Oversize/
Overweight
Permit Manual
Rhode Island
Foreword
The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association is pleased to publish this Oversize/ Overweight Permit Manual.
Each state analysis includes information in a standardized format: contact, legal limits, special permit limits,
general restrictions, types of permits available, fees, escort needs, fines, and restricted travel areas. Telephone
numbers, locations, and hours of operation are listed for ports of entry and permit branches. However, readers
are always advised to check with the state offices on current laws and procedures. This project could not have
been completed without the advice and consultation of many state officials. We thank all of those who provided
permit manuals, maps, laws, regulations, and various other forms of documentation.
Legal Notice
This SC&RA Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual is intended only to provide concise, easily read information,
useful in planning movements of overdimensional and overweight loads. This Permit Manual is not intended to be
an accurate summary of all the applicable laws and regulations. Users of the Permit Manual should confirm the
information contained herein before dispatching vehicles and loads. The SC&RA cautions Permit Manual users
that state laws and regulations are subject to change without notice, and that some time elapses between the
effective date of such changes and the amendment of the Permit Manual to reflect those changes. The SC&RA
assumes no responsibility for accident, injury, loss or claim, penalties or any other damage resulting from
reliance on the contents of this Permit Manual.
Specialized Carriers &
Rigging Association
5870 Trinity Parkway, Suite 200
Centreville, VA 20120
PHONE: (703) 698-0291
Fax: (571) 722-1698
Website: www.scranet.org
Email: [email protected]
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Copyright 1987-2014 by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging
Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the publisher, Joel M. Dandrea, Executive Vice
President, Specialized Carrier & Rigging Association. Requests to
the publisher for permission should be addressed to Joel M.
Dandrea, Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, 5870 Trinity
Parkway, Suite 200, Centreville, VA 20120.
SC&RA Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual
RHODE ISLAND
CONTACT:
State of Rhode Island
Division of Motor Vehicles
Oversize / Overweight
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, Rhode Island 02902-3024
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (M-F)
(401) 946 - 0090
(401) 462-5791 (FAX)
RIDOT Permit Section 401-277-3175
https://www.ri.gov/DMV/OSOW
LEGAL LIMITS
GVW
o
oo
ooo
80,000
22,400
36,000 tandem axle
not specified
WIDTH:
HEIGHT:
LENGTH:
8'6"
13'6"
40'
48'6"
53'
Federal Bridge Formula applies
No tolerance
28'6"
NR
48'6"
OVERHANG: 3' front
6' rear
single unit
semitrailer
on designated
routes, kingpin to
center of the rear
axle cannot
exceed 41'
doubles
overall length
autotransporter
(3' front, 4' rear
overhang)
(>4 requires
Flag and/or light)
PERMIT LIMITS
o
oo
depends on routes,
vehicle configuration
WIDTH:
HEIGHT:
LENGTH:
depends on routes
depends on routes
no set limits
Consortium Permit Limits – 13’ 6” height, 90’
length, 14’ width, and 80,000 lbs weight
PERMIT RESTRICTIONS
General - Rhode Island is a member of the multistate permit agreement with Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, and Vermont. Multi-state permits may be obtained only for vehicles and loads falling within the
size envelope limits as follows: weight 80,000 on 5 axles — 104,800 lbs. (six or more axles); length — 90';
height — 13'6"; width — 14' (additional 6" of overhang for eaves on mobile and modular home components
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SC&RA Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual
only is permissible). For vehicles exceeding these limits, individual state permits must be obtained from
each state permit office.
Permits are valid for five days. Travel is limited to times listed on permit.
Any permit issued shall be displayed in the vehicle for which the permit was issued.
Divisible load permits are available; travel on state highways only.
Movements are from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
Insurance — Must be on file with the permit office; no set limits of liability, but operators must carry
liability and property damage insurance. In special cases, a special surety bond is to be furnished to the
Department as security in lieu of adequate liability insurance.
Weekend/Night Travel – Permit travel is authorized during approved hours on Monday through Friday.
No permit travel on Saturday or Sunday is authorized under the agreement. (Weekend travel
in states which allow it must be coordinated individually between the carrier and that respective
state.) Permit travel is not allowed on specified holidays. Weekend / Night travel may be permitted on a
case-by-case basis.
Most permitted vehicles may travel on designated routes from 30 minutes prior to
sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. No night-time travel is authorized except for envelope
vehicles which are overweight only and are capable of traveling with the traffic flow are not
restricted to daylight travel time.
For mobile or modular homes over 12'0" wide, for construction equipment over 13'0"
wide and for cranes the allowable time periods for travel are between sunrise and 7:00 AM and
between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM on all of I-195 and on I-95 from the Massachusetts/Rhode Island state line
to state Route 37.
Holiday – No moves are authorized unless otherwise noted from sunset on Friday to sunrise on
Monday or the following holidays:
New Year’s Day - January 1
*MLKing, Jr.s Birthday - Third Monday of January
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Independence Day - July 4
Victory Day - Second Monday in August
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Columbus Day - Second Monday in October
*Election Day - Tuesday after the First Monday
in November (even years)
Veterans Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day - December 25
*Moves are allowed - State Offices are closed
If a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is also restricted as a holiday; and if
the holiday falls on Saturday, the previous Friday is restricted as a holiday after 12:00 noon.
