NE
Nebraska oversize permit rules
What Nebraska charges for a single-trip OS/OW permit, the limits that trigger one, and the escort thresholds — read from the state’s own publication. This rule has been in effect since 2023-04-30.
Oversize permit
$15
One price for a single-trip permit, whatever the dimensions. A 9-foot-wide load and a 16-foot-wide load pay the same.
Overweight permit
$20
One price for a single-trip overweight permit.
+ $20 Permigo service fee per permit, state fees at cost.
Legal limits
Exceed any one of these in Nebraska and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate | Off-interstate |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'6" |
| Height | 14'6" | 14'6" |
| Length | 80'0" | 80'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | 94,000 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | |
| Trailer length | 53'0" |
What the permit costs
Nebraska prices a single-trip permit as flat rate. One price for a single-trip permit, whatever the dimensions. A 9-foot-wide load and a 16-foot-wide load pay the same.
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
Divided highway
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 12'0" and over | 1 rear escort, or amber light12' to 16' wide on DIVIDED highways: the single escort rides to the REAR (NAC 003.19D2) — and is WAIVED entirely on state freeways/expressways/rural divided highways when the trailer carries backward-facing amber/yellow flashing, rotating, or strobe lighting visible at 800 ft (003.19E — route list on the NDOT website; the cheapest compliant quote bills the lighting option).Metro peak ban (NAC 003.13): NO overdimensional travel Mon–Fri 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–6:00 p.m. on the listed Lincoln state highways (2/6/34/77 — I-80 excluded) and the whole Omaha urban area INCLUDING I-80 from the Iowa border to milepost 432 (Gretna). |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortGreater than 16' wide: TWO escorts, front and rear, on all highways (NAC 003.19C1). The 003.19E rear-escort lighting waiver reads generically and may reach this band |
| Over 16'0" | superload permitOver 16' wide = superload (NAC 001.29) — Lincoln Permit Office review, up to 10 business days (001.28A). |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'6" | Conditions applyOver 14'6" high: a pole car MAY be required to the front (NAC 003.21A — discretionary, not billed). Above 12'6" the carrier assumes all overhead-obstruction risk (003.23; §60-6,289). |
| Over 15'11" | superload permitIn excess of 15'11" high = superload (NAC 001.29 verbatim — the odd one-inch stagger below the 16' survey/pole line is real: a 15'11.5" load is a superload that does not yet owe the survey). |
| 16'0" and over | 1 front escort · height pole · route survey16' high or higher: a written pre-run route survey MUST be filed with NDOT before the permit issues AND a pole car is REQUIRED to the front (NAC 003.21B) — the height pole rides the front escort vehicle, one vehicle, pole ≥3" above the load's highest point (001.22). Statutory extras: the permit carries a signed affirmation UNDER OATH that all electric utilities on the route were contacted (§60-6,298(2)); moves on county/township roads over 15'6" high need 10-day advance notice to the local authority and utility (§60-6,288.01 — Class II misdemeanor). |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 80'0" | Conditions applyNebraska length legality is CONFIG-BASED: combinations cap at 65' overall EXCEPT a truck-tractor + single semitrailer, which has NO overall cap (§60-6,290(1)(b)(ii)); the binding limit there is the 53' semitrailer including load ((1)(a) |
| 125'0" and over | 1 rear escort, or amber light125' to 150' overall on DIVIDED highways: the single escort rides to the REAR (NAC 003.19D2) — waived on listed freeways/expressways/rural divided routes with 800-ft-visible trailer amber lighting (003.19E). |
| Over 150'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortGreater than 150' overall: front + rear escorts (NAC 003.19C2). |
| Over 150'0" | superload permitIn excess of 150' overall = superload (NAC 001.29). |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 4'1" and over | Marking requiredLoad extending MORE than 4' beyond the rear: red flag ≥12"×12" by day; sunset–sunrise a red light visible 200 ft (§60-6,243). Marking only — Nebraska has no numeric overhang legal; overhang counts through overall length ('including any load or load-holding devices', NAC 001.13). |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 160,000 lbs | superload permitGVW over 160,000 lb = superload (NAC 001.29 'Gross weight over 160,000 pounds'). Superload single-trip fee: statutory CAPS of $250 (≤300,000 lb) / $400 (300,001–500,000) / $800 (>500,000) per §60-6,298(7)(c)(i) 'shall not exceed', PLUS an uncapped direct-cost add-on (personnel time + third-party expenses, (7)(c)(ii)) — billed at the caps pending a real invoice (no NAC schedule entry exists). Review up to 10 business days. |
Undivided
