Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions
On I-76 in Pennsylvania, any vehicle with a height over 13 feet and 6 inches are not allowed. Pilot cars are required for vehicles over 90 feet in length, 11 feet in width, or 15 feet in rear overhang. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, loads can travel from dawn to dusk Monday through Thursday, and from dawn until noon on Fridays.
From Labor Day to Memorial day, adjusted travel times will be permitted. These include travel from dawn to dusk Monday through Friday and dawn until noon on Saturdays. On the weekends, daylight travel is allowed until noon on Saturdays. No Sunday travel is permitted. If a load is over 10 feet wide and/or 85 feet long, weekend travel is explicitly prohibited.
In urban Pennsylvania areas, travel is allowed all days of the week from 9-4 pm and 7 pm-sunset, as well as 3-7:30 am. However, specific lighting and additional pilot cars may be required. Holiday travel in Pennsylvania does have some limitations as well. Typically, traveling is not allowed from noon the day before a major holiday or on holiday weekends until the next weekday.
Signs, Flags, and Lights Requirements
Signs, flags, and lights may be required when moving oversize loads or superloads for the safety of other drivers and roadway users.
Signs
In Pennsylvania, an “Oversize Load” sign is required on all oversized loads’ front and rear end unless otherwise specified in the driver's permit. Once the vehicle ceases to be considered oversized, the oversized signage must be removed.
Flags
Oversized loads must have flags at the loads’ wides points. In addition, any overhang in the rear that is 4 feet or more must have a flag or red light fixated.
Lights
When a vehicle is traveling by pilot cars, headlights and rear end lamps must be on and in use.
Obtaining a permit
All single trip permits for oversize and overweight loads are valid for seven days. All permits must be in possession before entering the state of Pennsylvania.
To get started, you can order permits at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website here:
https://www.penndot.gov/Doing-Business/Permits/Pages/default.aspx or by calling (717) 412-5300.
