacing, 10-foot width, 8 tires per axle.
60,000 pounds with a minimum 5'-9"axle spacing, 10-foot width, 8 tires per axle.
Note: The maximum allowable axle spacing for a tandem axle is 8'-0".

Tridem:
51,450 pounds with 9'-0" axle spacing, 8-foot width, 4 tires per axle.
52,500 pounds with 10'-0" axle spacing 8-foot width, 4 tires per axle.
Note (1): The maximum allowable axle spacing for tridem axles is 10'-4".
Note (2): For Tridem Bonus Purple Weight, see Policy TPPM 2009-04 (PDF).

 

Lift/Drop Axles:

Lift axles do not qualify for extralegal weight and must be raised. See Policy TPPM 102-99 Lift Axles (PDF).

Note: Axle weights must be within 10% of the average axle weight of the group for spring suspensions.

Q12: What about Vehicle Inspection Reports?

Inspections are required for the following cases:

• Four-axle power units (For extralegal weight permits only)
• Power units that exceed 20,000 pounds on the steering axle
• Fixed-load vehicles including crane, self-propelled and trailer-mounted
• Heavy haul combinations routed as 9-axles or more
• Vehicles with mechanical distribution units (MDU)
• Vehicle combinations where there is reason to believe a weight distribution problem or a dimensional inconsistency exists
• Boat trailers that require extralegal weight
• Any change of ownership or a change of configuration/or modification to the vehicle

The vehicles listed above will need to be inspected by Caltrans for compliance purposes. To request a new inspection report or reinspect an existing one, contact:

• Ihar Blazevich | Phone: (916) 917-4697 | Email: Ihar.Blazhevich@dot.ca.gov
• Thanh Nguyen | Phone: (916) 917-4723 | Email: Thanh.Tm.Nguyen@dot.ca.gov

Inspection reports are required for all companies -- including California-based and out-of-state -- when applying for transportation permits.

Notes:

• Inspection reports are valid for the life of the vehicle. However, any change in ownership or a change in configuration/or modification to the vehicle will require a reinspection.
• For heavy haul combinations, haulers may mix and match inspection reports when building permit vehicle combinations. Tractor and Jeep may vary, and Deck inserts are optional. If equipment was inspected before, it can be used in another heavy haul combination. If equipment was not previously inspected, it cannot be mixed and matched. Hauler may need to submit multiple inspections which include each component.

Q13: What about equipment reviews?

Equipment Reviews may be requested for unusual equipment which may fall outside of Caltrans’ extralegal vehicle parameters or policies. Equipment Reviews are performed by the Transportation Permits Policy and Compliance Branch Equipment Engineer (Equipment Engineer).

To determine the transportation permit qualification of unusual vehicles, please provide the following information for each proposed Permit Vehicle. Please Include a copy of the Equipment Review Checklist (PDF) with your submittal. Please be sure to include all requested information on the equipment drawing, in legible format. Please be sure to provide both plan and elevation views (top and side views) on the equipment drawing, with all dimensions in feet and inches, weight in pounds.

A request for an Equipment Review may be made in person or by electronic or regular mail. Faxed submittals are not accepted. Include “Request for Equipment Review” in the subject line of the request.

Email correspondence regarding policy exceptions may sent to the following address: Equipment.Review@dot.ca.gov

If by mail or delivery service, send two copies of everything. The mailing address is:

CALTRANS
Permits Issuance - Policy Branch
1120 N St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

All submittals are processed in a timely manner. For scheduling purposes, please allow a minimum of 20 business days for review. Once the review is complete, a letter containing the findings and decision will be issued.

Q14: When is a Variance Permit required?

All applications over 15 feet in width, over 17 feet in height, over 135 feet in length, or on special hauling equipment which exceeds the Department's standard method of weight classification must be approved by special processing. Written route surveys are required from the applicant for heights greater than 17 feet.

Variance Contact Info: Phone: (916) 323-2893, Fax: (916) 322-1505

Variance requests shall be submitted to the Transportation Permit Office no later than 30 days in advance of the proposed move. The application should be addressed "Attention Variance Coordinator." Applications shall include inspection reports, engineering justification from the manufacturer and drawing of the item(s) to be moved.

In addition to the above, the variance program provides a means to apply for exception to policy when good cause exists. Written application should explain the nature of the need for exception and what safety measures will be taken.

Q15: What about Manufactured Housing maximum length/width?

Maximum Width: 16'-0" including eves. No hardship program.
- Units 12'-0" wide or less require a tractor not less than 6,500 pounds.
- Units greater than 12'-0" wide require a tractor not less than 9,500 pounds.

Maximum Length: 80'-0" unit length including tongue.

Maximum Combination Vehicle Length:
- 105'-0" for a two-axle power unit.
- Unlimited for a power unit with three or more axles.

Manufactured Housing Unit permits can only be issued to licensed dealers, manufacturers, and haulers.  

Q16: How do I submit a request for a policy exception?

Use this checklist Policy Exception Request Checklist (PDF) as a guide to request an Extra-Legal Transport Equipment Policy Exception. Allow a minimum of 20 business days for a decision. Decision notification is by letter.

A request may be made in person or by electronic or regular mail. Faxed submittals are not accepted. Email correspondence regarding policy exceptions may be addressed to Equipment.Review@dot.ca.gov

Include “Request for Policy Exception” in the subject line of the email.

If by mail or delivery service, send two copies of everything. The mailing address is:

CALTRANS
Permits Issuance - Policy Branch
1120 N St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

Q17: How do I submit a request for a new policy, or for a revision to a current Transportation Permit Policy?

The purpose of the California Transportation Permit Advisory Council (CTPAC) is to provide a forum for government and industry viewpoints on State Transportation Permitting policies and procedures. Both Caltrans and Industry believe that this is an effective way of understanding and improving the permit process. CTPAC representatives use CTPAC and Steering Committee meetings to update their members on changes and to help resolve Permit-related issues. Please visit our CTPAC page for more information.

Q18: How do I submit a request for changes to a pilot car map route color classification or to the Red Route Summary Table?

First, view our Route Color Classification and Red Route Summary Table Revision Guide (PDF), then submit the changes using the Route Restriction Revision and Route Reclassification Request Memo (DOCX).

Q19: When do I need a direct crossing permit?

Direct Crossing Permit: Caltrans is authorized to issue a permit for a vehicle that crosses the highway from one property to another, pursuant to California law. The permit, called a Direct Crossing Permit, exempts the vehicle from registration, as long as the vehicle is only crossing the highway and not traveling on the highway. The allowable distance traveled under California law is determined on a case by case basis; there is no maximum distance in order to provide permit writers discretion in issuance of direct crossing permits. The requested route is verified by Transportation Permits Office staff.

For more information, refer to the Direct Crossing Permit (PDF) and direct any questions to the permit office managers found on the permits office contacts page.

Please contact local authorities for direct crossing permits whenever there is a route which includes travel on streets, roads or highways within their respective jurisdictions.

Last Updated 2/2024