Oversize / Overweight Permits in Alabama

Alabama Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to Alabama law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversize/overweight load:

Legal Size Limit:

Width: 8’6″; 8′ for roadways less than 12′ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Height: 13’6″ (from the roadbed to the highest point of the load or vehicle, whichever is higher)
SIngle vehicle length: 40′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Length of a truck+semi trailer: 57′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Overhang: 5′

Legal Weight Limit:

Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load)
Steering axle: 20,000 lb.
Single axle: 20,000 lb.
Tandem axle: 34,000 lb.

Alabama Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A general single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversize and overweight loads exceeding the legal limit. It is valid for five days and covers one movement from point A to point B and vice versa.

Temporal expansions will not be conferred unless the voyage is hindered by forces of nature.

For more details:

https://www.dot.state.al.us/business/permits/pdf/RulesAndRegulations.pdf

Alabama Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

To obtain an annual permit, a load must meet the following requirements:

maximum length for a single empty vehicle or the one hauling a load – 75′
maximum width – 12′
maximum height – 14′
maximum GVW – 150,000 lbs
maximum single axle weigh – 22,000 lbs

Annual permits are vehicle specific and require the VIN in a permit to match the VIN of the permitted vehicle.

Alabama Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ (8′ for roadways less than 12′) require an oversized permit issued by the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

All extremities (four corners) of oversized loads must be marked with red or fluorescent orange 18″ square flags.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

Alabama requires oversize vehicles or the ones hauling oversized loads to be equipped with “oversize load” banners.

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

7″ wide and 18″ high; 10 letters with a 1.4”–1.5” brush stroke

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

Oversize vehicles may not be equipped with warning lights, whereas escort vehicles may require them.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

One front escort vehicle is required if the load’s width is over 12′ to 14′; plus a rear escort vehicle on multi-lane roads. Loads wider than 14′ must be supported with one escort vehicle in the front and another in the rear.
One front escort vehicle is required if the load’s height reaches 15′ 6”.
One front escort vehicle is required for loads from 90′ up to 125′ long; plus a rear escort vehicle for loads up to 150′.
Two law enforcement escorts are necessary for loads longer than 150′.
One rear escort vehicle is required if the load extends more than 5′ in the rear.
One front escort vehicle is required if the load extends more than 10′ in the front.

Alabama Wide Load Restrictions

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ are subject to the following restrictions:

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in Alabama wide load permits, oversize loads are not allowed to move on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Oversized loads are allowed to transport from half an hour before sunrise till half an hour after sunset.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

Alabama adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that determines bridge restrictions. As for the oversize road restrictions, they come as the following:

driving through work zones that are under construction
neglecting warning signals when driving through work zones
not giving traffic priority to law enforcement, emergency vehicles, etc

Oversize Seasonal Weight Restrictions:

While the Frost Law is applied in many states and provinces of Canada, no specific seasonal restrictions are provided by the state of Alabama . However, they may appear in Alabama oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.

Alabama Wide Load Limits

Alabama sticks to the Federal legal width limit of 8′ 6″. Everything wider requires a permit to be moved on public roads.

Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:

8′ 6″; 8′ for roadways less than 12′ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)

Axle Weight Limits:

Legal axle weight limit:

single axle – 20,000 lbs
tandem axle – 34,000 lbs
general rule: Weight = 500 (LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36) (N – number of axles, L – distance in feet between the extreme of any group of consecutive axles)

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

single axle – 22,000 lbs (may vary by permit)

Oversize Tire Regulations:

Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum tread depth of 2/32″.

Tires must not feature protuberances of any material other than rubber unless their use is required for safety.

Each tire must have a rubber surface covering its entire grip area, measuring at least four inches in width and protruding at least one inch above the outer edge of the tire’s rim all the way around.

Alabama Trip Permits

The state of Alabama issues seven-day IRP permits for $20. There is also a combined seven-day fuel/trip permit for $40.

Alabama Fuel Permits

The state of Alabama issues seven-day IFTA permits for $20.

In order to operate across state lines, vehicles under IRP and IFTA licensing regulations must acquire an IFTA fuel license along with a corresponding decal. Additionally, they must obtain an IRP license plate and cab card before engaging in interstate transportation.

Alabama Specialty Permits

The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.

Manufactured House and Mobile Home Permits:

A single-trip or annual manufactured house and mobile home permit is required for transporting mobile homes and manufactured houses exceeding the legal size and weight limits. A single-trip permit is valid for five days and covers the return way to the point of origin if the return mileage is permitted.

Maximum permitted dimensions:

16′ wide x 16′ high for a single trip
14′ wide x 14′ high for annual

For more information about specialty permits:

https://www.dot.state.al.us/business/permits/pdf/RulesAndRegulations.pdf

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Alabama

Oversize and overweight fines in Alabama start at $10 and can reach over $100. Their size depends on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight and the number of offenses since the first one within a year.

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Alabama

The cost of Alabama OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, its nature, and its excessive weight and size. It starts at $20 for a single-trip permit and can exceed several thousand dollars for an annual permit.

Trucking Permit Service

Express Permits provides a full spectrum of trucking permit services, assisting motor carriers in obtaining the appropriate oversize and overweight permits, coordinating with authorities, and ensuring compliance with state regulations, saving valuable time, effort, and potential penalties. You can rely on us regardless of your load’s type, nature, and destination.