Alabama oversize load rules
Legal limits, pilot car requirements, travel restrictions, superload thresholds and permit fees for oversize and overweight loads in Alabama.
Legal limits without a permit
| Width | 8′6″ (8′ on lanes under 12′) |
|---|---|
| Height | 13′6″ |
| Length | 57′ semitrailer · 40′ single vehicle |
| Weight | 80,000 lb gross |
Travel restrictions
- Daylight hours only
- No travel on Sundays
- No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas
- No travel in hazardous weather or when visibility is under 500 ft
Escort (pilot car) requirements
- 1 front escort on two-lane roads, or 1 rear escort on multilane roads (12′–14′ wide)
- Front and rear escorts on all roads (over 14′ wide)
- Front escort with height indicator (over 15′6″ high)
- 1 rear escort (90′–125′ long)
- Front and rear escorts (125′–150′ long)
- Front and rear law enforcement escorts (over 150′ long)
- Load extending more than 5′ past the rear: rear escort. Load extending 10′ or more past the front: front escort.
- ALDOT may require additional escorts when it decides they are needed.
Superloads
A superload is over 16′ wide, 16′ high, 150′ long or 300,000 lb gross. It needs a justification letter, load and axle drawings, a route survey, and at least 2 state trooper or police escorts. Most superloads move 9 PM–6 AM, Sunday through Thursday. A bucket truck is required over 16′5″ high.
Permit fees
| Single-trip oversize, up to 12′ wide and 75′ long | $10 |
|---|---|
| Single-trip overweight, 150,001 lb and over | $110 |
| Added when an overweight load is also over-dimension | $10 |
| Annual oversize (12′ W × 14′ H × 75′ L) | $100 |
Single-trip permits are valid 5 days.
Common questions
How wide can a load be in Alabama before it needs a pilot car?
Alabama requires an escort starting at 12′ wide: one front escort on two-lane roads or one rear escort on multilane roads. Over 14′ wide, the load needs front and rear escorts on all roads.
Can oversize loads travel on weekends in Alabama?
Saturday travel is allowed during daylight hours. Permitted loads cannot travel at any time on Sundays or on six major holidays.
What is a superload in Alabama?
Any load over 16′ wide, 16′ high, 150′ long or 300,000 lb gross. Superloads need a route survey, at least two police escorts, and usually move at night Sunday through Thursday.
Sources
- ALDOT escort rule 450-3-1-.05
- ALDOT permit conditions 450-3-1-.04
- ALDOT single-trip fees 450-3-1-.09
- ALDOT superload requirements (PDF)
Planning reference. Permits carry their own conditions, and city and county roads have separate rules. Confirm with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) before moving a load. Found an error? Report it.
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