How to read a Nebraska oversize permit
An NDOT single trip permit has the truck, load, axle weights and the whole route on page 1, with provisions running onto pages 2 and 3. The route is written twice: Highway Routing is the short list of roads, and Detailed Routing gives the county and milepost where you turn onto each next road.
Issued by the Nebraska Department of Transportation through Automated Truck Permit System. Written from a real permit we read.
How to read the route
The route is on page 1 under Highway Routing: and Detailed Routing:. Highway Routing lists the roads in order, left to right, each with a direction (SWB is southwestbound, NB is northbound). Detailed Routing gives each step as TO, the road, MP, the county and the milepost, then @ and the next road with its direction, and the steps are split by semicolons. So 'TO US-75 MP CASS 59.10 @ US-34 W' means stay on US-75 to milepost 59.10 in Cass County, then turn onto US-34 west. No miles between steps are printed, but on the same road you can subtract the mileposts.
What's on each page
- Page 1: Carrier, truck, trailer and load; size; a red note about height; the axle weight table; Trip From and Trip To; Highway Routing and Detailed Routing; then the first provisions (one-trip rule, Fremont beltways, Lincoln/Omaha embargo).
- Page 2: More provisions: bad-weather rules, travel hours, local permits, clearances, Nebraska statutes on power lines and utilities, open scales, axle weights and dummy axles.
- Page 3: Valid Dates of Permits, Issued On, the fee and the Permit Officer line.
- Page 4: A human trafficking awareness notice with hotline numbers. Not part of the route.
Road names on Nebraska permits
| On the permit | Means |
|---|---|
| NE-2 SWB | Nebraska Highway 2, southwestbound |
| US-34 WB | US Highway 34, westbound |
| NE-63 NB | Nebraska Highway 63, northbound |
| I-80 NEB | Interstate 80, northeastbound |
| NE-31 NB | Nebraska Highway 31, northbound |
| L28B WB | Nebraska Link 28B, a short state-maintained link road on the west side of Omaha, westbound |
| US-275 NB | US Highway 275, northbound |
| US-30 NWB | US Highway 30, northwestbound |
Where the route starts and ends
Trip From and Trip To give the ends in plain words: a state border (IOWA BORDER) and a town with NE after it. Detailed Routing gives the exact points as road, MP, county and milepost: 'START NE-2 SW MP OTOE 508.16' and 'END US-30 MP DODGE 407.53'.
Conditions to watch for
Travel hours
You may drive from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, 7 days a week, unless the permit says otherwise.
“Travel is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, 7 days a week, unless otherwise stated on this permit.”
Omaha and Lincoln rush hours
In the Omaha metro area (state highways and Interstate) and on state highways inside Lincoln city limits, no travel weekdays 7 to 9 AM or 4 to 6 PM. Loads over 16 ft wide may cross the Omaha metro only weekdays 9 AM to 3 PM. This route passes the west side of Omaha, so check the embargo map the permit names (Title 408 Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 3).
“No Travel Monday through Friday: 7:00 am - 9:00 am or 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm”
Weather
No travel when wind makes moving hazardous, visibility is under half a mile, in rain, sleet or snow, on slick roads, or with debris on the highway. If it starts, get off the road at the next safe place and park. Wet pavement, light drizzle or wind under 25 mph do not count.
“Permit travel is prohibited if any of the following adverse or inclement weather conditions exist:”
Fremont beltways
This route uses US-77 and US-30 near Fremont. Take the new US-30 and US-77 beltways; going onto old US-30 or US-77 through town means calling the city about a permit.
“CARRIER IS TO UTILIZE THE NEW US-30 BELTWAY.”
Height and clearances
The vehicle may measure up to 14 ft 6 in if the permit lists less than that, but anything you hit above 12 ft 6 in is on you. Go around any clearance lower than your listed size.
“Permittee assumes all responsibility for field conflicts above 12'6".”
One trip
One trip within the 10-day window shown on page 3. A round trip permit covers one trip out and one trip back.
“SINGLE TRIP PERMITS ARE VALID FOR ONE (1) TRIP DURING THE 10 DAY PERIOD IN WHICH THEY ISSUED.”
Scales
Pull into every open scale.
“Under no circumstances shall permitted vehicle bypass any scale site that is open.”
Easy to miss
- The route is written twice. Highway Routing is only the list of roads; use Detailed Routing to find where each turn is.
- The county name sits between MP and the number: 'MP CASS 59.10' is milepost 59.10 on that road, in Cass County. The county is there to help you find the spot.
- Directions are short codes: SW or SWB is southwest(bound), NE or NEB northeast(bound), NW or NWB northwest(bound). In Detailed Routing the direction after the @ road is the way you go on that next road.
- L28B is a state link road, not a local street. It is written without a dash, unlike NE-2 or US-6.
Questions
How long is a Nebraska single trip oversize permit valid?
The permit says single trip permits are valid for one trip during the 10-day period in which they are issued. The dates are under Valid Dates of Permits on page 3.
What does MP mean on a Nebraska oversize permit?
MP is milepost. In Detailed Routing, 'MP CASS 59.10' means milepost 59.10 in Cass County, and the road after the @ is where you turn next.
When can oversize loads not travel in Omaha?
This permit's Lincoln/Omaha travel embargo says no travel Monday through Friday 7:00 to 9:00 am or 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the Omaha Metro area, on state highways and Interstate. Loads over 16 feet wide may go through Omaha only weekdays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
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.