Oversize / Overweight Permits

A truck carrying a load that exceeds federal or state size/weight limits needs a permit. Each state issues its own. Multi-state hauls require multiple permits or a multi-state pre-approval.

Federal weight limits

Federal limits (under Section 127 of Title 23):

Axle Type	Federal Limit
Single axle	20,000 lb
Tandem axle	34,000 lb
Maximum gross	80,000 lb
Federal Bridge Formula	Total ≤ 80K + 500 × (1 + L)/2 — for 5+ axles

Beyond these = overweight permit required.

Federal size limits

Dimension	Federal Limit (Interstate)
Length: tractor	60 feet typical (varies)
Length: trailer (53')	53 feet max on Interstate
Length: combination (tractor + 53')	75 feet (varies by state)
Length: combination (tractor + double 28')	75 feet
Width	8 feet 6 inches (102 inches)
Height	13 feet 6 inches (some states 14 feet)

Beyond these = oversize permit required.

State permitting offices

Each state has a permit office:

• Texas DMV — Oversize/Overweight Permits
• California DMV — Transportation Permits
• Florida DOT — Oversize/Overweight Section
• Illinois DOT — Permit Section
• ... etc.

Permits typically applied for via:

• State portal (online)
• Phone (some states)
• Permitting service (private; ~$25-50 per permit + state fees)

Common permit costs (state)

Type	Approximate Cost
Single trip permit	$20-100
Multi-trip / annual permit	$200-500 per state
Oversize: width-only	Lower
Oversize: height	Higher (need route survey)
Overweight (heavy haul)	Higher (per-axle escalation)

For a multi-state haul (e.g., Houston → Boston with an oversize load):

• ~15 states crossed
• ~15 permits at $50 average = $750 just in permits
• Plus permitting service fee
• Plus pilot car costs (see below)
• Total: $1,500-$5,000 in permitting per single trip

Permit timing

• Standard permits — Same-day or next-day issuance
• Holiday restrictions — Most states ban oversize/overweight movement on weekends, holidays, and high-traffic times
• Route survey required for height >14'2" — typically 1-3 business days
• Escort vehicle requirements — based on dimensions; see below

Pilot car / escort vehicle requirements

A pilot car (escort vehicle) is required for many oversize loads:

Dimension	Pilot Cars Required
Width 10-12 feet	1 (front)
Width 12-14 feet	2 (front + rear)
Width 14+ feet	2 (front + rear), highly regulated
Length 75-90 feet	1 (rear)
Length 90-100 feet	2 (front + rear)
Length 100+ feet	2 (front + rear)
Height 14-15 feet	1 (front, with height pole)
Height 15+ feet	2 (front with height pole + rear)
Heavy haul over 200,000 lb	State police escort sometimes required

Pilot cars cost $50-150/hour. Routes sometimes require pilot for hundreds of miles.

Route survey

For loads with extreme dimensions (height >14'6", length >100', weight >200K lb), a route survey may be required:

• Pre-trip drive of the entire route by qualified personnel
• Document low bridges, narrow lanes, sharp turns
• Identify alternate routes
• May take 1-7 days depending on distance

Many large heavy-haul carriers have in-house route survey teams.

Holiday + time restrictions

Most states restrict oversize/overweight operations:

• No movement during commute hours (typically 6-9 AM + 4-7 PM)
• No movement on weekends (some states)
• No movement on major holidays (Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, July 4)
• Some states have curfews (sundown to sunup)

For multi-state hauls, the most restrictive state's rules apply for that segment.

Multi-state permitting

Several states + organizations offer pre-approval:

• Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) — coordinates with state DOTs
• Heavy-Haul / Project-Cargo specialists — companies like Daseke, Stevens Trucking, that specialize
• Multi-state corridors — some pre-cleared routes for known shipments

Common oversize/overweight mistakes

1. Not getting permit before moving load. Civil + criminal exposure.
2. Wrong permit type — single-trip vs annual. Costs more or paperwork mismatch.
3. Operating during restricted hours. Local police citation + delay.
4. No pilot car when required. Same.
5. Route deviation without re-permitting. Permits often require specific route.
6. Holiday restrictions ignored. Out-of-service hold.
7. No bridge clearance verification. Driver damages truck + bridge; massive claim.

Common heavy-haul load types

• Construction equipment — bulldozers, cranes, excavators
• Wind energy — wind tower sections, blades
• Industrial equipment — transformers, large machinery
• Modular buildings — manufactured housing, drilling rigs
• Oil + gas equipment — drilling rigs, frac equipment, separators
• Yachts + boats — large craft over the road
• Military equipment — tanks, missile components

Insurance for oversize hauling

Oversize / overweight = higher liability exposure:

• $1M-$5M commercial auto liability typical
• $1M-$10M cargo coverage (commodity-dependent)
• Specialized cargo coverage may be required (e.g., for high-value yachts)

Many carriers require excess umbrella ($5M-$25M) for heavy-haul.

Where this fits in X3

X3 doesn't currently provide oversize permitting services. Carriers asking about heavy-haul should be referred to permitting services like:

• ITS Permits (Texas-based, national)
• Trax Transports
• Heavy-haul permitting specialists

For a fleet doing regular oversize work: track each haul in incidents.html (which can be extended for oversize-specific tracking) or in forms.html (permit attachments).

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