Home / Heavy Haul FAQ / Legal Truck Height by State
Heavy Haul FAQ · Sourced from state DOTs
Why there is no federal height limit, what each state allows without a permit, and what over-height loads trigger.
Last verified: against official state sources.
Short answer
There is no federal height limit for trucks, so each state sets its own. Of the 17 states we cover, most allow 14 ft without a permit, while Colorado and Nebraska allow 14 ft 6 in and Arizona and Oklahoma drop to 13 ft 6 in on restricted routes and county roads.
The numbers
FHWA's summary of federal size rules says there is no federal vehicle height requirement, so states may set their own height restrictions. Legal height is not a clearance guarantee: the carrier still has to check bridges, signs and wires on the route.
| State | Legal height (no permit) | Over-height notes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 14 ft | Over 14 ft 6 in: front pilot with height pole (or declaration) | ODOT Route Map 2 Legend (PDF) |
| Washington | 14 ft | Over 14 ft 6 in: front pilot with height pole | WAC 468-38-100 |
| Idaho | 14 ft | Annual excess-height permit to 14 ft 9 in on designated highways | Idaho Code 49-1010 |
| California | 14 ft | Over 17 ft: pilot may be required; over 17 ft is a variance (superload) | Caltrans: Transportation Permits |
| Nevada | 14 ft | Over 15 ft 6 in: front pilot with pole; over 18 ft: superload, route survey | NDOT: Over Dimensional Vehicles |
| Arizona | 14 ft (13 ft 6 in where restricted) | Class A permit to 16 ft | 17 A.A.C. 6 (PDF) |
| Utah | 14 ft | Over 16 ft: 2 pilots; over 17 ft 6 in: police escort | Utah Admin. Rule R909-2 (PDF) |
| Montana | 14 ft | Over 17 ft: front pilot with height pole; superload | ARM 18.8.511A |
| Wyoming | 14 ft | Port of entry clears up to 17 ft | WHP: Commercial Carrier |
| Colorado | 14 ft 6 in | Standard single-trip permit to 16 ft | CDOT: Permitting Information |
| New Mexico | 14 ft | Per permit | NMSA 66-7-404 |
| Texas | 14 ft | Over 17 ft: front pilot with pole; over 18 ft 11 in: route inspection | TxDMV: Texas Size/Weight Limits |
| North Dakota | 14 ft (unless lower structures) | Over 18 ft: escort or approved pilots | NDHP Policy 9-1 (PDF) |
| South Dakota | 14 ft | Over 14 ft 6 in: no Interstate night moves | SD Handbook: Vehicle Size Regulations |
| Nebraska | 14 ft 6 in | Escort may be required over 14 ft 6 in | NDOT: Legal Sizes and Weights (PDF) |
| Kansas | 14 ft | Per permit | KHP: Legal height |
| Oklahoma | 14 ft (13 ft 6 in on county roads) | 15 ft 9 in: front and rear escorts, utilities and railroads notified | OAC 730:50-5-18 |
Source: FHWA: Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles. Checked Oct 22, 2026.
From the broker
I have pulled permits for loads that were legal on paper and still could not clear an overpass. On anything near 15 ft, we check the state's clearance tools (WSDOT's Vertical Clearance Trip Planner, for example) and the permit route before quoting, and we price a height-pole pilot where the state requires one.
By state
State guides: Oregon · Washington · Idaho · California · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Texas · North Dakota · South Dakota · Nebraska · Kansas · Oklahoma. Permit detail: Oregon · Washington · Idaho · California · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Texas · North Dakota · South Dakota · Nebraska · Kansas · Oklahoma.
Have a specific load? Request a quote or run it through the permit checker. Every load we book is permitted, escorted and routed for you.
Questions we get
No. FHWA says there is no federal vehicle height requirement for commercial motor vehicles, so states set their own limits.
14 ft. Colorado and Nebraska allow 14 ft 6 in. Arizona is 13 ft 6 in on restricted routes and Oklahoma is 13 ft 6 in on county roads.
In Oregon and Washington over 14 ft 6 in, Nevada over 15 ft 6 in, and Montana and Texas over 17 ft. Each requires a front pilot with a height pole.
No. Legal height does not guarantee clearance. Carriers are responsible for checking structures on the route.
Examples: Nevada over 18 ft, Montana and California over 17 ft, and Utah over 17 ft 6 in.
Keep reading
Send the dimensions and lane. We handle permits, escorts and routing on CRST's network. Call (310) 989-6530.
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