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Freight Management

Deliver Goods Safely, Quickly and Easily!

DC TRUCK & BUS MAP

Click here to be taken to the DC Truck & Bus Map.

QUICK RESOURCE CENTER

  • Permits

    For information on permits and loading requirements for development in the District, visit the Transportation Online Permitting System.

  • Enforcement

    For information on commercial vehicle enforcement, contact the District Metropolitan Police Department at 311 or at mpd.dc.gov.

  • Licensing & Registration

    For information on licensing and registration, contact the District Department of Motor Vehicles at dmv.dc.gov.

NAVIGATE THE DISTRICT

Truck Routing Tool

As a part of an extensive effort to identify and designate specific routes for trucks and buses to travel on while in the District, DDOT has established a truck through route and map.

A routing module is also available for use by the trucking community. To access, click “Plan a Trip” below and select “Guest Access” when prompted for login.

Download the Map (PDF)

Plan a Trip

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LOADING ZONES

DDOT has developed a commercial loading zone management program as supported by DCMR Rule 18-2402, enacted December 2013.

Download informational postcard. PRINT THIS INFORMATION

In order to park in a loading zone, a commercial vehicle operator will need to either purchase and display a permit on their vehicle or pay-by-cell immediately after parking.

  • ANNUAL PERMIT

    $323

    • 2-hour parking at loading zones during designated hours
    • Parking at metered spaces between 10am—2pm (off-hours), or when meter enforcement is not in effect
    • Valid for one calendar year (expires in January) and requires one week for processing

    BUY A PERMIT

  • DAILY PERMIT

    $25

    • Parking at metered spaces between 10am—2pm (off-hours), or when meter enforcement is not in effect
    • 2-hour parking at loading zones during designated hours
    • Valid for 24 hours and can be printed out immediately

    BUY A PERMIT

  • PAY-BY-CELL

    $2/hr

    Immediately pay for a space by utilizing the ParkMobile service and indicating the zone number found on the loading zone sign.

    PAY FOR SPACE

  1. Explore the Truck and Bus Map to see all District loading zones and truck routes and restrictions
  2. Check loading zone signage for day/hour/time restrictions
    Visit http://tops.ddot.dc.gov/ and select Commercial Vehicle Annual or Commercial Vehicle One-Day Permit to purchase a pass
  3. Place your day or annual permit on the lower, rear exterior portion of the cab’s passenger side
    • Don’t park for longer than the sign indicates or for more than two hours if no time limit is indicated
    • Spaces are for active loading or unloading
  4. Immediately pay for time needed to load/unload if you do not have a day or annual permit

Operators will be ticketed if:

  • Permit is expired or not properly displayed ($50 ticket)
  • No permit is displayed and payment-by-cell was not made ($100 ticket)
  • Vehicle stays longer than time limit designated or two hours if no time limit is designated ($50 ticket)
  • Unauthorized vehicle is parked in a loading zone ($100 ticket)

DISTRICT FREIGHT SIGNAGE PLAN

DDOT’s Freight Signage Plan calls for a strategic truck route signage network to direct and manage freight movement into, within, and out of the District.

As a member of the freight community, your experience and knowledge is very helpful in identifying where signage can or should be more clear or where other issues might need to be addressed. Visit DDOT’s crowdsourcing map to provide your feedback!

ACCESS THE CROWDSOURCING MAP

DC FREIGHT PLAN

The District’s Freight Plan outlines transportation strategies and steps to facilitate future economic growth while balancing the needs between communities and various industries in the District.

Read the moveDC ‘Freight Element’ chapter

VIEW THE DISTRICT FREIGHT PLAN

OVERSIZE & OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES

The District of Columbia has size and weight restrictions that limit the size of the vehicles that can legally operate on District roadways. For more information about OSOW vehicles in the District, visit the Trucks webpage in the DDOT Compendium.

Unless otherwise posted the maximum dimensional restrictions for vehicles and combinations are as follows:

References after each item below may be found in subdivisions of section 18-25 of the D.C. Municipal regulations.

Maximum Vehicle Dimensions
 Width
  • 8 feet [18-2501.1]
  • 8 feet 6 inches for buses having a carrying capacity of more than 15 passengers [18-2501.2]
 Height
  • 13 feet 6 inches for all vehicles [18-2501.5]
 Length
  • 40 feet for all single unit vehicles [18-2502.1]
  • 60 feet for all buses [18-2502.7]
  • 55 feet for all semi-trailers and other combinations of vehicles [18-2501.2]*

*Note: Combination vehicles will be subject to federal size limitations on interstate highways.

