A standard special hauling permit is required when a vehicle or load is:

• Over 40 ft. long as a single vehicle.
• Over 60 ft. long as a combination vehicle.
• Over 70 ft. long as a combination, transporting articles that are non-divisible as to length.
• Over 8 ft. wide (8 ft. 6 in. for non-divisible loads operating on highways having a width of 20 ft. or more).
• Over 13 ft. 6 in. high.
• Over 80,000 lbs. or the maximum gross vehicle weight.

Cost

The permit cost for a standard one-way, one-time move is $85.

If the vehicle has been impounded, the permit cost for a standard one-way, one-time move is $170. You must indicate on your application that the vehicle is impounded.

A super load special hauling permit is required when a vehicle or load is:

• Over 160 ft. long.
• Over 16 ft. wide.
• Over 16 ft. high.
• Over 201,000 lbs.

Cost

The permit cost for a super load one-way, one-time move is $170.

If the vehicle has been impounded, the permit cost for an impounded super load one-way, one-time move is $340. You must indicate on your application that the vehicle is impounded.

Insurance limits

For this permit type, you must:

• Have a certificate of insurance showing general liability and auto liability insurance.
• Name the City of Philadelphia as an additional insured with respect to both the general liability and auto liability policies.

The name and address of the certificate holder and additional insured are:

Department of Streets – Bridge Section
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 830
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1676

Your travel route and the types of bridges you’ll cross will determine your minimum insurance limits. You can meet the minimum limit requirement with your primary policies combined with an umbrella/excess liability policy.

• No bridges or only bridges owned and maintained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or others: Minimum $2,000,000 per occurrence for both general liability and auto liability.
• Any bridges owned and maintained by the City of Philadelphia: Minimum $5,000,000 per occurrence for both general liability and auto liability.

If you don’t know which amount of insurance you need for your move, contact the Streets Department bridge unit at hauling.permits@phila.gov or at (215) 686-5546.

PennDOT approval

Before applying for your super load special hauling permit, you must get approval on your move from PennDOT.

1. Download PennDOT’s Super Load City Approval (SLCA) Application (M-936A SLCA).
2. Complete and submit the application to hauling.permits@phila.gov for the Streets Department to review and approve.
3. Use the PennDOT APRAS platform to submit your City-approved SCLA application, along with your application for a PennDOT Special Hauling Permit (M-936A). Alternatively, you can call (610) 205-6786.

Government agencies can apply for a non-standard special hauling permit. You can also apply for a blanket permit for a minimum of 15 moves within 30 days. In addition, this type of permit can be used for other miscellaneous special situations.

You must get authorization from the Streets Department bridge unit before applying for a non-standard permit. Contact them at hauling.permits@phila.gov or at (215) 686-5546.

The cost varies for this permit type. If your application lacks proper authorization or payment, it will be rejected.

Generally, you can move on the following days and times:

• Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday night and Sunday moves are allowed with:

• A police escort.
• Advance notification.
• Justification that shows why you can’t make a proposed move during normal operating hours.

Super load moves may be restricted to nighttime slots or Saturdays, especially when traveling through Center City.

It is illegal to move on:

• City holidays and holiday weekends.
• Snow emergency days.
• Fallen police officer funeral procession days (if your move requires a police escort).
• Other emergency days as determined by the City.

Holiday travel restrictions

Moves are prohibited during the following time periods. For a list of state travel restrictions, see PennDOT’s hauling permit information.

You must have a Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) escort if your vehicle or load is:

• Over 75 ft. long.
• Over 11 ft. 5 in. wide.
• Over 14 ft. high.
• Over 145,000 pounds.

Even if your vehicle or load doesn’t meet any of these conditions, the Streets Department or PPD may decide that an escort is necessary.

You won’t need a PPD escort if you’re traveling exclusively on interstate highways through the city. In that case, only state requirements apply.

How to get a PPD escort

You need to get a special hauling permit before requesting a police escort. Then, you can contact the PPD’s truck enforcement unit by calling (215) 685-1554 or by requesting police resources online through the Philadelphia Tax Center.

Market Street and Broad Street

You must get a SEPTA permit when traveling over the subway lines on:

• Market Street from 2nd Street through 22nd Street with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 80,000 lbs.
• Market Street from 22nd Street through 44th Street with a GVW over 100,000 lbs.
• Broad Street from north of Pattison Avenue through Grange Avenue with a GVW over 100,000 lbs.

The Streets Department won’t approve any permit for a vehicle that is traveling over the subway lines while weighing more than the specified load limits without an approved permit from SEPTA. To apply, complete a SEPTA heavy load movement application and email it to loadmovement@septa.org.

All SEPTA applications will be reviewed within five business days of submission.

Broad-Ridge Spur

You must get Broad-Ridge Spur Subway crossing approval when traveling over the subway lines on:

• Ridge Avenue from Broad Street through Arch Street with a GVW over 200,000 lbs. or axles weighing over 35,000 lbs.
• 8th Street from Market Street through Arch Street with a GVW over 200,000 lbs. or axles weighing over 35,000 lbs.

The Streets Department won’t approve any permit for a vehicle that is traveling over the subway lines while weighing more than the specified load limits without written authorization from the Department of Public Property or SEPTA. To apply, you can either:

• Contact the Department of Public Property at (215) 686-4525; or
• Contact SEPTA by email at loadmovement@septa.org.

Trolleys

To request to raise overhead trolley catenary wires that are in the way, contact SEPTA at (215) 580-8616.

You must get PATCO subway crossing approval when you travel over the subway lines on Locust Street from 16th Street through 8th Street with a GVW over 200,000 lbs. or axles weighing over 35,000 lbs.

How to get approval

The Streets Department won’t approve any permit for a vehicle that is traveling over the subway lines while weighing more than the specified load limits without written authorization from the Department of Public Property or PATCO. To apply, you can either:

• Contact the Department of Public Property at (215) 686-4525; or
• Contact PATCO at (856) 772-6968.

You must get a permit when traveling through the city parks, including but not limited to:

• Cobbs Creek Park
• Fairmount Park
• FDR Park
• Hunting Park
• Juniata Park
• Pennypack Park
• Tacony Park
• Wissahickon Valley Park

How to get approval

The Streets Department won’t approve any permit for a vehicle that’s traveling on a drive through one or more of the specified city parks without written authorization from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

To apply for a permit, complete the Parks & Recreation hauling permit application and email it to roger.tenantjr@phila.gov. All Parks & Recreation applications will be reviewed within five full business days of submission.

Obstructions by street trees

If there are street trees with branches in the way of your move, call 911 for a non-emergency dispatch to the appropriate Parks & Rec district representative.

A special hauling permit is required for traveling along streets and bridges within city limits. Additional permits may be required for traveling in certain areas and along other roadways.

• PennDOT handles permits for interstate highways and state routes like I-95 or U.S. 1/Roosevelt Blvd.
• The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) handles permits for the Ben Franklin Bridge, Betsy Ross Bridge, Commodore Barry Bridge, and Walt Whitman Bridge.
• The Burlington County Bridge Commission (BCBC) handles permits for Burlington-Bristol Bridge and Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.