Oversize and Overweight Permitting
In the transportation industry some loads exceed the legal dimensions of state/federal laws and require a special permit(s) to be purchased before the move. These large loads, typically fall into two categories; non-divisible and divisible. A non-divisible load is a load that can not be dismantled, like a piece of heavy equipment or a sealed port container. A divisible load means it can reasonably be dismantled or disassembled and separated into multiple loads to meet legal dimension requirements such as a general commodity, pallets of canned food, farm produce, or livestock. Most of the lower 48 states allow oversize/overweight permitting of non-divisible loads; however, not all states will allow divisible loads.
Each state has different laws for their over-dimensional loads, sometimes even changing due to the time of day, this makes travel between state lines complex and difficult to obtain authorization. Fleetflo's expert team will navigate through the complex application process and handle the approval for your oversize and/or overweight loads.
Fleetflo's Over-Dimensional Process
- Expert Route Research
- Have All of the Proper Permits Provided
- Enable Electronic Documentation
- Comply With State, County, City and Township Laws
- Increase Knowledge Base
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need an overdimensional permit?
If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you may need a specific oversize or overweight permit.
- Does your overall height exceed 13’ 6”?
- Does your overall width exceed 8’ 6”?
- Does your overall length exceed 65’?
- Does your overall weight exceed 80,000 lbs?
- Do you haul a trailer longer than 48'?
What do I need to apply for overdimensional permits?
Many states and counties require different points of data depending on the kind of permit being requested. Permits will need to be acquired for each state that the shipment passes through. Common pieces of information that will be requested are:
- Details of the tractor and trailer such as: make, model, year and VIN #'s
- The dimensions, axle spacing and axle weights for the tractor and trailer combined
- The length, width, height, and weight of the shipment
- A highly detailed plan of the route the tractor/trailer will be taking from start to finish
• Creating a route that will pass the state criteria can be difficult, this is why we recommend commissioning the assistance of a professional team. - Other documents or specific questions may come up as there is a wide range of variation between states and local jurisdictions
What is the penalty for not having an overdimensional permit?
Oversize and/or overweight loads being pulled over or involved in an accident while driving without a permit will result in severe penalties including, but not limited to:
- The tractor and trailer being towed at owners' expense
- The state or county can file a lawsuit if the driver causes damage to a bridge, road, building, etc.
- Citations at a minimum of $500 that increase exponentially per pound/inch over limit in most states
- A small trucking company could be forced into bankruptcy for one costly accident. This is more likely to happen when driving an oversize and/or overweight vehicle.