Oregon Highway Use Permits for Specialized Equipment

Dec. 1, 2025, 2:35 p.m.
Overview of how highway-use (oversize/overweight / “specialized equipment”) permits work under Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) — what qualifies, how to apply, and what to expect if you need to move specialized equipment on Oregon highways.
Oregon Highway Use Permits

What are Oregon Highway Use / Over-Dimension Permits (for Specialized Equipment)

  • Oregon has legal limits for vehicles and loads traveling on public highways: width, height, length and weight. 

  • When a vehicle or its load exceeds those limits (or otherwise falls outside the standard allowances), the operator typically must obtain an “over-dimension/over-weight permit” (aka “special permit” or “highway use permit for specialized equipment/loads”). 

  • These permits are needed for “non-divisible” loads or oversize equipment/machinery — e.g., heavy machinery, construction equipment, trusses, large structural members, etc.  

 Types of Permits & When They Apply

Under Oregon’s permit framework:  

Permit Type Typical Use / When It’s Needed
Single-Trip Oversize/Overweight Permit For a one-time move of a load or equipment that exceeds size/weight limits (e.g. a big excavator, a long structure, a tall load). 
Annual Oversize/Overweight Permit For repeated loads or regular movement over the calendar year — used when a company frequently hauls specialized equipment (e.g. utility companies, logging operations, heavy-equipment fleets). 
Specialized / Continuous Operation Permits For specialized equipment/vehicles used routinely — some defined permit categories include “dual-use solo vehicles” (e.g. maintenance/snow-plow trucks) or certain heavy-duty operations. 
Superload Permits For extremely large or heavy loads that far exceed typical oversize/overweight thresholds — requiring detailed documentation (dimensions, axle weights, routing, etc.) and often additional restrictions or escort/traffic control plans. 

 What You Must Submit / Provide to Get a Permit

According to ODOT’s rules and permit application guidelines, when you apply for an over-dimension permit you need to provide:  

  • Starting location, destination, and planned route on the state highway system.  

  • Commodity description (i.e., what is being moved — heavy equipment, structure, machinery, etc.) and precise load dimensions (length, width, height) and axle/weight configuration.  

  • Vehicle information (tractor/trailer make, VIN, license plate, axle/tire specs, etc.) if applicable.  

  • If load exceeds certain height/width thresholds — may require a “pilot car/escort vehicle,” or a signed liability declaration (depending on permit type and whether carrier is established with ODOT).  

  • Compliance with Oregon’s axle-weight tables or structural/bridge-weight limits if traveling over bridges or weight-restricted roads.  

Additionally:

  • Permit must be obtained before moving the load.  

  • For repeated or ongoing operations, an annual permit may be more suitable than applying for single-trip permits each time.  

 What’s Considered “Specialized Equipment” or “Non-Standard Loads”

The kinds of loads or equipment that often trigger the need for a specialized permit include: heavy machinery, construction equipment (e.g. excavators), large prefabricated structures or beams/trusses, oversized industrial equipment, logging equipment, and other loads that are “non-divisible” (i.e. cannot be disassembled for transport).  

Also — some loads exceed standard width (over 8′ 6″), height (over 14′), length, or axle/weight limits; those exceedances commonly trigger permit requirements. 

 How to Apply / Who Issues the Permits

  • Permits are issued by calling to (503) 386-4187

  • Applications can be submitted via the online  https://www.oregontruckingonline.org/

  • For “superload” or very large / complex moves, the application must include detailed load diagrams (showing width, axle spacing, weight distribution, etc.). 

  • If your equipment or load will travel on county roads or city streets in addition to state highways, you may need additional permits from the relevant local road authority (county / city) — separate from the state-level permit.  

 Obligations, Restrictions & Liability

  • The permit doesn’t remove responsibility: the carrier (permit holder) remains liable for any damage to roads, bridges, or property — or harm to persons — resulting from the oversize/overweight movement.  

  • Load must comply with the restrictions in the permit — including specified routes, maximum heights/widths/weights, pilot-car requirements where applicable.  

  • Some bridges or roads may have posted weight/size restrictions; even with a permit, you may be prohibited from certain routes.  

  • For loads over certain height thresholds, additional safety or escort requirements — for example, a pilot car with an over-height pole, especially for loads over about 14 ft 6 in.  

Key Takeaway: When You Need a Permit — and the Importance of Planning Ahead

If you need to move special equipment, machinery, or loads in Oregon that exceed the standard legal dimensions or weight limits — don’t assume you can just load and go. You likely need an over-dimension / overweight permit from ODOT.

Because the permit process can require detailed load specs, routing, axle/weight diagrams, possible escort arrangements, and sometimes even structural review (for bridges, etc.), it’s best to plan well ahead.