Delaware Administrative Code
Title 2 - Transportation
2000 - Department of Transportation
2400 - Division of Transportation Solutions
2405 - Oversize/Overweight Hauling Permit Policy and Procedures Manual
Section 2405-2.0 - Legal Vehicle Sizes and Weights
Universal Citation: 2 DE Admin Code 2405-2.0
Current through Reigster Vol. 28, No. 6, December 1, 2024
2.1 Length. If the overall length of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds the legal length limits contained herein, a permit shall be required.
2.1.1 Single motor vehicles, including any
load thereon, shall not exceed 40 feet in length, except as otherwise provided
in this section.
2.1.2 On
Interstate and U. S. Routes not otherwise posted:
2.1.2.1 The maximum length of a semitrailer,
including any load thereon, exclusive of truck tractor size shall be 53
feet.
2.1.2.2 Buses shall not
exceed 45 feet in length.
2.1.2.3
The maximum length of a trailer or semi-trailer in a truck
tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination, including any load thereon, exclusive
of tractor size shall be 29 feet.
2.1.3 On all other highways:
2.1.3.1 Single motor vehicles, including any
load thereon, shall not exceed 40 feet in length, and no combination of
vehicle, including the load thereon, shall exceed 60 feet in length, except as
otherwise provided in this section
2.1.3.1.1 A
truck and semitrailer combination engaged in the transportation of motor
vehicles shall not exceed a length of 65 feet exclusive of the overhang of the
transported vehicle.
2.1.3.1.2
Buses shall not exceed 45 feet in length.
2.1.3.1.3 Piling and pole trailers and
vehicles or combinations of vehicles engaged in the transportation of steel
beams, pipes, angles, channels and other lengths of steel, or other metals, or
other articles impossible of dismemberment, shall not exceed 70 feet. When
carrying long logs, poles, piling, and etc. a pole trailer shall be
required.
2.1.3.2 The
limitations as to the length of load shall not apply in the case of a vehicle
or combination of vehicles transporting boats commonly known as crew or rowing
shells for use in interscholastic or intercollegiate rowing contests provided
that such boats shall not exceed 70 feet in length.
2.1.4 The maximum overhang shall not exceed 6
feet beyond the rear of the vehicle and no load shall be permitted to touch or
drag upon the roadway regardless of permissible overhang. No vehicle or
combination of vehicles shall carry any load extending more than 3 feet beyond
the front thereof.
2.1.5 Pilings or
poles or mill logs, or nursery stock, or rowing shells, or steel beams, pipes,
angles, channels and other length or steel, or other metal, or other articles
impossible of dismemberment shall not extend more than 10 feet beyond the rear
of the bed or body of such vehicle.
2.2 Width
2.2.1 If the overall width of any vehicle or
combination of vehicles exceeds 8 feet - 6 inches measured as defined below, a
permit shall be required.
2.2.2 On
Interstate and U.S. Routes the outside width of 8 feet - 6 inches is exclusive
of safety equipment, which may extend not more than 3 inches more on each side
of the vehicle.
2.2.3 On all other
highways, no vehicle including any load thereon shall exceed a total outside
width of 8 feet - 6 inches inclusive of safety devices.
2.3 Height. On any Interstate, U.S. Route, or highway if the maximum height of any vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load thereon, exceeds 13 feet - 6 inches a permit shall be required.
2.4 Weight. A permit is required if the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeds the limits imposed by statute as shown in Table 2.1. Vehicles that do not exceed GVW but do exceed individual axle weights shown in Table 2.1 will require a permit. DelDOT Bridge Management Section and Materials and Research Section will automatically review permits with an individual axle weight at or greater than 25,000 lbs. Analysis may occur at a lower weight on a case-by-case basis. The permittee is responsible to effectively distribute a load or reduce the overall weight below this axle limit, as necessary, to lessen the higher live load forces overstressing state structures.
2.5 Penalties
2.5.1 Based on the Authority provided under
Delaware State Code Chapter 45, Section 4508, of Title 21, relating to
Penalties, any person who violates any requirements of Section
2.0 relating to the size or weight of a
vehicle or a combination of vehicles or restrictions regarding parking in
residence districts shall be punished as follows:
2.5.1.1 A first offense shall be punishable
by a fine of not less than $28.75 nor more than $230.00 or by a term of
imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both.
2.5.1.2 A subsequent like offense shall be
punishable by a fine of not less than $115.00 nor more than $575.00 or by a
term of imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both.
2.5.2 Any person who violates any requirement
of Section 2.0, specifically
relating to the weight of a vehicle or a combination of vehicles, such that
said vehicle shall be classified as an "overweight vehicle," shall in addition
to whatever other penalties may be allowed by law be punished as follows:
2.5.2.1 A first offense shall be punishable
by a fine for all excess weight exceeding the vehicles registered weight or
Federal Bridge Formula, if operating on the interstate, for the first 5,000
lbs. in the amount of 2.3 cents per pound and a fine for all excess weight over
the first 5,000 lbs. in the amount of 5.75 cents per pound or by a term of
imprisonment not to exceed 30 days or both.
2.5.2.2 Each subsequent offense shall be
punishable by a fine for all excess weight exceeding the vehicles registered
weight or Federal Bridge Formula, if operating on the interstate, for the first
5,000 lbs. in the amount of 5.75 cents per pound and a fine for all excess
weight over the first 5,000 lbs. in the amount of 11.5 cents per pound or by a
term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 days or both.
2.5.3 For purposes of Section
2.0 a first offense shall be defined as
one not previously committed by the person charged within the previous 24
months prior to the date of the offense. A subsequent like offense shall be
deemed to have occurred if the person charged has previously been convicted or
charged and subsequently convicted of the same offense within the previous 24
months prior to the date of this offense.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Delaware may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
