How to read an Ohio oversize permit
An Ohio special hauling permit puts the truck, load, a one-paragraph route (From, To, Via) and the rules (Comments) on page 1, and the turn-by-turn ROUTING AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS table on page 2. The one thing to know: you may leave the route only at a state highway interchange for food, fuel, rest or repair, and no more than 1 mile from it.
Issued by the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Maintenance Administration, Special Hauling Permit Section through Ohio Hauling Permit System (OHPS). Written from a real permit we read.
How to read the route
Read the table top to bottom. Each row means: drive the Miles on the road in the Route column, then do what the To column says (turn right, take an exit). Distance is the running total from the start, so the 'Arrive at destination.' row shows the trip length. The first row is the Origin and the last rows are the Destination. A line in square brackets marked 'Off State Maintained' is the delivery point on local streets, past the end of the state route.
Columns, left to right: Miles · Route · To · Distance.
What's on each page
- Page 1: The permit itself: permit number, type and dates, who it is issued to, truck and trailer, load and overall sizes, then From, To and Via (the whole route in one paragraph) with total Miles, then the Comments: structures, 55 mph, the Columbus outerbelt rule, the 1-mile rule for stops, weigh stations and form OS-1A.
- Page 2: ROUTING AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: the route table, row by row, then the final destination and the time the route was authorized.
- Page 3: A human trafficking awareness page with hotline numbers. Page 1 says this page is not part of the valid permit.
Road names on Ohio permits
| On the permit | Means |
|---|---|
| US-40 | U.S. Route 40 |
| US-127 | U.S. Route 127 |
| I-70 Ramp | The ramp onto Interstate 70. Ramps get their own short row. |
| I-70 EAST | Interstate 70, eastbound |
| I-270 | Interstate 270, the Columbus Outerbelt (the permit calls it that) |
| Exit 49 toward ALUM CREEK DR/OBETZ | Leave I-270 at exit 49, signed Alum Creek Dr / Obetz. |
Where the route starts and ends
Both ends are a highway plus a town, sometimes with a distance: 'US-40, 1.0mi from NEW PARIS' and 'I-270, OBETZ'. They appear as From and To on page 1 and as Origin and Destination on page 2. In the page 1 Via line they are wrapped in ==> and <== marks. When the real pickup or delivery is off the state highway system, page 2 adds a bracketed 'Final Destination (Off State Maintained)' line with the street address; that last part is not covered by the ODOT route.
Conditions to watch for
Speed
Never over 55 mph on this permit.
“Maximum permitted speed may not exceed 55 mph.”
Columbus outerbelt
Do not travel inside the I-270 loop around Columbus.
“TRAVEL INSIDE THE COLUMBUS OUTERBELT (I-270) PROHIBITED.”
Stops off the route
You may leave the route at a state highway interchange for food, fuel, rest or repair, but stay within 1 mile and do not cross over any structure (or under one if you are over 13'6" high). Go farther and you are off route.
“does not travel more than 5,280 feet (1 mile) from the interchange”
Bridges and structures
Cross every bridge in the marked travel lanes. No driving on the shoulder across structures.
“No shoulder running allowed across structures unless otherwise specified on the permit.”
Weigh stations
Stop at every weigh station, even if your transponder says bypass.
“All Permitted Loads Must Stop At All Weigh Stations Regardless of In-Cab Transponder Signal.”
Local roads and the Turnpike
This permit covers state routes only. County and township roads, city streets and the Ohio Turnpike need their own permission from those authorities.
Form OS-1A
Carry ODOT form OS-1A, the permit limitation rules, with the permit.
“Permits Limitation Provisions Form OS-1A (REV01-18) must accompany permit.”
Easy to miss
- The route is printed twice: the Via paragraph on page 1 and the table on page 2. They list the same roads. Use the page 2 table for miles and exits.
- The Destination row shows 0.00 for Miles and Distance. That is not the trip length. The total is on the 'Arrive at destination.' row and on the Miles line of page 1.
- A bracketed 'Final Destination (Off State Maintained)' line under the table is the street address you deliver to. The ODOT route ends where the table does; the local streets after that need permission from the city, county or township.
- The Comments ban travel inside the Columbus Outerbelt, and this route rides I-270, the Outerbelt itself. Stay on I-270 and get off only at the exit the table gives. Do not cut inside the loop.
Questions
How do I read the route on an Ohio oversize permit?
Go to page 2, ROUTING AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. Each row means: drive the Miles on the road in the Route column, then do what the To column says. Distance is the running total.
Can I leave my Ohio permit route for fuel or food?
Yes, at a state highway interchange, as long as you stay within 1 mile (5,280 feet) of it and do not cross over any structure, or under one if you are over 13'6". Go farther and the permit says you are off route.
What is the speed limit on an Ohio oversize permit?
55 mph. The Comments on page 1 say 'Maximum permitted speed may not exceed 55 mph.'
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.