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OS/OW permits

1,614 facts from 3 places, each quoted from the agency that sets it.

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General

144 topics

Permit required to exceed dimension limits (Yes or no)

Whether a vehicle or load exceeding any legal dimension or weight limit must obtain an oversize/overweight permit to operate.

  • New York

    Yes

    For Subpart 154-1 permits. 7 more cases.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    3 more cases.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For vehicle or load exceeding the dimension or load limits.

Permit validity period (In words)

The period for which an oversize/overweight permit is valid, such as annual, seasonal, a maximum number of days, or a specific date range.

  • New York

    four consecutive months

    For seasonal agricultural permit. 4 more cases.

  • Ontario

    12 months from the date of issue

    For annual permit. 1 more case.

  • Quebec

    Maximum duration of one year

    For general permit. 3 more cases.

Permit validity period (Measures)

Number of permissible hauling days for which a permit is valid.

  • New York
    1 to 365 days

    Across 20 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Ontario
    7 to 365 days

    Across 2 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Quebec
    7 to 365 days

    Across 2 cases, each with its own conditions.

Permit required for oversize and overweight (In words)

The type of permit required when a load is both oversize and overweight.

Maximum width (Measures)

Maximum overall width of the vehicle or combination, including load and equipment, permitted under the permit class.

  • New York
    2.44 to 4.88 m (8′ to 16′)

    General rule 3.66 m (12′), with 21 other cases.

  • Ontario
    2.6 to 4.99 m (8′ 6.5″ to 16′ 4.5″)

    General rule 2.6 m (8′ 6.5″), with 8 other cases.

  • Quebec
    4.3 to 5.75 m (14′ 1.5″ to 18′ 10.5″)

    Across 12 cases, each with its own conditions.

Online permit management system name (In words)

Name of the online system the region provides for applying for and managing special hauling permits.

  • New York

    Highway Oversize Overweight Credentialing System (HOOCS)

    1 more case.

  • Ontario

    Permitting and Registration for International Registration Plan and Oversize/Overweight (PRIO)

  • Quebec

    Ministerial special permit management system (GPM)

Permit route restriction (In words)

Description of the roads or areas on which the permit authorizes operation, such as selected state highways, designated highways, or a minimum pavement width.

  • New York

    On State highways with a minimum pavement width of 20 ft.

    For Blanket permit. 7 more cases.

  • Ontario

    highways under provincial jurisdiction

    4 more cases.

  • Quebec

    Travel permitted on all public roads.

    For additional condition T. 1 more case.

Maximum length (Measures)

Maximum overall length of the vehicle or combination, including load and equipment, permitted under the permit class.

  • New York
    12.2 to 48.8 m (40′ to 160′)

    General rule 25.9 m (85′), with 21 other cases.

  • Ontario
    12.5 to 45.8 m (41′ to 150′ 1″)

    Across 12 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Quebec
    17 to 40 m (55′ 9.5″ to 131′ 3″)

    Across 10 cases, each with its own conditions.

Load eligibility

4 topics Open Load eligibility

Non-divisible load definition (In words)

The criteria used to determine whether a load is non-divisible for permit eligibility.

  • New York

    A certification by the manufacturer or designer of the load and/or vehicle that the object or vehicle cannot feasibly be manufactured or broken down into smaller sections.

    For Type 1S – Superload Trip Permit. 1 more case.

  • Ontario

    You are eligible to apply for a permit if your vehicle or load cannot be reduced because it: could not be used for its intended purpose or function; would require more than eight work hours to dismantle using appropriate resources and equipment

Not stated in Quebec.

Overweight load of multiple items ineligible (Yes or no)

Whether a permit is unavailable when the vehicle, load or combination would be overweight and the load is made up of more than one item.

Not stated in Quebec.

Maximum work hours to dismantle non-divisible load (Measures)

The maximum number of work hours, using appropriate resources and equipment, that it would take to dismantle the load; a load requiring more than this number of hours to dismantle is considered non-divisible for permit eligibility.

Not stated in Quebec.

Permitted dimensions

6 topics Open Permitted dimensions

Maximum rear overhang (m) (Measures)

The maximum distance by which the load or equipment may project rearward beyond the rear of the vehicle.

  • New York
    1.22 m (4′)

    Across 4 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Ontario
    4.65 m (15′ 3″)

    Across 6 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Quebec
    1 to 6 m (3′ 3.5″ to 19′ 8″)

    Across 10 cases, each with its own conditions.

Maximum height (m) (Measures)

The maximum overall height, including load and equipment, allowed under the permit.

  • New York
    4.12 to 4.85 m (13′ 6″ to 15′ 11″)

    Across 20 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Ontario
    4.26 m (13′ 11.5″)

    Across 9 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Quebec
    4.3 to 5 m (14′ 1.5″ to 16′ 5″)

    Across 12 cases, each with its own conditions.

