5537-3-05. Licenses overweight or over dimensional vehicle permits

(A) All applicants for an overweight or over dimension vehicle movement on the turnpike shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the commission. The permit application shall be available from the office of the commission, on the commission's website at www.ohioturnpike.org or at the toll plazas operated by the commission.

(1) To be complete, a permit application for a "single trip" permit shall contain all of the information the commission determines necessary to properly administer the permit process.

(2) The permit application shall provide an accurate and complete description of the vehicle and load to be moved and proposed locations of entrance on to the turnpike and exit off the turnpike. The information shall include all physical dimensions. Overweight applications shall also include axle weights and spacing, and the gross vehicle weight. Inaccurate or otherwise incomplete applications may result in a delay or denial of the issuance of the permit.

(3) The permit application may be submitted by completing an on-line application on the commission's website at www.ohioturnpike.org, by mail at the office of the commission located at 682 Prospect street, Berea, Ohio 44017 or at the entering toll plaza, provided the width does not exceed eleven feet, and/or the height does not exceed fourteen feet and/or the length does not exceed one hundred twelve feet and/or the vehicle is not overweight and/or the vehicle does not have an overweight axle.

(4) All permit applications must be accompanied by the fees prescribed by this rule, except as provided therein for advanced payments. Applications without accompanying fees may result in delay or denial of the issuance of the permit.

(5) If an application is incomplete, the commission shall promptly notify the applicant in writing or by telephone and provide the applicant with an opportunity to cure any error, inaccuracy or omission. The permit application shall not be denied without affording the applicant the opportunity to amend or correct the application so as to comply with the provisions of Chapter 5577. of the Revised Code or the rules of the commission for movement of overweight or over dimension vehicles over the turnpike.

(B) The commission may refuse to issue a permit. Reasons for the refusal to issue a permit may include but not necessarily include the following:

(1) All of the information required in the permit application has not been provided by the applicant.

(2) The applicant has failed to furnish a complete description of the vehicle and load to be moved on the turnpike, and the physical configuration of the load.

(3) The applicant or his/her agent have not endorsed the application with the original signature of the authorized agent of the permit holder or signature on-line by electronic signature of the authorized agent of the permit holder.

(4) The applicant has failed to pay the required fees specified in this rule.

(5) The applicant or his/her agent has failed to properly or safely secure the load on the vehicle, including but not limited to, the failure to properly divide the load over the required number of axles.

(6) Such vehicles as, in the opinion of a commission toll collector or traffic engineer or any police officer, are deemed to be unsafe or could create a hazard upon the turnpike. The burden of proof of the safe condition of such vehicles shall be upon the operators of such vehicles.

(C) Conditions on permitted movements.

(1) Unless otherwise provided in the permit, no movements except emergency movements shall be made at night (between the hours of sunset to sunrise) for vehicles exceeding ten feet width, ninety feet length, rear overhang beyond four feet and/or over one hundred and thirty thousand pounds or from sunset two days preceding and continuing until sunrise of the day following all national holidays and national holiday weekends or any other day or weekend as designated by the chief engineer.

(2) All movements shall be made at such speeds and in such manner so as to conform to the posted speed limits unless otherwise provided in the permit.

(3) No movements under permits shall be made during adverse weather and/or road conditions, such as storms, slippery or snow-covered roads, thick fog or other conditions restricting visibility. The chief engineer may waive this condition if at his/her discretion such waiver is in the best interest and welfare of the public.

(4) No vehicle or load operating under a permit shall be parked upon the highway or shoulder at any time, except as directed by a law enforcement officer, an authorized employee of the commission, or in the event of a mechanical failure or traffic accident necessitating such stopping, in which case adequate protection shall immediately be provided for the traveling public.

(5) Every vehicle operating under a permit shall maintain sufficient space, whenever conditions permit, between such vehicle and another vehicle ahead so that an overtaking motor vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger.

(6) Every vehicle operating under a permit shall, when traveling on the turnpike, remain in the extreme right-hand lane of the turnpike except as necessary to maintain continuous through movement, to make left turns or exits, or to pass other vehicles. Overwidth vehicles shall not pass other vehicles traveling in the same direction.

