Size and Weight Limitations for Implements of Husbandry

General rule - Unless an implement of husbandry falls under one of the special exceptions (providing greater width allowances) an implement of husbandry may not be operated or moved on a highway at a width greater than 8 feet.

Special exceptions - There are three exceptions that the Vehicle Code provides, that are associated with the movement of implements of husbandry on highways:

• Daytime operation of implements of husbandry.
• Nighttime operation of implements used for crops and nutrients.
• Hauling of crops and nutrients.

Each exception has its own limitations in width allowances, and has conditions and requirements that must be met in order for the exception to apply.

Movement of Implements Not Wider than 14 feet, 6 inches: An implement of husbandry not wider than 14 feet, 6 inches may be driven, hauled or towed without restriction as to time, if:

1. The driving, hauling or towing of the implement occurs:
   • Within 50 miles of the vehicle owner's farm; or
   • Between the farmer's farm and a place of business of a mechanic or dealer in implements of husbandry within 150 miles of that farm in order to buy, sell, trade, loan, lease, demonstrate, repair or service the implement.

When driven, hauled or towed between sunset and sunrise, the implement of husbandry shall have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360-degree visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps.

Movement of Implements Wider than 14 feet, 6 inches but not exceeding 16 feet: Any implement of husbandry, exceeding 14 feet 6 inches and not exceeding 16 feet in width, may be driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset on highways other than freeways if the implement of husbandry is covered by financial responsibility and is preceded by a pilot vehicle that displays an "oversize load" sign on the front of the vehicle and has continuously activated hazard signal lamps. The implement of husbandry shall have an operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360-degree visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps. They may be operated:

1. Within 50 miles of any farm owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry
2. Between farm or farms owned or operated by a farm and a place of business of a mechanic or dealer in implement of husbandry located not more than 150 miles away for the purpose of buying, selling, trading, loaning and leasing, demonstrating, repairing or servicing the implement of husbandry.

Implements operated at nighttime for crops or nutrients: An implement of husbandry not wider than 14 feet, 6 inches may be operated between sunset and sunrise if:

1. The implement is being used exclusively for crops or nutrients.
2. The road used by the implement is not a limited access freeway; and
3. Have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360-degree visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps during the time the implement is moving on the highway.

An implement of husbandry exceeding 14 feet 6 inches and not exceeding 16 feet in width may be driven, hauled or towed on highways other than freeways between sunset and sunrise within 25 miles of any farm owned or operated by the owner of the implement of husbandry if all of the following are met:

1. The implement of husbandry is equipped with reflective edgemarks or lights to identify the outermost edges of the rear and front of the implement that are visible from the front, the rear and, as is practicable, from each side;
2. The implement of husbandry shall have and operate at least one flashing or revolving yellow light or yellow strobe light, which shall be mounted to provide visibility to vehicles approaching from any direction, 360-degree visibility, regardless of the method of mounting and hazard signal lamps.
3. The implement of husbandry is not driven, hauled or towed at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour;
4. The implement of husbandry is drive, hauled or towed by a person who is at least 18 years of age;
5. The implement of husbandry is followed by a vehicle that is displaying an "oversize load" sign on the rear of the vehicle and is operating continuously activated hazard signal lamps; and,
6. The implement of husbandry is covered by the minimum levels of liability insurance coverage on the vehicle by owners of the registered motor vehicles or liability insurance coverage for the implement of husbandry have been provided under farm liability insurance coverage.

Movement of vehicles carrying crops and nutrients: An implement of husbandry may tow a vehicle not wider than 12 feet that is carrying crops or nutrients if:

1. The implement is driven, hauled or towed between sunrise and sunset; and
2. The road used by the implement is not a limited access freeway.

Implements of husbandry wider than 8 feet, 6 inches that cannot meet the conditions and requirements for any of the special exceptions described above will be required to obtain an Oversize/Overweight hauling permit from PennDOT in order to be operated or moved on a highway. To check requirements for hauling permits, visit PennDOT's website, then select More Links and scroll down to Hauling Permits. For contact information in your respective area, select Permit Contacts.

Height (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Chapter 49) - No vehicle, including any load, shall exceed a height of 13 feet, 6 inches.

Weight (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Chapter 49) - No vehicle shall, when operated upon a highway, have a gross weight exceeding 80,000 pounds, and no combination driven upon a highway shall have a gross weight exceeding 80,000 pounds., or the applicable weight set forward in Chapter 49 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

A vehicle may only be operated outside these limits with a permit from PennDOT. Oversize/Overweight hauling permits are issued for movement of vehicles which exceed the limitations on size, weight, and load as established in Section 4921 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. To check requirements for hauling permits, visit PennDOT's website, then select More Links and scroll down to Hauling Permits. For contact information in your respective area, select Permit Contacts.