USA
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Oversize/Overweight Permits and Regulations by State
For a truck operator, the challenge of handling overweight and oversize loads is much more about negotiating all administrative and permitting procedures rather than freight loading, transporting, and unloading. When moving oversize loads, haul truck operators must meet all the requirements of their home states as well as of all other states they cross or enter. Driving a truck with an OSOW load without a permit and against state regulations and Federal law may result in penalties and fines, loss of commercial license, and even jail time.
What Is a Wide Load?
By definition and in practice, any load that exceeds the maximum legal Federal width of 102″ (8.5 ft) is considered an oversized load. It requires a special wide load permit issued by your home state and valid in all other states it moves across. Each state sets its own wide load rules, which sometimes may vary significantly from state to state depending on its road infrastructure, climate, etc. Although most states adhere to the Federal’s 8.5 ft because of the standard width of the road travel line, some states may require you to request a permit for any load wider than 8 ft. You may also face additional load width restrictions and oversize loads regulations, including but not limited to police escort services and specified running days, times, and routes, when your load’s width exceeds 12 or 14 ft, and, in some states, even 10 ft. If the load is more than 16 ft in width, it may be subject to special DOT oversize load regulations involving road closures or other specific actions temporarily. The trucking operator’s responsibility is to meet the particular oversized load rules and oversize regulations of the state entered.
Overwidth Permits and Fees
The size of a permit fee is determined by the load’s dimensions, nature, and destination. It usually starts from $15 and may exceed $100, depending on the state and load conditions. You may also be charged a special application fee (approximately $15.00), which, however, you can avoid or minimize if dealing with a trucking operator that has a set-up account with the group of states or a particular state. Depending on your needs and the frequency of haul shipments, you may require a one-haul, multiple-haul, or annual permit. The latter allows for cutting the permit-per-shipment cost and simplifies negotiating of permitting procedures in the future.
Every permit specifies the routing, running times, safety equipment, and all other additional requirements (if necessary) for safely transporting the load or a group of similar loads. It also defines the permit fee and the specific day or period the permit is valid.
Please be advised that a fee doesn’t cover the costs of additional services like, for example, police escort, which must be paid separately.
Safety Rules
Before transporting an oversize haul, you must ensure it is equipped with the warning signs, flags, lights, and/or other necessary safety equipment prescribed by the law of every state you travel through. As a rule of thumb, states provide similar safety equipment requirements; however, they may differ a little, so it’s always a good idea to stick to the maximum size and quantity of flags, warning lights, etc.
The standard safety equipment includes two “wide load” or “oversize load” warning signs for the front and rear and red or fluorescent orange safety flags to mark the load’s corners. If driving at night or in poor visibility, the load must be equipped with ember or red warning lights close to the flags’ positions. Ensure the lights are visible from a long distance (at least 250 ft or more, depending on the state); otherwise, you’re not allowed to drive at night and in bad visibility conditions.
Note: Don’t forget to remove oversized safety equipment when you’re no longer transporting the load.
Additional Services and Running Times
Most states prescribe transporting “superloads” (over 10 ft and usually up to 14 ft wide) with escort vehicles simultaneously in the front, rear, or both. Depending on the state’s law and the width of the load, these can be private or law enforcement vehicles. Whichever type, the hauling operator typically covers the services.
Note: If the wide load rules of your home state don’t prescribe using an escort service for your load while the ones of the state you enter do, you must be met by escort vehicles once crossing the state’s borderline.
When it comes to permitted running times, most states limit hauling oversize loads wider than 10 ft to daylight hours. They also restrict any movement of such loads on holidays (including state holidays), weekends, and rush hours to minimize the risk of road collisions and reduce traffic. However, in some cases, and depending on your route, you may be allowed to drive at night.
Note: Neglecting permitted running hours and days may lead to fines along with the loss of driving and/or commercial license. You must meet all the requirements to haul oversize loads without running the risk of penalties.