DOT And Oversized Load

[dozerman21]

I've always known that you cant haul anything more than 8'6" wide, or it's considered oversized load when hauling non-farm equipment. My question is, are there any exceptions for heavy equipment over 8'6"?

I'm not oversized certified, and I also wanted to know from you guys who are, what do you have to do to become oversized? What's the cost, what's the process, etc... I'm only talking about width only, and it would be 8" or less too wide. No extra weight or height. I've also been under the impression that you can't drive after dark... is that correct?

Thanks for any info.:drinkup:

[Gravel Rat]

It varies all over Canada and USA. Here 9 feet is about the max when it comes to no permits etc. Get into 10 feet wide then you need permits wide load sign etc. Around here lowbedders haul up to 14' wide which is max it makes it tough to get around the corners.

Most of the loads I haul are over length the lumber is 18-20 feet long carried on a 12' long deck there is quite abit of overhang.

So rule of thumb if its wider than 9 feet you need a pilot car a wide load sign on the truck and flags down the side of the load.

You want to see nerve racking on a narrow highway like where I live is when the local mobile home haulers are moving the brandnew mobile (prefab) houses they are wide. They are 14 to 15 feet wide and up to 70 feet long they take up most of the road. I know the mobile home haulers pilot trucks so if I see one on the road with the lights flashing going in the opposite direction I'am I will find a pull out and let get by me. You meet one of these mobiles on a corner there isn't much room to no room. It maybe okay for a compact car but anything bigger than a 1 ton dually forget it.

I also know the lowbedders pilot trucks and usually know what they are hauling so I try meet them on a straight stretch where I can get over towards the shoulder of the road.

[Scag48]

Around here, banners and flags on the front and rear of the truck/trailer are required, that's all. You can buy yearly overwidth permits, I think it's only a few hundred. A couple years ago I know it was like $250 for a whole year and all you're required to do is make sure your signage is appropriate and you're good to roll. Overwidth in WA state is real easy, a lot of guys don't even bother with 24" pads on 120's and 150's due to the ease of buying a yearly permit. I like 24" pads for other reasons, but moving them isn't too big of a deal.

[joesimoes2]

No flags here.

[1wezil]

No flags here.

that thing is huge !!!!!!!!!! is that part of one of those big dump truck ?

[DBL]

No flags here.

ive seen that picture before if its real thats some fancy driving there

[dozerman21]

Around here, banners and flags on the front and rear of the truck/trailer are required, that's all. You can buy yearly overwidth permits, I think it's only a few hundred. A couple years ago I know it was like $250 for a whole year and all you're required to do is make sure your signage is appropriate and you're good to roll. Overwidth in WA state is real easy, a lot of guys don't even bother with 24" pads on 120's and 150's due to the ease of buying a yearly permit. I like 24" pads for other reasons, but moving them isn't too big of a deal.


Does anyone know if you're allowed to drive after dark? I've heard for a while that you couldn't if you're overwidth?

[cat2]

thats a heck of a load. i bet i could pull it with my bobcat though.:rolleyes::rolleyes::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[mastercraft]

Dozerman, I'm pretty sure that in Ohio and Michigan at least, that you are not able to, as told to me by the driver that brought my overwidth excavator to me from Michigan. Not sure about Indiana. I can also say that I can'nt ever remember seeing an overwidth load after dark around here. I'm sure that your local DOT could fill you in.

[CLARK LAWN]

Does anyone know if you're allowed to drive after dark? I've heard for a while that you couldn't if you're overwidth?

from what i can remember from when i used to drive dumps/lowboy not after dark and no weekends.

[d&rlawncare]

I've always known that you cant haul anything more than 8'6" wide, or it's considered oversized load when hauling non-farm equipment. My question is, are there any exceptions for heavy equipment over 8'6"?

I'm not oversized certified, and I also wanted to know from you guys who are, what do you have to do to become oversized? What's the cost, what's the process, etc... I'm only talking about width only, and it would be 8" or less too wide. No extra weight or height. I've also been under the impression that you can't drive after dark... is that correct?

Thanks for any info.:drinkup:


The best bet is to call your state permits department. This will cover STATE roads. Then call each county you will go through if you are driving on any NON-state roads. You could need a county permit as well. In MI you would. Depending on the load each permit will/might have different rules you have to follow (flags, escorts, signs). I have been doing DOT for 7 years and have to read each permit to make sure.

You have single move permits and yearly permits ask about both becuase if your hauling alot and your equipment meets certain specs then you can get a yearly permit and will save you money in the long run.

Get the permit and read and follow whats on there and you will be fine. You wont know what you get permit or call them and ask them.

hope this helped a little

[Construct'O]

Here i get a yearly oversize permit.As far as over weight,i get a special equipment permit ,yearly thing.

It is a license plate that you put on the machine,it is for someone like me that just hauls my own equipment and i'm not for hire.It is 10 dollars a piece a year for each piece of equipment.

By doing it this way i just have to license the truck and trailer for empty weight and don't have to have the high dollars license.Only thing is if i go out of state which i'm close to Mo. I have to get a trip permit which is good for three days if i remember right.It has been awhile.They are like 10 dollars for each trip and permit.

It is only good for three days.If it takes longer then that you have to use another permit each time you more after the three days are up.

Things have changed several times over the years.You use to also have to have a trailer with longer deck or more axiles for the bridge law.Now you can buy a speical bridge permit for a shorter trailer,like $200 dollars?????? and be legal.Nothing changed except the cost for a permit.

Just another way of getting a little more money from you.The bridge doesn't know the difference tho.:cry:

As said above in my county there use to be a county permit you had to buy,but here no one inforces it so no one gets it. :usflag:

[dozerman21]

Thanks for the replies! :drinkup:

[Scag48]

Does anyone know if you're allowed to drive after dark? I've heard for a while that you couldn't if you're overwidth?

Yeah, after dusk and weekends you're not supposed to. A buddy of mine used to move his 200 on a hydraulic tail Landoll type trailer, pretty tall for a 200 but it wasn't overweight. He would always move it at like 5AM on Sunday mornings, DOT doesn't run around much back home and they sure don't on the weekends.