Nebraska Pilot Car Services

PERMITS
Nebraska oversize permits are valid for ten days and must be secured before entering the state.

OPERATING HOURS
Travel is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, including weekends. Overweight-only loads are permitted to travel at any time.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL
Travel is not allowed on state highways (excluding I-80) within Lincoln during weekdays from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, as well as after 12:00 noon on weekends. In Omaha, these same restrictions apply across all routes. On Cornhusker football home game Saturdays, travel on I-80 in the Lincoln area is restricted between exits 395 and 409. Additionally, permit travel is prohibited on the state highway system from the Iowa border to Nebraska 14 and from the Kansas border to Nebraska 91. The permit office is closed on state holidays, including Arbor Day (last Friday in April), and travel restrictions apply on major holidays and associated weekends.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

Length and Overhang:

• 53-foot semi-trailer and load
• 65-foot combination trailers and load
  Note: Items like poles, pipes, beams, utility poles, and other construction materials are exempt from permit requirements for length or rear overhang.

Width: 8 feet 6 inches
Height: 14 feet 6 inches
Gross Weight Limit: 80,000 pounds

• Single axle: 20,000 pounds
• Tandem: 34,000 pounds
• Tridem: 42,000 pounds on designated routes; 34,000 pounds on other roads

To qualify for overweight permitting, the tractor must be registered for the desired weight or at least 94,000 pounds to be eligible for that much or more.

DIVISIBLE LOADS OVER 80,000 POUNDS
On state highways, divisible loads may exceed 80,000 pounds gross as long as axle and group weights are legal and the vehicle is registered for the total weight. An “Interstate Use Permit” is required when traveling on any Interstate route.

ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS

Length: No defined maximum. Loads over 85 feet on Interstates must have a rear-mounted light bar.

Width: Up to 16 feet

Height: Based on overhead clearance. Loads over 16 feet require a route survey.

Weight Limits:

• Single axle: 20,000 pounds
• Tandem: 40,000 pounds
• Tridem: 70,000 pounds

Loads over 16 feet wide or tall, over 100 feet long, or with gross weight over 160,000 pounds are considered superloads.

ESCORT REQUIREMENTS

Length:

• Over 90 feet: 1 escort may be required
• Over 100 feet: 1 escort required

Width:

• Over 12 feet: 1 escort required
  • On Interstate or four-lane divided highways, a light bar mounted on the rear may be allowed instead of an escort if stated on the permit. The light bar must be positioned for visibility and include left and right amber, yellow, or flashing lights visible from at least 800 feet.

Height:

• Over 14 feet 6 inches: 1 front escort may be required, depending on route and load
• Over 16 feet: Route survey and height pole required

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTING
“Oversize Load” signs are required on the front of the vehicle and the rear of the load for widths over 10 feet.

• Loads over 12 feet wide must display 18-inch square flags on all four corners of the vehicle(s).
• Rear overhangs of 4 feet or more must have a red flag (minimum 12 inches square) during daytime hours.
• At night, rear overhangs must have a steady-burning red light visible from at least 200 feet.
• Overlength and rear overhangs over 4 feet are permitted to operate at night with proper lighting.