(7) Flags and/or flag persons may be required at the discretion of the commission. If the commission determines that flags and/or flag persons are necessary, these requirements will be specified on the permit. Such flags and/or flag persons shall then conform to the following specifications:

(a) All flags shall be clean, bright solid red or orange in color, and at least eighteen inches square. They shall be displayed on the two rear corners of all overwidth vehicles or loads and at the extreme ends of all protrusions, projections, or overhangs.

(b) A flag person shall be equipped with a flag and a bright lime green or orange upper outer garment, such as a safety vest. Such person shall be familiar with proper flagging procedures and be responsible for directing traffic, through proper use of the flag and hand signals at all locations where traffic may be obstructed, at all danger points such as narrow bridges, or when necessary to encroach upon an opposing traffic lane due to breakdown, pulling on or off the pavement, or other similar reasons.

(8) Flashing amber beacons may be required on over dimension vehicles or combinations of vehicles and loads at the discretion of and as prescribed by the commission. Special vehicle lighting over and above that required by law may be prescribed by the commission for emergency movements at night or during other periods of restricted visibility. If the commission determines that safety lighting devices are necessary, these requirements will be specified on the permit.

(9) All over dimension vehicles, when their overall length exceeds one hundred and twelve feet, and/or width exceeds ten feet, operating under permits shall display signs on the rear in accordance with standard sign designs as prescribed and furnished by the commission.

(10) Private escorts or police escort vehicles may be required at the discretion of and as prescribed by the commission. If the commission determines that escort service is necessary, this requirement will be specified in the permit. Permittees may elect to utilize escorts but must advise the commission of such election in advance and conform to the escort conditions prescribed by the commission and the financial responsibility provisions of the Revised Code. Every person operating a private escort vehicle must be a licensed driver who is also capable of performing the duties of a flag person.

(11) The operator or driver of any over dimension or overweight vehicle operating under a permit shall strictly adhere to the routing specified in the permit and shall not deviate therefrom except as authorized by the commission for unforeseen conditions that preclude the use of specified routing. He shall also comply with all traffic laws governing the movement of traffic in general.

(12) The permit may specify additional limitations that the commission determines to be necessary for the protection of pavements or structures or that the commission determines to be necessary for the safety of the motoring public.

(D) Schedule of permit fees and payment procedure.

(1) The application processing fee is based on a one-way movement. The application fee for a one-way movement is as follows:

(a) Permit processing fee for over width or over height up to a maximum of fourteen feet or overlength: twenty-five dollars.

(b) Overweight vehicle axles(s) and/or gross over weight up to one hundred twenty thousand pounds: one hundred thirty-five dollars.

(c) Overweight vehicles exceeding one hundred twenty thousand pounds: one hundred thirty-five dollars plus four cents per ton, per mile traveled.

(d) Over dimensional vehicle fees shall be waived if the vehicle is charged overweight vehicle charges.

(e) Toll plaza drive-up permit processing fee: twenty-five dollars.

(f) Mail in permit processing fee: twenty-five dollars.

(g) Permit revision fee applicable to overwidth greater than eleven feet and/or overlength greater than one hundred twelve feet and/or overweight greater than one hundred twenty thousand pounds: fifty dollars.

(h) Ohio state highway patrol escort and/or inspection fee: sixty dollars per hour.

(2) Permit fees may be made by pre-paid or post-paid accounts approved by the commission for payment of tolls electronically, credit card, check or money order. If payment is made by pre-paid account, the processing fee will be deducted from the account on the date the permit is approved. Checks and money orders must be made payable to the Ohio turnpike commission. At the discretion of the commission, a third party processor service may be utilized for credit card transactions.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/18/2018 and 07/01/2023
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 5537.04, 5537.16
Rule Amplifies: 5537.16
Prior Effective Dates: 03/03/2001, 10/08/2009, 07/01/2013

Prior History: (Effective: 07/01/2013
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/11/2013 and 07/01/2018
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 5537.04, 5537.16
Rule Amplifies: 5537.16
Prior Effective Dates: 3/3/2001, 10/8/09)