Oversized cargo
Shipping oversized cargo from the U.S.
Oversized cargo is over U.S. road limits as well as container limits: wider than 102 in, heavier than 80,000 lb gross or taller than the state allows[1], so permits and a route survey come before the ocean booking.
- widest load allowed without a permit on the National Network[1]
- 8 ft 6 in2.59 m
- gross truck weight on the Interstate without a permit[1]
- 80,000 lb36,287 kg
- tiedowns at least, for a machine of 10,000 lb or more on a truck[2]
- 4
- rail load width above which Union Pacific treats it as dimensional[3]
- 11 ft3.35 m
Where oversized starts
On the road the federal limits are 80,000 lb gross, 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem on the Interstate, and 102 in of width on the National Network. There is no federal height limit; states set 13.6 to 14.6 ft. Anything over these needs a permit from every state it crosses[1].
Rail has its own limits, set by each railroad. Union Pacific treats a load as dimensional above 11 ft wide, 17 ft above the rail or 220,000 lb, and Norfolk Southern from 10 ft 6 in wide or 15 ft 6 in high[3][4].
At sea the limits are the container outline, the flat rack payload and the RoRo deck height and ramp. A piece can be oversized on land and still ship as a normal flat rack or RoRo unit.
Moving it to the port
| Method | Use it when | Avoid it when |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy haul truck under permit | The route has permits available for the width, height and axle weights, and no bridge or overhead line blocks it. | The weight needs so many axles that the route survey finds no permitted path. |
| Rail | The origin has a rail siding and the railroad clears the load for the route[3][4]. | There is no siding at either end, so the piece is trucked and lifted twice. |
| Barge | The piece is too heavy or wide for any road route and the origin is on a navigable river. | The waterway has no loading point near the origin. |
How an oversized move is planned
- 01
Survey the piece
Dimensions, weight, centre of gravity and lifting points, from the drawings and a site visit.
- 02
Survey the route
Bridges, overhead lines, turns and road surfaces between the pickup and the port, checked against the trailer and the permits.
- 03
Permits for each state
Each state on the route issues its own oversize or overweight permit, with its own travel times and escort rules[1].
- 04
- 05
Hand over at the port
Delivered to the terminal on the date the ocean booking needs it, with the export filing in place.
Rules that apply
- Federal truck size and weight limits (23 CFR 658)FHWA
On the Interstate system a truck may gross 80,000 lb, with 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem; on the National Network the load may be 102 in wide. There is no federal height limit: states set 13.6 to 14.6 ft. A load over any of these needs an oversize or overweight permit from every state on the route.[1]
Applies to: Every road move to and from the port
- Cargo securement on trucks (49 CFR 393.106 and 393.130)FMCSA
The tiedowns on a load must together have a working load limit of at least half its weight. A machine on wheels or tracks weighing 10,000 lb or more needs at least four tiedowns, fixed as close as practicable to its front and rear or to its designed tie points; buckets and shovels are lowered and secured, and articulated machines are locked so they cannot articulate.[5][2]
Applies to: Machines on wheels or tracks moved by truck, and every other load on a public road
- Dimensional loads by railUnion Pacific and Norfolk Southern
Each railroad sets its own limits. Union Pacific treats a load as dimensional above 11 ft wide, 17 ft above the top of rail, 220,000 lb net or four axles, or when it overhangs the car end; it needs an approved clearance proposal, a $500 fee per request and a mechanical inspection before release. Norfolk Southern asks for a clearance request above 10 ft 6 in wide, 15 ft 6 in loaded height, 200,000 lb, 60 ft of lading or under 18 ft for a concentrated load.[3][4]
Applies to: Rail shipments over the railroad’s standard width, height, weight or length
- Electronic Export Information (15 CFR 30)U.S. Census Bureau
Electronic Export Information is filed in AES for each Schedule B number worth more than $2,500 going to one consignee on one conveyance, and for every vehicle whatever its value. For vessel cargo it is due at least 24 hours before loading; the Internal Transaction Number (ITN) goes to the carrier with the booking.[6][7]
Applies to: Any Schedule B line over $2,500, and every vehicle
Questions about oversized cargo
How wide can a load be without a permit?
102 in (8 ft 6 in) on the National Network. Wider loads need an oversize permit from every state on the route.
Is there a federal height limit for trucks?
No. Each state sets its own, usually 13.6 to 14.6 ft. The route survey checks every bridge and overhead line against the loaded height.
Is oversized cargo always shipped as breakbulk?
No. Many pieces that are oversized on the road fit a flat rack or a RoRo deck at sea. Breakbulk is for pieces beyond those limits.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the documents below, each checked on the date shown. Carriers and authorities revise them, so we confirm the current figure when we book.
- [1]FHWA, Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Program (23 CFR 658), checked October 18, 2026
- [2]eCFR, 49 CFR 393.130 Securement of heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery, checked October 18, 2026
- [3]Union Pacific, Seven Steps for Shipping a Dimensional Load, checked October 18, 2026
- [4]Norfolk Southern, Dimensional, Oversized, and Equipment Shipping by Rail, checked October 18, 2026
- [5]eCFR, 49 CFR 393.106 General requirements for securing articles of cargo, checked October 18, 2026
- [6]eCFR, 15 CFR 30.37 Miscellaneous exemptions (Foreign Trade Regulations), checked October 18, 2026
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Regulations FAQs, checked October 18, 2026
Send us the machine and the destination
Give us the model or the measured dimensions and weight. We come back with the method, the sailing and a price, and the figures behind them.