Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Title 408 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - OPERATIONS DIVISION
Chapter 3 - PERMITS FOR MOVEMENT OF OVERWEIGHT AND/OR OVERDIMENSIONAL VEHICLES AND LOADS
Section 408-3-003 - APPLICATION FOR, AND GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING, OVERWEIGHT AND/OR OVERDIMENSIONAL PERMITS

Universal Citation: 408 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 3 ยง 003

Current through September 17, 2024

003.01 Application for the following permits may be made at the Department's official website, http://dot.nebraska.gov, the Department's Permit Office in Lincoln, or one of the Department's District offices. All permits will be issued utilizing the Department's automated permit system.

003.02 The following types of permits are available utilizing the Department's automated permit system:

Single Trip:

Overdimensional Only

Overweight Only

Overdimensional and Overweight

Self-Propelled Vehicle

Two-Axle Flotation

Manufactured Housing:

New Dealer

Pre-Owned

Continuous:

Local Overdimensional Only

Local Overweight Only

Local Overdimensional and Overweight

Local Self Propelled

Local Two-Axle Flotation

Statewide Envelope

Statewide Empty Trailer

Other:

Conditional Interstate Use

Building/Slow-Moving Large Object

Garbage/Refuse

Seasonally-Harvested Products

Annual Implement of Husbandry for I-80 (Only for Dealers)

Interstate Baled Livestock Forage Permit

Highway 75 Implement of Husbandry Permit

Extra-Long Vehicle Combinations

003.03 The granting of a permit shall not constitute a waiver of any license or registration requirements imposed by the State of Nebraska.

003.04 The granting of a permit does not waive any liability or responsibility of the applicant which might accrue from any property damage, including damage to the highways, or for personal injuries.

003.05 The granting of a permit does not exempt the applicant from compliance with any ordinances, Rules and Regulations of any local authority.

003.06 Before granting any permit, the Department, at its discretion, may also require the vehicle owner or operator to furnish a certificate showing the amount of public liability and property damage insurance carried. The Department, at its discretion, may also require the vehicle owner or operator to furnish additional security to the Department, in an amount and manner to be determined by the Department, to indemnify it for all damage that may be done to the highway or any highway appurtenance by such vehicle.

003.07 A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which an application for an overweight permit is requested pursuant to this section shall be registered under Section 60-305.09 Neb. Rev. Stat. or 60-331 Neb. Rev. Stat. for the maximum gross vehicle weight that is permitted pursuant to Sections 60-6,294 and 60-6,295 Neb. Rev. Stat., before a permit shall be issued.

003.08 The granting of a permit shall not be construed as waiving any weight limitation which has been or may be established on any highway or any bridge thereon.

003.09 A permit will only be granted for the movement of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding the legal weight limitation, with or without load, when all tires on the permitted vehicle are pneumatic tires.

003.10 Dummy axles shall be disregarded in determining the lawful weight of a vehicle or vehicle combination for operation on the Nebraska Highway System. Dummy axle shall mean an axle attached to a vehicle or vehicle combination in a manner so that it does not articulate or substantially equalize the load and does not carry at least the lesser of 8,000 pounds or 8 percent of the gross weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination.

003.11 The Department may, if deemed necessary, require the applicant to furnish a "weigh ticket" from a certified scale on each axle and the gross weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination and may require the weighing in the presence of a representative of the Department or a representative of the Nebraska State Patrol.

003.12 A load shall be transported by a vehicle or combination of vehicles so that the least width or length dimension becomes the width of the load. The load shall be transported such that no part of it will extend across the centerline of the road except when necessary to avoid a collision with objects located near the edge of the road.

003.13 Peak Travel Time Restrictions - Lincoln-Omaha Areas. Travel under an overdimensional vehicle permit will not be allowed Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the routes or within the areas described below:

003.13A Routes or Areas:
003.13A1 City of Lincoln: Those parts of the following State Highways within the corporate limits of Lincoln, not including Interstate 80: Highways 2, 6, 34 and 77 (except where Highway 77 co-exists with I-80) (See Appendix A, Map 2)

003.13A2 Omaha Urban Area: All State Highways in and near the Omaha urban area including National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, bounded by and including (See Appendix A, Map 3):

Highway NE-36 on the north,

Highway NE-31/US-6 to the west,

Highway NE-370 to the South, and the Iowa border to the east.

003.13A3 The Omaha Urban Area also includes Interstate 80 from the Iowa border to milepost 432 at the Gretna Interchange (See Appendix A, Map 3).

003.14 The movement of an overdimensional vehicle or load by permit shall be limited to 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and such moves will be prohibited on a holiday as defined in Section 001 ("Holiday" and "Long Holiday"), unless otherwise specifically indicated on the permit form.

003.15 The movement of an overweight only vehicle or load, by permit, shall be permitted 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

003.16 Movement by special permit may at any time be delayed when traffic, weather or other conditions on the State highways are determined to constitute a hazard by the Nebraska State Patrol or the Department's personnel.

003.16A Wet pavement, light drizzle, or wind less than 25 miles per hour is not considered inclement weather for purposes of permit movements. If adverse weather or road conditions are encountered during operation, the permitted vehicle must proceed to the next available safe place off the roadway and park until conditions improve. Nebraska State Patrol Officers or local law enforcement officers or the Department's personnel may further restrict or prohibit operation of permitted vehicles during periods when, in their judgment, weather or other hazardous conditions make continued operation unsafe.

003.16B Terms and conditions for restrictions due to weather will be set out on the individual permit. Single Trip and Manufactured Housing restrictions due to weather are defined as follows:

003.16C Single Trip: Travel for overweight single trip permits "ONLY" is not restricted due to weather conditions. Travel for overdimensional single trip permits is prohibited if any of the following adverse or inclement weather conditions exist:
003.16C1 Winds cause a hazard to movement.

