What does I mean on an oversize permit?

Interstate. An Interstate highway: I-35 is Interstate 35. Some states drop the dash (I35) or put a space (I 26).

Also printed as IS, INTERSTATE.

On real permits

PrintedMeansState
I-20Interstate 20Alabama
I-65Interstate 65Alabama
I-22Interstate 22Alabama
I-10Interstate 10Arizona
I-40 WBInterstate 40, westboundArkansas
I-440 SWBInterstate 440, southwest-boundArkansas
I-30 WBInterstate 30, westboundArkansas
I-70Interstate 70Colorado
I-91Interstate 91Connecticut
I-75Interstate 75Florida

Decode a whole route line