West Virginia Oversize Permit, Wide and Heavy Haul Information

Summary:

• Oversize vehicles in West Virginia are permitted to operate from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday.
• All oversize loads must display an “Oversize Load” sign on the front and rear of the vehicle.
• West Virginia oversize permits are valid for five calendar days.

Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions

Oversize vehicles in West Virginia are permitted to operate from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday. Movement during weekends has the following restrictions:

• On Interstate and divided routes, weekend running is permitted if dimensions don’t exceed 14 feet and 6 inches in height, 14 feet in width, and 95 feet in length of 15 feet total overhang. 
• On U.S. and select West Virginia routes, weekend running is allowed when the load does not exceed 14 feet high, 12 feet wide, 75 feet long, and 10 feet total overhang.
• On all other routes, weekend running is allowed when the load does not exceed 13 feet and 6 inches high, 12 feet wide, 75 feet long, and 10 feet total overhang.

If a load is overweight only (not oversize) and does not exceed 110,000 lbs. GVW, it is allowed 24/7 movement. Vehicles that exceed 110,000 lbs. GVW can only travel from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday.

Over-dimensional travel is usually not allowed on major holidays and holiday weekends.

No night running or overnight parking is allowed on the West Virginia Parkway. The cutoff time for entry to the Parkway depends on the time of year. Vehicles over 14 feet wide are restricted to Monday through Thursday movement, with no Friday movement allowed, while most other over-dimensional rules are the same as on the Interstates in West Virginia. 

Signs, Flags, and Lights Requirements

Signs, flags, and lights are often required when traveling with oversize freights or superloads as safety precautions for other drives and vehicles on the road.

Signs

All oversize loads must display an “Oversize Load” sign on both the front and rear of the vehicle. The signs must be yellow and five feet long by 12 inches tall with black letters 10 inches high with a one-and-a-half-inch wide brush stroke. The signs should be bumper or roof-mounted.

There are no sign requirements for overweight-only loads.

Flags

One red safety flag needs to be displayed on each side of the front bumper of the power unit and one on each top corner of the load.

An overhang exceeding 4 feet needs a flag or flashing amber light attached to the end.

There are no flag requirements for overweight-only loads. 

Lights

An overhang over 4 feet needs a flag or flashing amber light. The light should be a rotating or strobe amber-yellow plastic, acrylic, or glass-covered flashing light that is visible from at least 500 feet and has a horizontal placement, which is visible from all directions 360 degrees. 

Obtaining a Permit

West Virginia oversize permits are valid for five calendar days. You must have a permit before entering the state.

For trips entirely within the state of West Virginia, permits must be applied for through the state website. For multi-state permits, you can visit www.gotpermits.com. There is an additional convenience fee for multi-state permits but not for WV-only trips.

You must enter your truck specifications and desired routes for the permitting process. The permit may be issued immediately if the application passes the size and weight analysis. If the application does not pass, or if all desired routes are not available to select, the application must be submitted for Permit Office review.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation also takes walk-ins for permit applications.

Partnering with a Logistics Company

If you are interested in streamlining the oversize permit process in West Virginia, consider partnering with a modular logistics company. 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

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