Oversize / Overweight Permits in Mississippi
Mississippi Oversize/Overweight Regulations
According to Mississippi law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversize/overweight load:
Legal Size Limit:
- Width: 8′ 6″; 8′ for non-designated highways (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)
- Overall length: 99′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
- Trailer length: 53′
- Front overhang: 3′
- Rear overhang: 15′
Legal Weight Limit:
- Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load)
- Single axle: 20,000 lb.
- Tandem axle: 34,000 lb.
- Tridem axle: 42,000 lb.
Mississippi Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits
A general single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversize and overweight loads exceeding the legal weight or size limit for a period not to exceed three consecutive days.
For more details:
Mississippi Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits
To obtain an annual permit, a load must meet the following requirements:
- maximum overall length – 99′
- maximum width – 14′
- maximum height – 13’6″
A permit fee starts at $100 ($10 for a single trip) and depends on the nature of the loads and other vehicle and load conditions.
Mississippi Wide Load Requirements
All loads wider than 8′ 6″ (8′ for non-designated highways) require an oversized permit issued by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Oversize Load Flag Requirements:
Eighteen inch square flags shall be positioned at each intersection, elevated to a distance of six (6) feet above the ground, whenever any maneuver exceeds a length of ten (10) feet but does not surpass twelve (12) feet in width.
Oversize Load Banner Requirements:
Mississippi requires vehicles hauling oversized loads to be equipped with front and rear “oversize load” banners.
Oversize Load Sign Requirements:
Black letters on the yellow background.
Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:
Oversize vehicles or the ones transporting oversize loads must be equipped with flashing amber warning lights at the rear.
Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:
- For transportation that takes place during the hours of daylight on roads with two lanes (one lane per direction), any load measuring 13 feet or wider must have, at the very least, a leading guide and rear-mounted amber lights that flash.
- During daylight hours on highways with separated lanes (consisting of two or more lanes for each direction), loads exceeding a width of 13 feet necessitate, at minimum, a trailing escort and rear-mounted flashing amber lights.
- Depending on the specific route and load circumstances, it may be mandatory to have police escorts accompanying all loads that are 20 feet wide or wider.
Mississippi Wide Load Restrictions
All loads wider than 8′ 6″ are subject to the following restrictions:
Oversize Holiday Restrictions:
Unless otherwise mentioned in Mississippi wide load permits, oversize-overweight loads are not permitted to move on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, as well as on Sundays and after 12:00 noon on days preceding the listed holidays.
Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:
Oversized loads not exceeding 12′ in width, 150,000 lbs in weight, 99′ in length, or 13′ 6” in height may be allowed to move at night.
Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:
Mississippi adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that determines specific 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
Note: Movement of oversize/overweight loads can be prohibited on some bridges.
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 Mississippi. However, they may appear in Mississippi oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.
Mississippi Wide Load Limits
Mississippi sticks to the Federal legal width limit of 8′ 6″ (8′ for non-designated highways). Everything wider requires a permit to be moved on public roads.
Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:
8′ 6″; 8′ for non-designated highways (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Axle Weight Limits:
Legal axle weight limit:
- steer axle – 12,000 lbs
- single axle – 20,000 lbs
- tandem axle – 34,000 lbs
- triple axle – 42,000 lbs
The maximum permitted axle weight limit:
- tandem axle – 44,000 lbs
- GVW daylight movement – 180,000 lbs
- GVW nighttime movement – 150,000 lbs
- five axles (80,000-95,000 lbs): steering axle 14,000 lb, spacing 12′; tandem axles 40,500 lbs, spacing 28’, tandem 40,500 lbs
- six axles (80,000-117,000 lbs): steering axle 15,000 lb, spacing 12′; tandem axles 45,000 lbs, spacing 28’, tri-axle 57,000 lbs
- seven and more axles (80,000-150,000 lbs): steering axle 14,000 lb, spacing 12′; tandem axles 48,000 lbs, spacing 28′, quad 68,000 lbs
Oversize Tire Regulations:
- at least one inch thick rubber above the edge of the flange
- tires must not feature protuberances of any material other than rubber unless their use is required for safety
- tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum front tread depth of 4/32″
Mississippi Trip Permits
The state of Mississippi issues IRP permits valid for 72 hours at the cost of $25.
Mississippi Fuel Permits
IFTA permits are necessary for all interstate motor carriers driving in or through Mississippi. They must pay a fuel use tax and keep the fuel receipts in the vehicle.
Mississippi Specialty Permits
The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.
Superload Permits:
A superload permit is required if the vehicle or combination reaches or exceeds:
- overall width 17′
- overall length 121′
- overall height 15′ 7”
- gross weight 189,999 lbs.
Special Heavy Equipment Blanket Permit:
This permit applies specifically to loads that do not exceed the weight limit of 150,000 pounds, width of 12 feet, height of 13 feet 6 inches, or length of 99 feet. Permitted vehicles are allowed to move 24/7.
For more information about specialty permits:
Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Mississippi
Oversize and overweight fines in Mississippi start at $10 for the first offense with the excessive weight of up to 1,999 lbs and in some cases can reach over $1,000. Their size depends on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight.
In some cases transporting non-permitted oversize/overweight loads can result in 30 days of jail time.
Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Mississippi
The cost of Mississippi OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, its nature, and its excessive weight and size. It starts at $25 for a single-trip permit and can exceed several hundred 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.