If a holiday falls during the week, travel is allowed up to 12:00 noon on the day before
the holiday.
Inclement Weather – No travel is allowed when road conditions, weather conditions, or visibility make
traveling hazardous to the operator or to the driving public. Vehicles which are underway when
inclement weather occurs must exit the road at the first available location and park in a safe place
until the weather clears, or until the road conditions improve.
Permit Information Required — Applications for all nonreducible permits with the exception of
consortium permits will
require details of proposed make-up of load, overall dimensions, routing, axle spacing, number
of wheels and the estimated load distribution of each axle along with additional information as
required.
Applications for consortium permits shall require such information as object to be
moved, origin and destination, multistate routing, dimensions and weight, registration
information on vehicles as required weight, number of axles and such additional information as
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required.
Also, source and destination of shipment, desired route and turning radius for long
loads shall be supplied. Applications for extra large vehicles or load permits shall be submitted
at least five (5) days in advance to allow sufficient time for review by the Department.
PERMIT TYPES
Single Trip — One specific move only.
Blanket — Issued for an intrastate move of a nonreducible load for a three-or six-month period. Loads may
not exceed 75' in length or 11'11" in width.
Annual Crane — Issued for intrastate moves of cranes that do not exceed 12' in width, 13'6" in height, 95'
in length and 130,000 lbs. GVW; annual basis, expiring December 31.
Divisible Loads — On state highways only; annual basis, expiring March 31.
Emergency – Issued for calamity caused by fire, flood, riot, windstorm, explosion, and oil slick which
requires immediate remedial action to protect life or property.
Consortium – For interstate travel in more than one participating consortium state. Copies of the New
England Transportation Consortium’s Common Truck Permit Procedures may be obtained from the Truck
Permit Office within the Division of Motor.
FEES
Single Trip — $20.00
Blanket — $311.50.
Annual Crane — $100; nonproratable.
Divisible Loads: Trailers — $100; tractors — $50/1,000 lbs. over legal weight (with a maximum $1,250 for
104,800 lbs.); 2-, 3-, 4-axle trucks — $50/1,000 lbs. over legal limit (maximum $1,500 for 76,650 lbs.);
nonproratable.
ESCORTS AND SIGNS
Labeling — Oversize load signs are required on the front and rear of all oversize loads. Signs must have a
yellow background with black lettering of at least 10" high with a brush stroke of 1.4". Sign must have
dimensions of 7' x 1’6".
Red or fluorescent orange flags must be at least 18" square, and are to be placed at the widest extremities
of the load.
Flashing lights mounted on escort vehicles must be yellow in color.
Escort Vehicles and Personnel — A single rear escort must accompany vehicles over 12’ in width and/or
80'–90' in length. A single escort must travel with vehicles over 14' in height, with the escort located
where it can be best utilized. Two escorts must accompany vehicles over 14'6" in width and/or 90' in
length. Overhang of 15' or more must have one rear escort.
Certification – Pilot Car Escort Certification is not currently required.
FINES
Overdimension Only: $50.
Overweight Fines: $125.
When weight exceeds 104,800 lbs., operators are assessed an additional $1,000 fine. Fines are calculated
based on the registered weight of the vehicle. Operators may be cited for both over-axle and over-gross
violations. Drivers may not shift load to avoid an over-axle citation
RESTRICTED TRAVEL
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Permits for the Newport and Mt. Hope bridges only available from Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
Weight restrictions on the Veterans Memorial Parkway – East Providence, Route 114 – Bristol, Route 114 –
Johnston, South Main Street – Coventry, and on state roadways – East Providence.
East Providence - No motor vehicle with a gross weight exceeding two (2) tons except
those listed herein shall be allowed to travel the Veterans Memorial Parkway in the city of
East Providence.
Special Requirements for Jamestown Bridge
Because of its narrow width (22 feet 0 inches curb to curb), a request for an overwidth
permit to travel across the Jamestown Bridge will be carefully scrutinized before it is issued.
For vehicles over 9 feet wide which receive a permit, the owner must arrange with
police officials to halt traffic on one end of the bridge before proceeding across the bridge.
Moving heavy equipment at railroad grade crossings.
No railroad rule.
PORTS OF ENTRY
Port Of Entry-Newport
Port Information
Port Code:
0501
Location Address:
320 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
Mailing Address:
Same As Above
General Phone:
(401) 847-2744
Operational Hours:
9:00 AM-7:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
05/28/2007To09/07/2007
Service Port-Providence
Port Information
Port Code:
0502
Location Address:
49 Pavilion Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
Mailing Address:
Same As Above
General Phone:
(401) 941-6326 Ext: 0
General Fax:
(401) 941-6628
Operational Hours:
8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
PERMIT ORDERING
As of April 2, 2008, application for all Rhode Island OS/OW permits are required to be submitted using the
Rhode Island DMVDOT Oversize Overweight Online Permitting System.
To apply for Oversize Overweight non-reducible load permits you must have an active RI.gov subscription
account. You can register for this service at www.ri.gov/DMV/OSOW/dasdboard/applicant/login and the
application packet can be downloaded at http://ri.gov/subscriber/ , as well as the User Guide. There is a
$75 annual subscription fee for this service.
SPECIAL NOTES
Recent Changes – None noted
Pending Changes – None noted
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