290-RICR-40-00-1
C. The following rules and regulations shall amend the rules and regulations for overweight and oversize vehicles issued on April 23, 1978, June 21, 1976 and February 8, 1974, and shall supersede all overweight and oversize permit policies previously established by the Department of Transportation.
State of Rhode Island, Division of Motor Vehicles – 600 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.
Applications may be accepted by mail, telephone, Transceiver East, U.S. Funds, Xero-Fax or Cummins Cash and Information Services (CCIS) (RIDOT Permit Section 401-462-1384.).
Between the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday except holidays as listed in § 1.4.15 of this Part.
A trip fee of twenty dollars ($20) is charged for the movement of non-divisible vehicles or loads. A blanket fee for intrastate moves may be obtained for one hundred dollars ($100) in lieu of paying intrastate trip fees.
A permit is required when any vehicles or combination of vehicles exceed the legal limits specified in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-25-1 through 29 (see § 1.9(D) of this Part for clarification of legal dimensions and § 1.9(A) of this Part for gross weight and axle load limits), or in accordance with the clarification of these rules and regulations.
C. 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.
Failure by the applicant to comply or agree with general provisions stated on a permit may be the basis for refusal to issue a permit. Violation of any provision of a permit may also be the basis for denying future permits.
In special cases, a special surety bond is to be furnished to the Department as security in lieu of adequate liability insurance.
B. To travel over bridges under the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island Bridge Authority, (Mount Hope Bridge and Newport Bridge) or local town or city streets, permits must be obtained from their responsible authorities.
Any permit issued shall be displayed in the vehicle for which the permit was issued.
D. When there is a possibility that a move may damage highway facilities, the applicant will be required to deposit a certified check or other security in an amount determined by the Department of Transportation.
Permits are issued for one specific move only.
B. The Department will not automatically issue a Blanket Permit after the expiration date.
C. As declared by the President of the United States or by the Governor of the State or the Governors designee in which any emergency arises, any agency requesting such a move will contact the State with authorization for such companies.
A. No moves are authorized unless otherwise noted from sunset on Friday to sunrise on Monday or the following holidays:
11. Christmas Day - December 25
C. If a holiday falls during the week, travel is allowed up to 12:00 noon on the day before the holiday
B. Application to transport extra large vehicles or loads shall be submitted at least five (5) working days to allow our engineers to check routes submitted, overhead clearances, etc.
B. Authorized military representatives will, when applying to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for permits for oversized, overweight, or other special vehicular movements, furnish such information as may be necessary to enable this Department to make a reasonable evaluation of the effects of the movements on the highway facilities and traffic involved.
A. The applicant must conform to the following:
13. Buildings are allowed to be moved Tuesday through Thursdays only.
J. Routings
K. Speed- See § 1.5.6 of this Part.
B. Overhang
C. Bridge Clearances
D. Running Engine on Vehicle
E. Properly Mounted Load
G. Weather Conditions- See § 1.5.9 of this Part.
B. As of May 1, 1989, annual blanket permits will be available for intrastate movement of cranes that do not exceed the following dimensions and/or weights:
D. As of May 1, 1989, all cranes that exceed the above weight and/or dimensions are required to obtain trip permits.
B. All warning flags will be secured by at least one corner or mounted on a staff. There are two circumstances requiring the use of flags:
D. Figure 2
A. The wording for the sign will be: OVERSIZE LOAD. The sign size will be as follows:
1. For Load Vehicles
2. For Escort Vehicles
B. Upon delivery of the oversized load, the signs shall be removed or covered, so that they are no longer visible.
B. For Escort Vehicles - flashing yellow lights shall be in operation above the highest point of the vehicle and visible from the front and rear. Escort vehicles will also travel with low beam headlights on at all times.
A. Escort vehicles are required to accompany permitted vehicles under the guidelines in this paragraph. Escort vehicles will be at least the size of a compact size car or larger. The drivers of escort vehicles will maintain visual and two-way radio contact with the permitted vehicle at all times. When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways. Following is a description of escort vehicle requirements. Escort vehicle requirements will be generally the same on both four (4)-or-more lane divided highways and on two-lane roads on the designated system as follows:
1. Overwidth
2. Overlength
3. Overhang
4. Building
5. Cranes
a. Two (2) escorts are required for intrastate moves of width twelve (12) and over.
There shall be a minimum spacing of one thousand (1,000) feet between any oversize permitted vehicles traveling in the same direction.
B. A list of individual state holiday periods on which travel is restricted will be published annually be each state and will be sent to all state permit issuing offices well in advance of January 1 of the year in which the holidays occur.
B. For mobile or modular homes over twelve (12) feet wide, for construction equipment over thirteen (13) feet 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.
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.
The purpose of the rules and regulations in this section is to state clearly the policy and procedures of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s in relation to the application for and issuance of permits for overweight vehicles carrying reducible loads.
Any load consisting of a product, material or equipment which can be reduced in height, weight, length and/or width to all the specified statutory limit.
Division of Motor Vehicles – 600 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.
Applications (see § 1.7.6(A)(1) of this Part) may be obtained in person from the above address or by calling 401-462-1384.
Between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday except holidays.
A. Rhode Island Registered Vehicles - fee is reflected in the registration fee.
F. FEES ARE NOT PRORATED. ALL PERMITS EXPIRE MARCH 31.
Applications submitted for permits must contain a gross vehicle weight certification by the applicant and the manufacturer along with all data requested in the application form in duplicate and a copy of the registration.
Permits will be issued on an annual basis by the Division of Motor Vehicles unless otherwise indicated on the permit. However, the Department specifically reserves the right to deny or revoke any permit or class of permits when, in its judgement and discretion, public safety or sound engineering judgement warrants.
