Montana Oversize Permit, Wide and Heavy Haul Information

Summary:

• In Montana, interstate highway travel is permitted 24/7 for loads up to 18 feet wide (including during holidays), while non-interstate highways allow 24/7 travel for loads up to 10 feet wide, with stricter limitations for larger loads and holiday periods.
• The escort vehicle requirements vary by road type and load size, with interstate loads over 16’6″ wide requiring rear pilots and non-interstate loads over 12’6″ wide requiring front pilots, plus additional requirements for exceptionally wide or tall loads.
• Single-use permits in Montana are valid for three days and can be obtained through the Montana DOT website or by phone during business hours on weekdays.

Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions

Interstate Highways

In Montana, travel is allowed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, up to 18 feet wide, including essential services within one-half mile of the interstate highway.

Holiday and holiday weekend travel on interstate highways is allowed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, up to 18 feet wide, including essential services within one-half mile of the interstate highway. Loads exceeding 18 feet wide cannot travel on Holiday or Holiday Weekends.

Holidays refer to New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Holiday Weekend encompasses the consecutive calendar days surrounding a holiday, with travel restrictions as follows:

• For holidays on a Friday or Saturday, travel is prohibited on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• For holidays on a Sunday or Monday, travel is prohibited on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
• For holidays on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, travel is prohibited on the holiday itself.
• For Thanksgiving, travel is prohibited on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Non-Interstate Highways

Travel is allowed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, up to 10 feet wide, 150 feet long, or 15 feet 6 inches high. Loads exceeding 10 feet wide, 150 feet long, and/or 15 feet 6 inches high may travel during daylight hours only.

Loads exceeding 18 feet wide, 150 feet long, or 17 feet high, are not allowed weekend travel.

Holiday and holiday weekend travel on non-interstate highways is allowed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for loads up to 10 feet wide, 150 feet long, and/or 15 feet 6 inches high. Loads exceeding 10 feet wide, up to 12 feet 6 inches wide may travel during daylight hours only. Loads exceeding 12 feet 6 inches wide, 150 feet long, and/or 15 feet 6 inches high cannot travel on a holiday or holiday weekend.

Lights, Signage, and Pilot Vehicles

Signage and Pilot Vehicles

Interstate travel: 

• Loads exceeding 16 feet 6 inches wide to 18 feet wide must have one rear pilot vehicle. 
• Loads exceeding 18 feet wide must have at least two rear pilot vehicles side by side.
• Loads exceeding 17 feet high to 24 feet high must have one front pilot vehicle equipped with a height pole and/or any other equivalent device detecting overhead dimensions. 
• Loads exceeding 24 feet high must have one front pilot vehicle equipped with a height pole and/or any other equivalent device detecting overhead dimensions and one rear pilot.

Non-interstate travel:

• Loads exceeding 12 feet 6 inches wide to 16 feet 6 inches wide must have one front pilot vehicle. 
• Loads exceeding 16 feet 6 inches wide to 18 feet wide must have one front and one rear pilot vehicle. 
• Loads exceeding 18 feet wide to 24 feet wide must have at least two front and one rear pilot vehicles. 
• Loads exceeding 24 feet wide must have at least two front and two rear pilot vehicles. 
• Loads exceeding 200 feet long must have one front and one rear pilot vehicle

For escort vehicles, a sign with the words “oversize load” or similar wording must be visible from the front of the vehicle and rear of the vehicle at all times when piloting an oversize load. Letters should not be less than 8 inches in height. The letters should be black in color on a yellow colored background with the exception of digital signs. When not being operated as a pilot vehicle, signs must be removed. 

Lights

On the power unit, flashing amber lights, a minimum of five inches in diameter, 50 candlepower, 60 to 90 flashes per minute, must be mounted at each end of the oversize load sign and visible 360 degrees. A revolving light or strobe light may be substituted for flashing lights. Lights must be flashing at all times when moving an oversize vehicle or load.

Obtaining a Permit

For single-use permits in Montana, validity stands for three days. These permit authorizations should be in the vehicle at all times during travel and can be obtained from a state’s local Permit Office.

Permits can be ordered at the Montana DOT website or by calling 406-444-7262. Their office is open from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday (except holidays).

Partnering with a Logistics Company

Transporting oversize and overweight loads through Montana requires strict adherence to state regulations and permit requirements. By understanding the operating hours, restricted travel times, signage, and permit application process, you can ensure safe and legal transport. If you are interested in streamlining the oversize permit process in Montana, consider partnering with a modular logistics company like Stream. Contact our experts to ensure a seamless wide and heavy haul experience for your project. 

Read more:

• Over-Dimensional and Heavy Haul Permitting 101
• What You Need to Know About State Oversize Permits for Over-Dimensional, Wide, and Heavy Haul Trucking
• State Oversize Permit & Wide Load Regulations: Simplified

Stream Logistics is a transportation logistics company specializing exclusively in High Stakes Freight® , or freight where there is significant risk in moving your product. We help you transport freight when there are projects with timelines and delivery sequences, shipments with high complexity, and shipments with unique constraints.