# Title 38 — Highway Patrol

## Article 38-06 — Movement of Oversize and/or Overweight Vehicles and Loads

## Chapter 38-06-02 — Adoption of Regulations

### § 38-06-02-01. General rules.

1. The North Dakota highway patrol may issue annual permits for the movement of overwidth or
overlength vehicles and loads and single trip permits for the movement of oversize or
overweight, or both, vehicles and loads. Unless otherwise exempted by the superintendent,
permits will not be issued for loads that can be reasonably made to conform to legal limits.
2. All permits must be in possession of the permittee prior to starting movement unless prior
approval is obtained from the highway patrol.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective January 1, 1992; April 1, 2008; January 1, 2016;
July 1, 2019.
General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
### § 38-06-02-02. Flagging, sign, lighting, and mirror requirements.

1. All overdimensional vehicles and loads must have minimum eighteen-inch by eighteen-inch
[45.72-centimeters by 45.72-centimeters] red or bright orange flags displayed on the traffic
sides front and rear.
2. When the overall length of an overdimensional movement exceeds seventy-five feet [22.86
meters] in length. when a movement is overwidth. or when the overall length of an
overdimensional movement exceeds seventy-five feet [22.86 meters] in length and the
movement is overwide, there must be a minimum twelve-inch by sixty-inch [304.8-millimeters
by 1524-millimeters] oversize load sign on the front or roofline of the towing vehicle, and the
rear of the vehicle/load. The lettering must be black on yellow background. Letters must be at
least eight inches [203.2 millimeters] high with one-inch [25.4-millimeters] brush stroke. When
the movement is overlength only, exceeding seventy-five feet [22.86 meters] in overall length.
a long load sign that is a minimum twelve inches by sixty inches [304.8 millimeters by 1524
millimeters] in size may be used in lieu of the oversize load sign. The lettering must be black
on yellow background. The letters must be at least eight inches [203.2 millimeters] high with
one-inch [25.4-millimeters] brush stroke. The sign must be covered or removed when the
movement is not overdimensional.
3. A motor vehicle must have two outside mirrors, one on each side, to reflect to the driver a rear
view of the roadway for a distance of no less than two hundred feet [60.96 meters].
4. Between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise, a permitted overwidth vehicle
or load must be equipped with the society of automotive engineers-approved class 1 lights
and reflectors, in addition to those required in North Dakota Century Code chapter 39-21 and
Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 393.

a. One rotating or two flashing amber lights shall be mounted above the cab and visible
from the front and rear for a distance not less than five hundred feet [152.4 meters],
under clear atmospheric conditions at night. If the lights on the cab are not visible to the
rear, additional flashing amber lights are required at the rear.
b. Clearance lights must be visible from the front, rear, and side, marking the outermost
portion of the vehicle and load which extends beyond eight feet six inches [2.5908
meters].
c. Vehicles must be capable of traveling at the posted highway speed unless otherwise
noted on the permit.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective February 1, 1999; April 1, 2008; July 1, 2013;
January 1, 2016.
General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
### § 38-06-02-03. Escort requirements.

1. All movements exceeding fourteen feet six inches [4.42 meters] in overall width but not
exceeding sixteen feet [4.87 meters] in overall width shall have one pilot car precede the
movement at a distance of three hundred to seven hundred feet [91.44 to 213.36 meters] on
two-lane highways. In lieu of the pilot car requirement, the overwidth vehicle itself, or vehicle
towing or hauling an overwidth load, may be equipped with a lighted rotating or flashing amber
light or lights that are visible from front and rear for a minimum five hundred feet [152.4
meters]. On four-lane divided highways there are no pilot car requirements for movements of
this size.
2. All movements exceeding sixteen feet [4.88 meters] in overall width shall have one pilot car
precede the movement at a distance of three hundred to seven hundred feet [91.44 to 213.36
meters] and shall have one pilot car follow the movement at a distance of three hundred to
seven hundred feet [91.44 to 213.36 meters] on two-lane highways. On four-lane divided
highways one pilot car shall follow the movement at a distance of three hundred to seven
hundred feet [91.44 to 213.36 meters].
3. All movements exceeding one hundred twenty feet [36.57 meters] in overall length shall have
one pilot car follow the movement at a distance of three hundred to seven hundred feet [91.44
to 213.36 meters].
4. All movements exceeding eighteen feet [5.49 meters] in overall height shall have one pilot car
precede the movement at a distance of three hundred to seven hundred feet [91.44 to 213.36
meters].
5. The North Dakota department of transportation chief engineer, bridge engineer, district
engineers, or highway patrol may require pilot cars for movements that are overweight.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective January 1, 1992.
General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
### § 38-06-02-04. Routing of movements.

Permit issuing personnel may designate routes of travel where adequate width or height for safe
traffic movement cannot be provided, or when restricted by maps as provided by North Dakota
department of transportation engineers.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective January 1, 1992.

General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
### § 38-06-02-05. Insurance requirements.

1. When towing or hauling oversize mobile home or modular units, the towing vehicle must have
minimum insurance coverage of one hundred thousand dollars bodily injury liability for one
person, three hundred thousand dollars bodily injury liability for one accident, and fifty
thousand dollars property damage liability.
2. When requesting permits for movements exceeding two hundred thousand pounds [90718
kilograms] gross vehicle weight, or when otherwise required by the highway patrol or
department of transportation engineers, the applicant must provide written verification of
liability and property damage insurance coverage.
3. An insurance bond in the amount determined by the North Dakota department of
transportation may be required for load or vehicle movements of excessive size or weight,
showing the North Dakota department of transportation as an additional insured. Excessive
size and weight shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the North Dakota department
of transportation.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective January 1, 1992; April 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
### § 38-06-02-06. Size and weight limitations.

Limitations for single trip permits for overweight movements must be as determined by department
of transportation engineers.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective January 1, 1992; January 1, 2016.
General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
### § 38-06-02-07. Travel restrictions.

1. Permits may not be issued for overdimensional movements between one-half hour after
sunset and one-half hour before sunrise unless otherwise authorized by the superintendent.
2. Except as authorized in this section, single trip permits for overwidth exceeding sixteen feet
[4.88 meters] may not be issued authorizing movements on Saturday after twelve noon, all
day Sunday, and on holidays of New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. No overwidth permit exceeding sixteen feet [4.88
meters] will be valid from twelve noon the day before the holiday until sunrise the day after the
holiday.
3. The superintendent may authorize a single trip permit for weekends or holidays.
4. Permits do not authorize movements when inclement weather prevails, highways are slippery,
or when visibility is one-half mile [0.8 kilometers] or less.
5. Permits do not authorize travel on shoulders of road.
6. A single trip permit is required for each movement that is overdimensional or overweight. An
annual permit for overwidth or overlength vehicle and load movements can be used in lieu of
the single trip permit issued for overwidth or overlength movements.

7. A minimum distance of one thousand feet [304.80 meters] is required between vehicles in a
convoy of two or more vehicles.
History: Effective January 1, 1988; amended effective August 1, 1993; February 1, 1999; April 1, 2008;
July 1, 2013; January 1, 2016; July 1, 2019; January 1, 2022.
General Authority: NDCC 39-12-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 39-12-02
