Truck and commercial vehicle information

This page is designed to provide commercial operators with information about MTA Bridges and Tunnels rules and regulations at our crossings. Our facilities are the Bronx-Whitestone, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial, Henry Hudson, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial, Throgs Neck, Robert F. Kennedy and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges, as well as the Queens Midtown and Hugh L. Carey Tunnels.

Note that trucks are not permitted across the Henry Hudson Bridge at any time.

All vehicles must follow the New York State Bridge Formula and cannot exceed 22,400 pounds on single axle, 36,000 pounds on two axles, and 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) at any MTA Bridges and Tunnels crossing.

For more detailed information on the New York State Bridge Formula, please visit the New York State DOT Overweight Vehicle Information, and scroll to the bottom of the first page.

All vehicles with weight exceeding the New York State Bridge Formula must apply for the night crossing permits (see procedures for overweight and over-dimensional vehicles section below).

• Queens Midtown Tunnel – 12 ft 1 in
• Hugh L. Carey Tunnel – 12 ft 1 in
• Verrazzano Narrows Bridge
  • Lower level:
    • Westbound: 13 ft 7 in
    • Eastbound: 13 ft 6 in
  • Upper level:
    • Westbound: 14 ft 6 in
    • Eastbound: 14 ft 5 in
• Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
  • Harlem River Lift Span:
    • From Manhattan: 12 ft 11 in
    • To Manhattan: 14 ft
  • Bronx Truss Spans
    • From the Bronx: 13 ft 3 in
    • To the Bronx: 14 ft
  • Queens Suspended Span:
    • From Queens: 15 ft 2 in
    • To Queens: 14 ft 9 in
• Bronx-Whitestone Bridge:
  • Bronx-bound: 15 ft
  • Queens-bound: 15 ft 1 in
• Throgs Neck Bridge:
  • Bronx-bound: 15 ft 2 in
  • Queens-bound: 14 ft 11 in
• Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge
  • Northbound
    • From 94 St: 15 ft 2 in
    • From Beach Channel Dr traveling west: 13 ft 10 in
    • From Beach Channel Dr traveling east: 14 ft 1 in
  • Southbound
    • To 95 St: 15 ft 2 in
    • To Beach Channel Dr traveling west: 15 ft 2 in
    • To Beach Channel Dr traveling east: 14 ft
• Marine Parkway – Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
  • Northbound
    • From Beach Channel Dr traveling west: 14 ft 1 in
    • From Beach Channel Dr traveling east: 15 ft 1 in
  • Southbound
    • To Beach Channel Dr traveling west: 15 ft 1 in
    • To Beach Channel Dr traveling east: 12 ft 11 in
• Henry Hudson Bridge – 12 ft

Vehicles higher than these limits must apply for night crossing permits. 

Tunnels – 8 ft 6 in

Bridges – 9 ft 6 in

For bridges, vehicles wider than 9 ft 6 in must apply for night crossing permits.

For information regarding hazardous material regulations, please see the MTA Hazardous Materials Regulations.

Please note: The transportation of all hazardous materials is prohibited at the Queens Midtown and Hugh L. Carey Tunnels.

There are now separate procedures for overweight trucks carrying non-divisible and divisible loads as set forth below. Please note that MTA permits are only valid on MTA facilities and do not apply to travel routes under city and state jurisdiction, which have separate permits. Be aware that for the safety of all our customers, Bridges and Tunnels officers at MTA facilities perform routine checks on trucks. Drivers who do not comply with MTA Bridges and Tunnels’ rules face fines that may exceed $10,000.

• Vehicles carrying non-divisible loads that are more than 80,000 lbs GVW, or
• Vehicles that are less than 80,000 lbs GVW but are not in compliance with the State Bridge Formula, or
• Vehicles wider than 9 ft 6 in 

Must obtain a daily over-dimensional permit from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) before attempting to cross any MTA Bridges and Tunnels facility. No separate MTA permit will be issued in conjunction with a NYCDOT permit for non-divisible loads.

How to obtain a NYCDOT permit

If you prefer, you can contact NYC DOT at the following address or phone number:

New York City Department of Transportation
Bridges - Truck Unit
55 Water Street,
New York NY 10041
Tel: (212) 839-6341

• Vehicles carrying annual NYCDOT Divisible Load Permits with:
  • GVW more than 80,000 lbs must obtain a Divisible Load Permit from the MTA before attempting to cross any MTA Bridges and Tunnels facility.  In addition, for Throgs Neck Bridge the following apply even if the annual NYCDOT permit has a higher limit:
    • Permits will not be granted for Trucks with six or seven axles exceeding 105,000 lbs.
    • Permits will not be granted for Trucks with 5-axle trucks exceeding 102,000 lbs.
    • must travel in the center lane at speeds of no more than 30 mph.
  • GVW of 80,000 lbs or less but are not in compliance with the State Bridge Formula must obtain a Divisible Load Permit from the MTA before attempting to cross any MTA Bridges and Tunnels facility.
  • Vehicles wider than 9 ft 6 in
• Trucks with GVW of 80,000 lbs or less, and trucks in compliance with the New York State Bridge Formula, must travel in the center lane at speeds of no more than 30 mph on the Throgs Neck Bridge.

Please note that State Divisible Load Permits are not valid on MTA crossings.

Application form (fillable PDF) for customers applying for a Divisible Load Permit

For further information on obtaining Special Handling Permits send an e-mail to cpo@mtabt.org or call 212-260-3000.