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 12'0" and over | 1 front escort12' to 16' wide (inclusive both ends — NAC 003.19B1 '12 to 16 feet'): ONE escort, positioned to the FRONT on undivided highways (003.19D1); escorts stay within 300 ft of the load (003.19D3). Escorts are also DISCRETIONARY above 8'6" wide / 90' long / 14'6" high ('may be required' — 003.19A).Metro peak ban (NAC 003.13): NO overdimensional travel Mon–Fri 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–6:00 p.m. on the listed Lincoln state highways (2/6/34/77 — I-80 excluded) and the whole Omaha urban area INCLUDING I-80 from the Iowa border to milepost 432 (Gretna). |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortGreater than 16' wide: TWO escorts, one to the front and one to the rear on all highways (NAC 003.19C1 verbatim). Fully civilian — Nebraska has no law-enforcement escort tier; the State Patrol's only codified role is halting hazardous moves (003.16). |
| Over 16'0" | superload permitOver 16' wide = superload (NAC 001.29 'in excess of … 16 feet in width') — Lincoln Permit Office review, up to 10 business days (001.28A); the 004.02 five-working-day figure is the routine-review clause, the superload clause controls. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'6" | Conditions applyOver 14'6" high: a pole car MAY be required to the front (NAC 003.21A — discretionary, not billed). Above 12'6" the carrier assumes all overhead-obstruction risk (003.23; §60-6,289). |
| Over 15'11" | superload permitIn excess of 15'11" high = superload (NAC 001.29 verbatim — the odd one-inch stagger below the 16' survey/pole line is real: a 15'11.5" load is a superload that does not yet owe the survey). |
| 16'0" and over | 1 front escort · height pole · route survey16' high or higher: a written pre-run route survey MUST be filed with NDOT before the permit issues AND a pole car is REQUIRED to the front (NAC 003.21B) — the height pole rides the front escort vehicle, one vehicle, pole ≥3" above the load's highest point (001.22). Statutory extras: the permit carries a signed affirmation UNDER OATH that all electric utilities on the route were contacted (§60-6,298(2)); moves on county/township roads over 15'6" high need 10-day advance notice to the local authority and utility (§60-6,288.01 — Class II misdemeanor). |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 80'0" | Conditions applyNebraska length legality is CONFIG-BASED: combinations cap at 65' overall EXCEPT a truck-tractor + single semitrailer, which has NO overall cap (§60-6,290(1)(b)(ii)); the binding limit there is the 53' semitrailer including load ((1)(a) |
| 125'0" and over | 1 front escort125' to 150' overall (inclusive — NAC 003.19B2 '125 to 150 feet'): ONE escort, FRONT on undivided highways (003.19D1). |
| Over 150'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortGreater than 150' overall: front + rear escorts (NAC 003.19C2). |
| Over 150'0" | superload permitIn excess of 150' overall = superload (NAC 001.29). |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 4'1" and over | Marking requiredLoad extending MORE than 4' beyond the rear: red flag ≥12"×12" by day; sunset–sunrise a red light visible 200 ft (§60-6,243). Marking only — Nebraska has no numeric overhang legal; overhang counts through overall length ('including any load or load-holding devices', NAC 001.13). |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 160,000 lbs | superload permitGVW over 160,000 lb = superload (NAC 001.29 'Gross weight over 160,000 pounds'). Superload single-trip fee: statutory CAPS of $250 (≤300,000 lb) / $400 (300,001–500,000) / $800 (>500,000) per §60-6,298(7)(c)(i) 'shall not exceed', PLUS an uncapped direct-cost add-on (personnel time + third-party expenses, (7)(c)(ii)) — billed at the caps pending a real invoice (no NAC schedule entry exists). Review up to 10 business days. |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Daylight hours only |
| Weekends | Not specified |
| Holidays | Restricted |
Movement hours
| Situation | Window |
|---|---|
| Overdimensional (any OS dimension) | 30 min before sunrise → 30 min after sunset, 7 days (NAC 003.14) |
| Overweight-only | 24/7, weather-exempt (003.15; 003.16C) |
| Metro peak (OD) | banned M–F 7–9 a.m. + 4–6 p.m. — Lincoln Hwys 2/6/34/77 + Omaha urban area incl. I-80 Iowa border→MP 432 Gretna (003.13) |
| Weekends | no general restriction (ELVC annuals only: no Sat/Sun/holiday — 010.02C) |
| Holidays 2026 — SIX restricted | New Year's noon 12/31→sunrise 1/2 · Memorial noon 5/22→sunrise 5/26 · July 4 noon 7/3→sunrise 7/6 · Labor noon 9/4→sunrise 9/8 · Thanksgiving noon 11/25→sunrise 11/30 · Christmas noon 12/24→sunrise 12/26 |
| Holidays — travel PERMITTED | MLK · Presidents' · Arbor · Juneteenth · Indigenous Peoples'/Columbus · Veterans (office closed only) |
| Weather (OD) | banned: hazardous winds, visibility <½ mi, rain/sleet/snow, slippery, debris; wet pavement/drizzle/wind <25 mph OK (003.16) |
| Validity | single trip = 10 moving days (004.01E); amendment $10, once |
Where these permits come from
If you file yourself, this is the office you are dealing with. Check the linked page — some states issue OS/OW permits through their highway patrol or revenue department rather than the DOT.
| Nebraska permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | 402-471-0034 |
| Filing notes | Portal: NDOT Automated Truck Permit System — ne.gotpermits.com |
408 NAC 3 (adopted 04-30-2023 · nebraskalegislature.gov · in effect since 2023-04-30. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.