An administrative hearing will be given to any person aggrieved by the denials or revocation of a permit or an intradepartmental interpretation of these rules. The appeals process shall be initiated by filing a written appeal with the Director of the Department of Transportation within five (5) working days of receipt by the aggrieved party of the Departments decision or ruling.
Employees of the Department of Transportation, State Police, local police and other duly authorized law enforcement officers may require the owner or operator of a vehicle for which a divisible load permit has been issued to be submitted to safety, equipment and/or braking inspections and shall have the power to direct such vehicle to the nearest scale or testing area of the State Police or Rhode Island Department of Transportation. The aforementioned officials and law enforcement officers shall also have the option of using privately-owned scales with the consent of the owner of the facility.
A. The holding of a permit is a privilege. If a person drives or moves or an owner causes to be driven or permits a vehicle to be driven or moved, which vehicle is adjudicated to have driven or moved in excess of the limits of a divisible load permit issued for such vehicle, the following provisions listed in Figure 3 may apply.
1. Figure 3
| Conviction | Period of Revocation of Permit for Specific Vehicle | Period of Non-Issuance of Future Permits for Specific Vehicles |
| First | 60 Days | 30 Days |
| Second (within 12 months of first conviction) | 120 Days | 60 Days |
| Third (within 12 months of first conviction) | 12 Months | 6 Months |
B. Five (5) convictions of the size, weight and load laws on citations issued during a twelve (12) month period may constitute a six (6) month revocation of the owner or company’s privilege to obtain permits.
B. The specific maximum load limits for divisible load permits are listed in § 1.9 of this Part.
Permits are restricted to travel on State highways and do not authorize travel over any bridge, culvert or structure posted for weight less than the weight of said vehicle and load.
Cities or towns may require additional specific permits.
A. R.I. Gen Laws §§
A. Permissible gross loads for vehicles in regular operation
| W = the overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds;L = the distance in feet between the extremes of any group of two or more consecutive axles;N = the number of axles in the group under consideration. The permissible loads are computed to the nearest 500 pounds. The modification consists in limiting the maximum load on any single axle to 22,400 pounds |
| axles | 2 axles | 3 axles | 4 axles | 5 axles | 6 axles | 7 axles |
| 4 | 44000 | |||||
| 5 | 44000 | |||||
| 6 | 44000 | |||||
| 7 | 44000 | |||||
| 8 and less | 44000 | 44800 | ||||
| More than 8 | 44800 | 44800 | ||||
| 9 | 44800 | 44800 | ||||
| 10 | 44800 | 44800 | ||||
| 11 | 44800 | 44800 | ||||
| 12 | 44800 | 4500 | 50000 | |||
| 13 | 44800 | 46000 | 50500 | |||
| 14 | 44800 | 46500 | 51500 | |||
| 15 | 44800 | 47500 | 52000 | |||
| 16 | 44800 | 48000 | 52500 | 58000 | ||
| 17 | 44800 | 49000 | 53500 | 58500 | ||
| 18 | 44800 | 49500 | 54000 | 59000 | ||
| 19 | 44800 | 50500 | 54500 | 60000 | ||
| 20 | 44800 | 51000 | 55500 | 60500 | 66000 | |
| 21 | 52000 | 56000 | 610000 | 66500 | ||
| 22 | 52500 | 56500 | 61500 | 67000 | ||
| 23 | 53500 | 57500 | 62500 | 68000 | ||
| 24 | 54500 | 58000 | 63000 | 68500 | 74000 | |
| 25 | 55000 | 58500 | 63500 | 69000 | 74500 | |
| 26 | 55500 | 59500 | 64000 | 69500 | 75000 | |
| 27 | 56500 | 60000 | 65000 | 70000 | 76000 | |
| 28 | 57000 | 60500 | 65500 | 71000 | 76500 | |
| 29 | 58000 | 61500 | 66000 | 71500 | 77000 | |
| 30 | 58500 | 62000 | 66500 | 72000 | 77500 | |
| 31 | 59500 | 62500 | 67500 | 72500 | 78000 | |
| 32 | 60000 | 63500 | 68000 | 73000 | 78500 | |
| 33 | 61000 | 64000 | 68500 | 74000 | 79500 | |
| 34 | 61500 | 64500 | 69000 | 74500 | 80000 | |
| 35 | 62500 | 65500 | 70000 | 75000 | ||
| 36 | 63000 | 68000 | 70500 | 75500 | ||
| 37 | 64000 | 68000 | 71000 | 76000 | ||
| 38 | 64500 | 68000 | 71500 | 77000 | ||
| 39 | 65500 | 68000 | 72500 | 77500 | ||
| 40 | 66000 | 68500 | 73000 | 78000 | ||
| 41 | 69500 | 73500 | 78500 | |||
| 42 | 70000 | 74500 | 79000 | |||
| 43 | 70500 | 75000 | 80000 | |||
| 44 | 71500 | 75500 | ||||
| 45 | 72000 | 76000 | ||||
| 46 | 72500 | 77000 | ||||
| 47 | 73500 | 77500 | ||||
| 48 | 74000 | 78000 | ||||
| 49 | 74500 | 78500 | ||||
| 50 | 75500 | 79500 | ||||
| 51 | 76000 | 80000 | ||||
| 52 | 76500 | |||||
| 53 | 77500 | |||||
| 54 | 78000 | |||||
| 55 | 78500 | |||||
| 56 | 79500 | |||||
| 57 | 80000 |
D. MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS (WITHOUT PERMITS)