Permits Canada obtains oversize and overweight permits for Iowa for trucks and loads over the legal width, height, length or weight.
Iowa legal dimensions and weight
A truck and load within these limits needs no oversize or overweight permit in Iowa.
| Width | 8 ft 6 in |
|---|---|
| Height | 13 ft 6 in |
| Length | 53 ft trailer, loaded or empty (57 ft lowboy for construction equipment) |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb gross |
Iowa oversize permit rules
| Permits offered | Single trip, round trip, multi-trip, annual oversize/overweight, annual all-systems oversize, annual all-systems overweight |
|---|---|
| Escorts | Over 12' wide (up to 14'6"): 1 escort, rear on 4-lane or front on 2-lane (amber light on power unit and rear of load may replace it); over 14'6" to 18' wide: 1 rear escort on 4-lane, 1 front on 2-lane; over 120' long: 1 rear escort; over 14'6" high (to 20'): front escort with height pole; additional escorts at the state's discretion |
| Travel times | 1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset, unless the load qualifies for night travel (up to 12' wide, 14'6" high, 100' long, legal axle weights); no movement on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, after noon the day before, or during holiday weekends |
Movement is allowed only when roads are clear of ice and snow and visibility is at least 1/4 mile.
Getting your permit with Permits Canada
- Send us the online oversize / overweight application with your truck, trailer, load dimensions and route.
- A permit agent applies for your Iowa permit and checks the route conditions.
- Your permit arrives by email with its travel conditions. Oversize and overweight permits can take longer, since the authorities review each application.
Our fee is $40 to $50 CAD per permit, plus the Iowa state fee, which depends on the dimensions, weight and route.
Also need temporary registration or fuel tax coverage? See Iowa trip & fuel permits.
Iowa oversize permit questions
When is an oversize permit required in Iowa?
When the truck or load exceeds the Iowa legal limits: width 8 ft 6 in, height 13 ft 6 in, length 53 ft trailer, loaded or empty (57 ft lowboy for construction equipment).
What is the legal gross weight in Iowa?
The legal gross weight in Iowa is 80,000 lb gross. A heavier truck needs an overweight permit.
When are pilot or escort vehicles required in Iowa?
Over 12' wide (up to 14'6"): 1 escort, rear on 4-lane or front on 2-lane (amber light on power unit and rear of load may replace it); over 14'6" to 18' wide: 1 rear escort on 4-lane, 1 front on 2-lane; over 120' long: 1 rear escort; over 14'6" high (to 20'): front escort with height pole; additional escorts at the state's discretion.
Can oversize loads travel at night or on weekends in Iowa?
1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset, unless the load qualifies for night travel (up to 12' wide, 14'6" high, 100' long, legal axle weights); no movement on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, after noon the day before, or during holiday weekends.
How much does an Iowa oversize permit cost?
Permits Canada charges $40 to $50 CAD per permit, plus the Iowa state fee, which depends on the dimensions, weight and route.
Last reviewed October 2026. Rules change; your permit agent confirms them for each move. All provinces and states