Maximum width (m) (Measures)

The maximum overall width, including load and equipment, allowed under the permit.

  • New York
    2.59 to 7.62 m (8′ 6″ to 25′)

    General rule 3.66 m (12′), with 29 other cases.

  • Ontario
    3.7 to 5 m (12′ 1.5″ to 16′ 5″)

    Across 10 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Quebec
    4.3 to 5.75 m (14′ 1.5″ to 18′ 10.5″)

    Across 29 cases, each with its own conditions.

Permitted weights and axle configuration

12 topics Open Permitted weights and axle configuration

Maximum gross weight (kg) (Measures)

The maximum total mass of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load and equipment.

  • New York
    11,340 to 90,719 kg (25,000 lb to 200,000 lb)

    Across 73 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Ontario
    63,500 to 120,000 kg (139,993 lb to 264,554 lb)

    Across 7 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Quebec
    24,000 to 79,000 kg (52,911 lb to 174,165 lb)

    Across 25 cases, each with its own conditions.

Maximum axle weight (kg) (Measures)

The maximum mass permitted on a single axle or group of axles, including load and equipment.

  • New York
    5,897 to 27,216 kg (13,000 lb to 60,000 lb)

    General rule 10,161 kg (22,400 lb), with 27 other cases.

  • Quebec
    9,000 to 30,000 kg (19,842 lb to 66,139 lb)

    Across 4 cases, each with its own conditions.

Not stated in Ontario.

Maximum wheel load (kg) (Measures)

The maximum mass permitted on a single wheel.

  • New York
    4,536 to 5,080 kg (10,000 lb to 11,200 lb)

    General rule 5,080 kg (11,200 lb), with 1 other case.

Not stated in Ontario and Quebec.

Validity and trip coverage

12 topics Open Validity and trip coverage

Maximum permit validity (days) (Measures)

The maximum period, in days, for which a permit of this category or class is valid.

  • New York
    5 to 365 days

    Across 21 cases, each with its own conditions.

  • Ontario
    7 days

    For single trip permits.

  • Quebec
    7 to 365 days

    Across 6 cases, each with its own conditions.

Return trip included in permit validity (Yes or no)

Whether the permit authorizes a return trip on the same route as part of the same permit, without requiring a separate permit.

Permit validity extension allowed (Yes or no)

Whether the permit validity period can be extended after issuance.

  • New York

    Yes

    For Type 1S – Superload Trip Permit. 9 more cases.

  • Ontario

    No

    Yes in 1 case, no in 1.

Not stated in Quebec.

Applications and amendments

9 topics Open Applications and amendments

Permit application requires signature (Yes or no)

Whether the permit application must be signed and dated by an authorized representative of the company.

Application processing maximum business days (Measures)

The maximum number of business days within which the government commits to process a permit application requiring in-depth analysis, provided the file is complete, accurate, and compliant.

  • Ontario
    14 days

    For superload permits.

  • Quebec
    3 to 15 days

    General rule 15 days, with 1 other case.

Not stated in New York.

Amendment allowed (Yes or no)

Whether an active permit can be amended after issuance.

Not stated in Quebec.

Permit travel conditions

15 topics Open Permit travel conditions

Escort vehicle required (Yes or no)

Whether one or more escort vehicles are required to accompany the oversize or overweight vehicle under specified conditions, as specified in the permit conditions.

  • New York

    Yes

    For Vehicles greater than 12 feet in width. 3 more cases.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    For height 4.87 m and greater. 5 more cases.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For Condition L. 29 more cases.

Police escort required (Yes or no)

Whether the permit requires the vehicle to be escorted by a police-identified emergency vehicle, as specified in the permit conditions.

  • New York

    Yes

    For Type 1S – Superload Trip Permit. 1 more case.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    For superload permits. 2 more cases.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For General condition 1. 1 more case.

Minimum distance from other oversize vehicle (km) (Measures)

The minimum distance, in kilometres, that must be maintained from another oversize or overweight vehicle whose registration number is listed on the permit, as specified in the permit conditions.

  • New York
    0.61 km (0.4 mi)
  • Ontario
    10 km (6.2 mi)
  • Quebec
    0.1 to 30 km (0.1 mi to 18.6 mi)

    Across 2 cases, each with its own conditions.

Where the comparisons come from

  18. Demander et gérer un permis spécial(opens in a new tab)

    www.transports.gouv.qc.ca, web page, 22 facts

  22. Special Hauling Permit Fees(opens in a new tab)

    www.dot.ny.gov, web page, 10 facts

  23. NYPermits(opens in a new tab)

    www.dot.ny.gov, web page, 5 facts