Special Equipment, Holiday Restrictions and State Curfew Info

While planning the trip, the operator should bear in mind that movement may be restricted during certain hours. State DOTs frequently impose additional delays as a result of the rules and regulations they enforce. Numerous states impose restrictions on travel on federal and even state holidays.

Permitted travel times vary significantly between states and within states. Numerous states restrict oversized load movements to daylight hours. These restrictions may apply only to state highways and not to all roads, or they may apply to all roads. These restrictions may also vary according to the size of the oversize load: for example, loads wider than 10’ may be restricted to daylight hours, whereas oversize loads no wider than 10’ feet may travel at night on Interstates and four-lane divided highways. In some instances, maximum width loads may be required to travel at night during low traffic periods. When transporting loads across multiple states, operators must carefully review the requirements for each state's permit in order to fully comprehend and comply with each set of regulations. Additionally, overweight loads that are NOT oversize may travel at times not available to oversize loads.

Each oversize/overweight load requires specific safety equipment and operating procedures to ensure the operation's safety and to alert other highway vehicle operators.

Safety equipment includes warning signs such as “OVERSIZE LOAD” or “WIDE LOAD” banners on the front and rear of the vehicles hauling the load and/or the escort vehicles accompanying the load. The size of the banner varies from state to state, but most require a banner that is 7 feet wide and 18 inches high with letters that are 12 inches high. All banners require black letters on a yellow reflective background. Banners should be mounted high enough to be clearly visible to other drivers. In a very few states, the hauling truck is not required to have the banner if pilot or escort cars have the required banners.

Running Times

When scheduling the haul, the operator should keep in mind that hours of movement may be restricted. The rules and regulations enforced by the state transportation departments often include added delays. Many states restrict movement on Federal and even state holidays.

Permitted travel times vary widely between states, and in cities and communities within a state. Many states restrict movements of oversized loads to daylight hours. These restrictions may only apply to state highways and not Interstates, or to all roads. These restrictions may also vary according to the size of the oversize load: for example, loads greater than 10’ wide may be restricted to daylight hours, while oversize loads less than 10’ wide may move at night on Interstates and four-lane divided highways. In some cases, maximum width loads may be required to move at night during periods of least traffic. When moving loads through several states, operators must review the requirements on each permit for each state to fully understand and comply with each set of regulations. Also note that overweight loads that are NOT oversize, may travel at times that oversize loads may not.