Rule 5537-3-05 | Licenses overweight or over dimensional vehicle permits.
(A) All applications for an overweight or over dimensional vehicle movement on the turnpike shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the commission. The permit application shall be available on the commission's website at www.ohioturnpike.org.
(1) To be complete, a permit application for a "single trip" permit shall contain all of the information the commission determines necessary to properly administer the permit process.
(2) The permit application shall provide an accurate and complete description of the vehicle and load to be moved and proposed locations of entrance on to the turnpike and exit off the turnpike. The information provided shall include all physical dimensions. Overweight applications shall also include axle weights and spacing, and the gross weight. Inaccurate or otherwise incomplete applications may result in a delay or denial of the issuance of the permit.
(3) The permit application and fee charged shall be submitted by completing an online application on the commission's website at www.ohioturnpike.org.
(4) All permit applications must be accompanied by the fees prescribed by this rule, except as provided therein for advanced payments. Applications without accompanying fees may result in delay or denial of the issuance of the permit.
(B) The commission may refuse to issue a permit. Reasons for the refusal to issue a permit may include but not necessarily include the following:
(1) The applicant or his/her agent has failed to properly or safely secure the load on the vehicle, including but not limited to, failing to properly divide the load over the required number of axles.
(2) Such vehicle as, in the opinion of commission personnel or any police officer, is deemed to be unsafe or could create a hazard upon the turnpike. The burden of proof of the safe condition of such vehicle shall be upon the applicant.
(C) Conditions on permitted movements.
(1) Unless otherwise provided in the permit, no movements except emergency movements shall be made at night (between the hours of sunset to sunrise) for vehicles exceeding ten feet width, ninety feet length, rear overhang beyond four feet and/or one hundred and thirty thousand pounds gross weight or on days designated by the commission's chief engineer as preceding, on and following all national holidays and national holiday weekends or any other day or weekend as designated by the chief engineer and posted on the commission's website at www.ohioturnpike.org.
(2) All movements shall be made at such speeds and in such manner so as to conform to the posted speed limits unless otherwise provided in the permit.
(3) No movements under permits shall be made during adverse weather and/or road conditions, such as storms, slippery or snow-covered roads, thick fog or other conditions restricting visibility. The chief engineer may waive this condition if at his/her discretion such waiver is in the best interest of the public.
(4) No vehicle or load operating under a permit shall be parked upon the turnpike traffic lanes or shoulders at any time, except as directed by a police officer or an authorized employee of the commission, or in the event of a mechanical failure or traffic accident necessitating such stopping, in which case adequate protection shall immediately be provided for the traveling public.
(5) Every operator of a vehicle operating under a permit shall maintain sufficient space, whenever conditions permit, between such vehicle and another vehicle ahead so that an overtaking motor vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger.
(6) Every vehicle operating under a permit shall, when traveling on the turnpike, remain in the outer traffic lane of the turnpike except as necessary to maintain continuous through movement, to make left turns or exits, or to pass other vehicles. Vehicles that are over dimensional based on width shall not pass other vehicles traveling in the same direction.
(7) Flags and/or flag persons may be required at the discretion of the commission. If the commission determines that flags and/or flag persons are necessary, these requirements will be specified on the permit. Such flags and/or flag persons shall then conform to the following specifications:
(a) All flags shall be clean, bright solid red or orange in color, and at least eighteen inches square. They shall be displayed on the two top rear corners of all over dimensional vehicles or loads and at the extreme ends of all protrusions, projections, or overhangs.
(b) A flag person shall be equipped with a flag and a bright lime green or orange upper outer garment, such as a safety vest which meets or exceeds the performance Class 3 requirements of the latest revision of ANSI/ISEA 107 publication and labeled as meeting the latest revision of ANSI 107 standard performance for Class 3 risk exposure. Such person shall be familiar with proper flagging procedures and be responsible for directing traffic, through proper use of the flag and hand signals at all locations where traffic may be obstructed, at all danger points such as narrow bridges, or when necessary to encroach upon an opposing traffic lane due to breakdown, pulling on or off the pavement, or other similar reasons.
(8) Flashing amber beacons may be required on over dimensional vehicles or combinations of vehicles and loads at the discretion of and as prescribed by the commission. Special vehicle lighting over and above that required by law may be prescribed by the commission for emergency movements at night or during other periods of restricted visibility. If the commission determines that safety lighting devices are necessary, these requirements will be specified on the permit.
(9) All over dimensional vehicles, when their overall length exceeds one hundred and twelve feet, and/or width exceeds ten feet, operating under permits shall display signs on the rear in accordance with standard sign designs as prescribed by the commission.
(10) Private escorts or police escort vehicles may be required at the discretion of and as prescribed by the commission. If the commission determines that escort service is necessary, this requirement will be specified in the permit. Permittees may elect to utilize escorts but must advise the commission of such election in advance and conform to the escort conditions prescribed by the commission and the financial responsibility provisions of the Revised Code. Every person operating a private escort vehicle must be a licensed driver who is also capable of performing the duties of a flag person.
(11) The operator or driver of any over dimensional or overweight vehicle operating under a permit shall strictly adhere to the routing specified in the permit and shall not deviate therefrom except as authorized by the commission for unforeseen conditions that preclude the use of the specified routing. The operator or driver shall also comply with all traffic laws governing the movement of traffic in general.
(12) The permit may specify additional limitations that the commission determines to be necessary for the protection of pavements or structures or that the commission determines to be necessary for the safety of the motoring public.
(D) Permit fees and payment procedure.
(1) The application processing fee is based on a one-way movement. The application fee for a one-way movement for each of the following categories shall be determined and set by the commission and published on its website at www.ohioturnpike.org:
(a) Permit processing fee for over dimensional vehicles (including those based on height up to a maximum of fourteen feet).
(b) Overweight vehicle axles(s) or overweight gross weight (up to one hundred twenty thousand pounds.
(c) Overweight vehicles exceeding one hundred twenty thousand pounds including fees per ton, for each ton over one hundred twenty thousand pounds, per mile traveled.
(d) Over dimensional vehicle fees shall be waived if the vehicle is charged overweight vehicle charges.
(e) Permit revision fee applicable to over dimensional vehicles that exceed eleven feet in width, or one hundred twelve feet in length, or overweight vehicles that exceed one hundred twenty thousand pounds.
(f) Ohio state highway patrol escort and/or inspection fee: sixty dollars per hour.
(2) Permit fees may be made by pre-paid accounts or any other method approved by the commission for payment. If payment is made by pre-paid account, the processing fee will be deducted from the account on the date the permit is approved. At the discretion of the commission, a third-party processor service may be utilized for credit card transactions.
Last updated September 1, 2023 at 9:07 AM
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