How to read an Illinois oversize permit
An IDOT permit is three pages printed from ITAP: page 1 is the carrier, truck, load and sizes, page 2 holds the route as a numbered list under Authorized Route, and page 3 is the rule about carrying the permit. Read the numbered steps in order; the miles in brackets are for that step only, and notes like **LEFT TWO LANES** tell you which lanes to use.
Issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau of Operations, OS/OW Permit Office through Illinois Transportation Automated Permit system (ITAP). Written from a real permit we read.
How to read the route
The route is the numbered list under Authorized Route: on page 2. Read it from 1 to 15, top to bottom; step 1 is where you cross in from Iowa and the last step is where you leave into Indiana. Each step says what to do (go on, keep left or right at a fork, keep right at an exit) and the number in brackets is the miles for that step alone, not a running total. Lines with **LEFT TWO LANES** or **EXIT LANE** tell you which lanes to drive on that short stretch. Total Distance and State Mileage at the bottom add it all up.
What's on each page
- Page 1: Header with effective dates and VALID FOR 1 SINGLE-TRIP MOVE, fees, carrier and contacts, the truck, the load, and overall dimensions.
- Page 2: Route Information: a QR code for a separate guidance app, Total Miles, From and To, the numbered Authorized Route, then the conditions for night moves and the Provisions list.
- Page 3: The department signature line and the rule that the permit, any revisions or extensions, and form OPER 993 must be carried in the vehicle.
Road names on Illinois permits
| On the permit | Means |
|---|---|
| I-80 | Interstate 80 |
| PEORIA / I-74 E | The fork signed for Peoria and Interstate 74 east |
| I-474 E | Interstate 474, eastbound |
| I-55/ I-74 | The stretch where I-55 and I-74 run on the same road |
| I-74 E / US-51 S | Interstate 74 eastbound sharing the road with US Highway 51 southbound |
| exit 87A | Exit 87A, where the route keeps right onto I-474 |
Where the route starts and ends
Both ends are state borders, written as 'Border Start:' or 'Border End:', then the neighboring state, then the road you cross on, like 'Border Start: Iowa - I-80'. The same words appear in From: and To: above the list and as the first and last numbered steps.
Conditions to watch for
Night moves: check closures
If you move between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise, first check IDOT's nighttime lane and ramp closure reports on the ITAP home page. If a closure is on your route, the permit has to be revised or you don't move at night.
“The driver shall check the Temporary Nighttime Lane and Ramp Closure reports before beginning nighttime movement for any closures.”
Night moves: escort
Night moves need at least one civilian escort vehicle, more if the permit has provision 4, up to three.
“A minimum of one (1) civilian escort vehicle shall accompany these moves.”
Provision 5
Booms on cranes and similar equipment must be tied down so they can't move.
“Booms on cranes and similar construction equipment shall be adequately secured to prevent movement while in transit.”
Carry the permit
Keep the permit, any revisions or extensions, and form OPER 993 in the truck. An electronic copy is fine, and police can ask to see it.
“the original permit, as well as, all supplemental (revision/extensions) permits and the form OPER 993 are required to be carried in the vehicle”
One move
The permit is good for one move between the effective dates printed in the header.
“VALID FOR 1 SINGLE-TRIP MOVE”
Easy to miss
- The miles in brackets are per step, not a running total. Add them up yourself, or use Total Distance at the bottom of the list.
- Steps 9 to 13 all say 'Go on I-74'. They are not new roads: the **LEFT TWO LANES** and **EXIT LANE** notes tell you which lanes to use on those short stretches.
- The heading 'Travel Is Not Valid (Unless Further Restricted by Provisions):' sits above the night-move rules (closure check and escort). Read the text under it, not just the heading.
- Two things look like route parts but are not: the [state] tag at the start of most steps, and the QR code under Audible Route Guidance, which links to a separate app. The route you must drive is the numbered list.
Questions
Where is the route on an Illinois oversize permit?
On page 2, under Route Information, in the numbered list after Authorized Route:. From: and To: just above it show where you enter and leave Illinois.
Can I move an oversize load at night in Illinois?
This permit adds rules for moves between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise: check the Temporary Nighttime Lane and Ramp Closure reports on the ITAP home page first, and run with at least one civilian escort.
Do I need a paper copy of my Illinois oversize permit?
No. The permit cites 5/15-301 (f) of the Illinois Vehicle Code: the permit, any revisions or extensions, and form OPER 993 must be in the vehicle, and an electronic version is acceptable.
Your permit is the legal document; follow everything it says. Permits change, and yours may differ from the ones we read.Last checked October 2026.