Oversize / Overweight Permits in South Carolina

South Carolina Oversize/Overweight Regulations

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

Legal Size Limit:

Width: 8′ 6″(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: 75′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)

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.

South Carolina Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A general single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversize and overweight loads exceeding the legal limits. It covers one movement from point A to point B during the running times specified in the permit. A general single-trip permit is valid for 7 days.

For more details:

https://www.scdot.org/business/pdf/osow/OSOW_Guidelinesfor_movement.pdf?v=3

South Carolina Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

To obtain an annual non-route-specific vehicle-specific permit, a non-divisible load must meet the following requirements:

maximum width – 14′(8’6 wide for containerized cargo)
maximum height – 13′ 6”
maximum GVW: 100,000 lb. (5 or more axles)

Note: The weight exceeding 90,000 lbs but up to 100,000 lbs, not surpassing 48,000 lbs per 2 axles or 55,000 lbs per 3 axles on a trailer that is at least 40 feet long and has five or more axles, are only allowed to travel on specific routes mentioned in the Oversize Truck Route Map.

To obtain an annual route-specific vehicle-specific permit, a non-divisible load must meet the following requirements:

maximum height – 15′
maximum GVW: 130,000 lb. (100,000 lb. for containerized cargo and open-top containers)

Note: The cost of a standard annual permit is $100.

South Carolina Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ require an oversized permit issued by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

All extremities of oversized loads that are at least 12′ wide must be marked with red or fluorescent orange 18″ square flags.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

South Carolina requires trailers and vehicles at least 12′ wide to be equipped with “oversize load” or “wide load” banners on the front and rear.

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

All signs must be 12” high and 7′ wide and feature black letters 10” high and 1.5” wide letters on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

All tow vehicles must drive with low beams on 24/7.

Warning lights:

If the width of a load is between 12 and 14 feet, it is required to have a flashing or strobe amber light at the back of the load. This light should be visible from 500 feet in all directions.
If the width of a load is between 14 and 16 feet, it is required to have a flashing or strobe amber light on both the front and rear of the load. These lights should be visible from 500 feet in all directions.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

Width 12′-14′:

one front escort (sometimes two may be required) for 2-lane highways

Width 14′-16′:

one front and one rear escort vehicle

Width over 16′:

one front and one rear escort vehicle
one front and one rear police escort vehicle

Height 16′ and greater:

one front escort with a height displaying device

Length 125′-150′:

one front escort

Length over 150′:

one front and one rear escort vehicle

Rear overhang 15′ up to 25′:

one rear escort

South Carolina Wide Load Restrictions

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

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in South Carolina wide load permits, oversize/overweight loads are not allowed to be moved on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. In addition, the Permit Director may restrict OSOW vehicles from traveling from noon the day before a holiday until noon the day after a holiday.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Oversized loads up to 12′ wide are allowed to transport from sunrise till sunset 7 days a week.

Oversized loads up to 15′ wide, including 14′ box width (plus 12” top overhang for mobile homes), are not allowed to move in or close to large urban areas between 7-9am all days and 3-6pm on school days and 4:30-6pm on non-school days.

Oversized loads wider 15′ and mobile homes 14′-16′ should be transported 9am-3pm on school days and 9am-4pm on all other days.

Note: If visibility is restricted to less than 500′, no movement shall be allowed.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

South Carolina adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that provides specific bridge restrictions. As for the oversize road restrictions, they include but not limited to 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: An oversize vehicle exceeding 14′ up to 16′ wide shall be the only vehicle on a bridge 18′ or less wide.

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 South Carolina. However, they may appear in South Carolina oversize load permits, arising from the nature and type of the load.

Summer season:
Movement is prohibited on Saturday and Sunday, East of I95, from Memorial Day through Labor Day over routes including, but not limited to, US-378, SC327, US-76, SC-576, US-501, SC-22, SC-31 and SC-9 in the Myrtle Beach area and on US-17 from the North Carolina line to points South of Myrtle Beach (Georgetown) and on any other routes in the Myrtle Beach vicinity.

South Carolina Wide Load Limits

South Carolina 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″ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)

Axle Weight Limits:

Legal axle weight limit:

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

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

single axle – 20,000 lbs
tandem axle – 40,000 lbs
triple axle – 60,000 lbs
four or more axles – 65,000 lbs
combination of vehicles with 3 axles – 55,000 lbs
combination of vehicles with 4 axles – 70,000 lbs
combination of vehicles with 5 axles – 90,000 lbs
combination of vehicles with 6 axles – 110,000 lbs
combination of vehicles with 7 axles – 130,000 lbs

Note: If a quad axle truck weighs more than 60,000 lbs., it needs to undergo a review by engineering for the requested travel route.

Oversize Tire Regulations:

Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum legal tread depth.

Tires must not feature tire chains or protuberances of any material other than rubber unless their use is required for safety and permitted. Such studs must not project more than 1/16 of an inch beyond the tread.

Note: A permit shall not be granted for any vehicle or combination of vehicles not equipped with pneumatic tires.

South Carolina Trip Permits

The state of South Carolina issues a 72-hour IRP permit for the cost of $15. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

South Carolina Fuel Permits

IFTA permits are necessary for all interstate motor carriers driving in or through South Carolina. The permit is valid for 10 days and costs $15. There is also a fee for handling and processing your permit.

South Carolina Specialty Permits

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

Superloads:

Loads with the GVW over 130,000 lbs or a single axle weight over 20,000 lbs require additional routing analysis.

If a load exceeds 180,000 lbs., it needs to be accompanied by a Certificate of Insurance or have a previously submitted Certificate of Insurance form in the SC Permit office.
For loads exceeding 300,000 lbs., documentation from the manufacturer is required. This documentation should include the weight and dimensions of the load being transported, as well as the empty weight of the truck and trailer used for transportation.
Loads exceeding 500,000 lbs. will be charged an additional mega load impact fee based on the entire gross vehicle weight, calculated on a per-mile basis.
Carriers transporting loads over 300,000 lbs. may be required to comply with additional requirements.

For more information about specialty permits:

https://www.scdot.org/business/pdf/osow/OSOW_Guidelinesfor_movement.pdf?v=3

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in South Carolina

Oversize and overweight fines in South Carolina start at $100 for the first offense and can reach over $1000 for the third one. Their size depends on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight and the number of violations since the first one within the same year.

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in South Carolina

The cost of South Carolina OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, its nature, and its excessive weight and size. It starts at $30 for a single-trip permit and can reach $350 for a superload permit.

You may also be charged an application fee for processing your permit request.

For more details:
https://www.scdot.org/business/pdf/osow/OSOW_Guidelinesfor_movement.pdf?v=3

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.