New Jersey Oversize / Overweight Regulations

What is considered as "Oversized Load" in New Jersey?

Dimensions: Width: 8'6" (8' undesignated roads) Height: 13'6" Semi Trailer Length: 53' (non-designated Hwys: 48)

What is considered as "Overweight Load" in New Jersey?

Weights: Single Axle: 22,400 lb. Tandem axle: 34,000 lb. Tridem: 56,400 Max Gross Weight: 80,000 lb.

New Jersey Oversize / Overweight Permits

New Jersey Pilot Cars / Escorts

                                 Load                                                                  Escort Vehicle(s)

Exceeds 14 ft.t wide and/or length exceeds 100 ft.                     One escort vehicle in front: 200 to 5000 ft. ahead of load.

Exceeds 16 ft. wide and/or w length exceeds 120 ft.                  Two escort vehicles: Rear escort 100 to 250 ft. behind load

Traveling during the nighttime hours                                               One Additional Escort Vehicle

Height Exceeds 14 ft.                                                                         One escort with height pole

New Jersey Axle Regulations

Maximum Legal weight

Axle Group                                                           Maximum Weight

Siingle                                                                    22,400 lb.

Tandem                                                                 34,000 lb.

Other Axle Configuration                                    Apply Federal Bridge Formul

GVW                                                                       80,000 lb.

The gross weight of each set of tandem axles shall not exceed 34,000 pounds and the combined gross weight of the two consecutive sets of tandem axles shall not exceed 68,000 pounds.

Maximum Permit Weight Allowed

An annual ocean borne containerized cargo MULTIPLE-TRIP PERMIT – may be issued for a tractor semitrailer combination engaged in the transportation of sealed containers of the type commonly used for the conveyance of freight transportation in international ocean going commerce.

Combined GVW                                                      90,000 lb

Tandem Axle                                                           38,000 lb.

Tridem (tri-axle)                                                      56,000 lb.

Weights in excess of these must apply for single-trip permits.

New Jersey Trip and Fuel (IRP / IFTA) Permits

Trip Permit

A Temporary Trip Permit is issued in lieu of IRP plates for travel within New Jersey. The fee for a Temporary New Jersey Trip Permit is $25 and is valid for 72 hours. Permits can be obtained through a permitting service, who will charge an additional processing fee.

Fuel Permit

A Temporary Fuel permit is issued in lieu of IFTA licensing for travel within New Jersey. The fee for a Temporary New Jersey Fuel permit is $25 and is valid for 96 hours. Permits can be obtained through a permitting service, who will charge an additional processing fee.

New Jersey Overweight / Oversize Fines

A person violating weight limits shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.00.

The owner and operator of any vehicle used in violation of this section shall be responsible to the municipal or other corporation owning or maintaining such bridge, or to the State if such bridge is maintained by the State, for any damage done to the bridge by reason of the violation.

Excess Weight                Fine

Up to 10,000 lb.              $0.02 per pound

10,001 and above          $0.03 per pound  

New Jersey Police Officers will usually enforce the Weight Restriction Violations Overweight as to Gross Vehicle Weight or overweight on axles. The Fines for being overweight as to the GVW are $500 for the first 1,000 pounds and then $100 for each 1,000 pounds thereafter.

Running Hours and Holiday Restrictions

Warning signs 

• The minimum size of a warning sign shall be six feet wide by one foot high. 
• The term "WIDE LOAD" or "OVERSIZE LOAD" shall be displayed on the sign in black letters of 10 inches minimum height on a yellow background. 
• When two escort vehicles are required, a warning sign shall be displayed on the front of the preceding escort vehicle and on the rear of the following escort vehicle. 
• When only one escort vehicle is required, a warning sign shall be displayed on the rear of the rearmost vehicle in the escorted combination and on the front of the escort vehicle if it is preceding, or on the front of the lead vehicle of the escorted combination and on the rear of the escort vehicle if it is following. 
• When no escort vehicles are required, warning signs shall be displayed on the front and rear of the oversize vehicle combination. 

Warning flags 

• A warning flag shall be red in color and its minimum size shall be 18 inches square. 
• Warning flags shall be displayed on the two front corners of the preceding escort vehicle. 
• Warning flags shall be displayed on the two rear corners of the following escort vehicle. 
• Warning flags shall be placed at the four corners of an oversize vehicle. 
• When a vehicle, whether oversize or not, is transporting a load which projects beyond the sides of the vehicle the warning flags shall be placed at the four corners of the load rather than the vehicle. 
• If the load projects only beyond the rear of the transporting vehicle, two flags shall be placed on the two rear corners of the load. 
• If the projecting load is round or some other shape without distinguishable corners, a warning flag shall be placed at the outermost extremity of the load on each side and/or to the rear of the vehicle. 

Headlamps and Taillamps 

Low beam headlamps and red taillamps shall be illuminated on all escort vehicles, the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle. 

Flags, Lights and Banners

Oversize permit loads may not operate on New Year's Day, Memorial Day and the Friday before Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and the Friday before Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the operation shall not be permitted on the following Monday. If the holiday falls on a Saturday, the operation shall not be permitted on the preceding Friday. Waivers to these restriction may be granted.

An oversize permit shall not be valid for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles:

During the nighttime hours of sunset to sunrise

When visibility is limited to a distance of less than 500 feet during the daylight hours of sunrise to sunset

When hazardous road conditions exist.

New Jersey Tire Regulations

Two-thirty-seconds is the minimum legal tread depth.

No person shall drive or move any motor vehicle or trailer upon the public highways, unless such motor vehicle or trailer is equipped with tires in safe operating condition.

Motor vehicle tires may be fitted with tire-chains of reasonable proportions when roads, streets and highways are slippery, because of rain, snow, ice, oil, manner of construction or other reason

Tire chains are NOT to be used at any time on improved highways when highway conditions do not make such use necessary for the safety of life or property.

No person shall drive or move any motor vehicle equipped with solid rubber tires unless every such tire shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.

New Jersey Annual Permits

There is no "Annual Permit."

New Jersey Road Conditions

The primary function of the Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) is to provide a safe and efficient flow of traffic through or around highway construction projects, utility work, maintenance operations and traffic incidents.

Be Alert: Dedicate your full attention to the road.

Minimize Distractions: Avoid changing radio stations, eating, or doing other tasks that could divert a portion of your concentration.

Don’t Tailgate: Keep at least two car lengths between you and the car ahead of you. Watch for brake lights on vehicles ahead of you, be aware of the traffic around you, and be prepared to react.

Obey Signs: Heed the posted speed limit. Speeding is a major cause of work zone crashes. For this reason, fines are doubled for moving violations in work zones.

Use Caution Changing Lanes: Change only when you can do it safely and where pavement markings may indicate you may.

Obey Flaggers: A flagger has the same authority as the regulatory sign; you can be fined for ignoring their instructions.

Expect the Unexpected: Workers and construction vehicles or equipment may enter your lane without warning. Other vehicles may abruptly slow down, change lanes, or stop.

Expect Delays: Check online before you leave to see if roads on your route are under construction. Leave extra travel time accordingly and consider an alternate route if possible.

Be Patient: The goal of the work zone crew is to improve the road and your future drive. Like the signs say, give them a “brake.”

New Jersey Manufactured Houses and Mobile homes

There are no specific regulations relating to the movement of manufactured housing. refer to regulations on oversize loads.

Oversize / Overweight Regulations By State