Unless otherwise posted the maximum weight limits for vehicles and combinations are as follows:

Maximum Vehicle Weights*
Weight on any one axle 21,000 pounds [18-2505.1]
Weight on any two consecutive axles less than 10 feet apart 34,000 pounds 34,000 pounds [18-2505.5]

*Note: Combination vehicles will be subject to federal size limitations on interstate highways. You can also find more a more detailed vehicle weight chart in DCMR 18-2505

Oversized/overweight vehicles require a permit to travel within the District of Columbia. The DDOT Online Permitting System, TOPS, allows users to apply for permits to operate oversize and overweight vehicles in the District, including annual tags and single haul permits.

Please note that there are certain limitations that will determine the type of permit available to operators based on the size of the vehicle and/or the load.

  • To obtain a permit for your oversized/overweight vehicle please click here to visit TOPS, the DDOT Online Permitting System.
  • To view a pdf list of frequently asked questions about the permitting process, please click here.
  • You can also reach the Permitting Office at 202.442.4670 between 8:30am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, on normal business working days.

The District Department of Transportation operates two vehicle weigh stations:

  • Half Street SW
  • I-295 Blue Plains SE

In the District of Columbia, a 53 foot trailer may be operated on the National Network comprised of the following:

  • I-295 from the District of Columbia – Maryland line to the Interchange with I-695 in the vicinity of 11th and L Streets, SE;
  • I-695 from the interchange with I-295 in the vicinity of 11th and L Streets, SE, to the interchange with I-395 in the vicinity of 2nd and E Streets, SW;
  • I-395 from the Virginia – DC line to the interchange with I-695 in the vicinity of 2nd and E Streets, SW;
  • The Anacostia Freeway from the 11th Street Bridge (I-295) to East Capitol Street; and
  • Kenilworth Avenue, NE from East Capitol Street to the DC – Maryland line.

PLAN A TRIP WITH THE TRUCK & BUS MAP

GO TO MAP

RULES & REGULATIONS

TRUCK RESTRICTIONS

TRUCK RESTRICTIONS

The District has a number of residential streets that are not designed to facilitate a large level of truck travel. In addition, there are areas of the District where trucks are prohibited for security reasons, such as the US Capitol.

For a full list of restrictions please refer to the routing map at godcgo.com /truckandbusmap.

To petition to restrict your street to trucks, please see the Truck Restriction Requests: Guidelines and Procedures.

TRAFFIC RULES

TRAFFIC RULES

Be aware of pedestrians and bicyclists, and follow all posted traffic regulations and requirements. District regulations are strictly enforced by the Metropolitan Police Department and violations will result in a ticket and a fine.

All traffic and vehicle activity is governed by Title 18 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations. Commercial vehicles can be ticketed for:

  • Double parking.
  • Stopping and loading at unauthorized areas.
  • Parking at meters.
  • Stopping, loading or parking on streets with rush hour prohibitions.
  • Parking in any area posted “No Parking” or “No Standing”.
  • Parking in a commercial vehicle zone for longer than the posted time limit; and
  • Parking in a residential neighborhood.

DC DRIVING 101
Before driving around the District, read this list of driving tips and road rules.

IDLING REDUCTION

IDLING REDUCTION

Please show consideration for our environment and the District’s anti-idling law. Commercial vehicles may idle for up to three minutes in the District of Columbia, and may idle for up to five minutes if the temperature is 32°F or below.

View DDOT’s Idle Reduction Campaign.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Watch a short video on the idling laws in DC.

FEATURED

Off-Hours Delivery Program

The Off-Hours Delivery (OHD) program addresses and alleviates congestion, efficiency, air quality and curbside management by encouraging non-peak truck deliveries in the District.

Interested in receiving or delivering in the off-hours? Fill out DDOT’s survey by clicking the button below or by emailing ddot.freight@dc.gov.

Download the OHD pilot informational flyer.

TAKE THE SURVEY

  • Meet the team

    DDOT’s Freight Program works to improve quality of life in the District by furthering goods movement safety and efficiency.

    ddot.freight@dc.gov

    202.671.2226

    Freight Transportation Planner

    DDOT

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