Overview
Texas oversize and overweight permits are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) through the Texas Permitting & Routing Optimization System (TxPROS). Requirements are route-specific.
The issued permit, TxPROS route, bridge restrictions, city/county requirements, law-enforcement conditions, escort instructions and travel restrictions always control the move.
Permit Office
| Permit system | Texas Permitting & Routing Optimization System (TxPROS) |
Dimensions & Weights
Legal limits
| Width | 8′6″ |
| Height | 14′ |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight |
| Axle / group | Spacing | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Single axle | — | 20,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | — | 34,000 lbs |
Routine permit limits
| Length | Truck or single vehicle 75′; front overhang 25′; rear overhang 30′; max length without route inspection certification 125′; holiday max 110′ |
| Width | Max 14′ on holidays except manufactured housing; 16′ on controlled-access highways except manufactured housing; 20′ without route inspection certification |
| Height | Max 16′ on holidays; 18′11″ without route inspection certification |
| Weight | Permit weight based on 650 lbs per inch of tire width or axle/group limits, whichever is lower |
| Axle / group | Spacing | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Single axle | — | 25,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | — | 46,000 lbs |
| Tridem axle | — | 60,000 lbs |
| Quadrem axle | — | 70,000 lbs |
| Quint axle | — | 81,400 lbs |
| Six or more axles | — | See permit conditions |
Escort Requirements
| Based on | Escorts required |
|---|---|
| Width | Over 14′ to 16′: 1 front on two-lane highways / 1 rear on multi-lane highways |
| Width | Over 16′: 1 front and 1 rear on all roads |
| Overhang | Front overhang exceeds 20′: escort required |
| Overhang | Rear overhang exceeds 20′: escort required |
| Height | Over 17′: 1 front with height pole |
| Height | Over 18′: 1 front and 1 rear on all roads; front must have height pole |
Notes
- Permits required when width exceeds 8′6″, height exceeds 14′, GVW exceeds 80,000 lb, axle/group weights are exceeded, or overhang exceeds legal allowance
- General single-trip permit base fee: $60; highway maintenance fees added by gross-weight tier
- 80,001–120,000 lbs: $150 HMF + $60 permit = $210 total
- 120,001–160,000 lbs: $225 HMF + $60 = $285 total
- 160,001–200,000 lbs: $300 HMF + $60 = $360 total
- 200,001 lbs and above: $375 HMF + $60 = $435 total
- Route inspection certification required for width over 20′, height over 18′11″, or length over 125′
- Loads over 200,000 lbs may require additional supervision fees, bridge/pavement analysis and engineering review
- Travel restrictions may apply for holidays, metro areas, weather and time-of-day curfews
- Major metro areas requiring careful route review include Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Laredo, Pharr and Midland-Odessa
- Superheavy loads may require detailed route analysis, bridge/pavement review, utility coordination, law enforcement involvement and additional lead time