003.16C2 Visibility is less than one-half mile.

003.16C3 Rain, sleet or snow.

003.16C4 Highway surfaces are slippery due to ice, snow, packed snow, slush or frost.

003.16C5 Debris from an accident, natural disaster, or emergency on the highway.

003.16D Manufactured Housing: Permit travel is prohibited if any of the following adverse or inclement weather conditions exist:
003.16D1 Winds velocity exceeds 25 miles per hour.

003.16D2 Visibility is less than one-half mile.

003.16D3 Rain, sleet or snow.

003.16D4 Highway surfaces are slippery due to ice, snow, packed snow, slush, or frost.

003.16D5 Debris from an accident, natural disaster, or emergency on the highway.

003.17 Permits will not be issued for vehicles or loads which can be reduced to comply with the size and weights permitted by statutes (divisibility of vehicles or loads).

003.18 The Department shall require "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs and flags as follows:

003.18A On loads more than 10 feet in width, signs stating "OVERSIZE LOAD" must be displayed to the front of the hauling vehicle and the rear of the load. The signage must comply with requirements in Section 001.23.

003.18B On loads more than 12 feet in width, red flags, not less than 18 inches square, must be displayed on all four corners of the vehicle or vehicles.

003.19 Escort vehicles/light bar requirements for overdimensional vehicles and loads.

003.19A Escort vehicles conforming to the requirements of Section 001.06 may be required for the movement of overdimensional vehicles or loads when such vehicles or loads exceed:
003.19A1 8 feet, 6 inches in width.

003.19A2 90 feet in length.

003.19A3 14 feet, 6 inches in height.

003.19B One escort vehicle conforming to the requirements of Section 001.06 is required for the movement of overdimensional vehicles or loads with the following dimensions:
003.19B1 12 to 16 feet in width;

003.19B2 125 to 150 feet in overall length;

003.19C Two escort vehicles, one to the front and one to the rear of the permitted load, conforming to the requirements of Section 001.06 are required for the movement of overdimensional vehicles or loads with the following dimensions:
003.19C1 greater than 16 feet in width;

003.19C2 greater than 150 feet in overall length.

003.19D Position of escort vehicles:
003.19D1 All undivided highways - to the front of the overdimensional vehicle or load.

003.19D2 Divided highways - to the rear of the overdimensional vehicle or load. (See limited exception in 003.18E.)

003.19D3 Escort vehicle must travel no more than 300 feet from the overdimensional vehicle or load.

003.19E The use of a rear escort vehicle under 003.18 is not required only when all of the conditions of 003.18E1 and 003.18E2 are met:
003.19E1 The permitted vehicle is traveling on a State freeway, expressway or rural divided highway (See definitions in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§60-621,60 - 618.01 and 60-618.) (See NDOT Website for a listing of the routes or segments of routes for which this limited exception applies.) Such a vehicle is allowed to also travel without a rear escort vehicle for short distances along adjoining State highways at interchanges and intersections solely to use adjacent facilities for food, fuel, repair, or lodging.

003.19E2 The trailer of the vehicle has backward facing, clearly visible and operating yellow or amber flashing, rotating or strobe lighting. Such lighting may not be covered or obstructed by the load and shall be bright enough to be visible at a distance of 800 feet behind the vehicle.

003.20 Vehicles with a permit to travel on Interstate 80 without an escort vehicle may only travel on the designated and approved route noted on the permit unless directed to exit by law enforcement or an NDOT official. When directed to exit Interstate 80, the permitted vehicle may only use the following pre-approved detour routes and must return to the permitted route at the nearest possible location.

The following are the three pre-approved detour routes for Interstate 80 in Western, Central and Eastern Nebraska:

003.20A Western Detour Route. U.S. Highway 30 between milepost 0.00 at the Wyoming State Line on US-30 and Milepost 312.93 on US-30 at the intersection of US-30 and US-281 in Grand Island.

003.20B Central Detour Route. U.S. Highway 34 between milepost 231.16 at the intersection of US-34 and US-281 in Grand Island and US-34 at Milepost 320.96 at the intersection of US-34 and I-80 north of Lincoln.

003.20C Eastern Detour Route. U.S. Highway 6 between milepost 323.35 at the intersection of US-6 and I-80 west of Waverly and US-6 at Milepost 345.47 at the intersection of US-6 and I-80 south of Gretna.

At no time shall a permitted vehicle travel on the Nebraska State Highway System without an escort vehicle except as allowed above. If travelling on one of these detour routes without an escort, the permitted vehicle must comply with the trailer lighting requirements in Section 003.19E2.

003.21 Pole Cars

003.21A On loads which exceed 14 feet, 6 inches in height, a pole car may be required to the front of the overdimensional vehicle or load.

003.21B On loads 16 feet in height or higher, a pre-run route survey shall be required and provided to the Department in writing prior to issuance of a permit and a pole car shall be required to the front of the overdimensional vehicle or load.

003.21C A route survey supplied to the Department in writing may be required for any overdimensional load prior to issuance of a permit.

003.22 A permit is not required for the crossing of a State highway at a local road intersection.

003.23 The permittee shall assume the risk of loss to the vehicle or its load and shall be liable for any damages that result to overhead obstructions from operation of a vehicle exceeding 12 feet, 6 inches in height.

003.24 Any permit may be revoked at any time by a law enforcement officer or by written notice of the Department for failure to comply with any of the terms and conditions of the permit and rules and regulations of the Department

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska 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.
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