Permits
Alabama oversize permits are valid for five consecutive days. Must have permit prior to entering state.
Operating Time
Daylight only (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset) Monday through Saturday. No travel on Sundays.
Restricted Travel
No travel on major holidays and Holiday weekends.
Legal Dimensions
- Length: 57′ trailers, 53’6″ on roads less than 12′ wide, 85′ overall (unless trailer exceeds 57′)
- Overhang: 10′ front, 5′ rear (Note: 60′ Structural steel is exempt from permits and escorts)
- Width: 8’6″ (8′ on lanes less than 12′ wide)
- Height: 13’6″
- Weight: 80,000 Gross, Single – 20,000, Tandem – 34,000, Tridem – 42,000
Route Permit Limits
- Length: 150′ (maximum overhang 20′)
- Overhang: 20′ rear overhang is the maximum permitted.
- Width: 16′ (over 16′ cannot use Interstate)
- Height: 16′
- Weight:
5 axles – 102,000
6 axles – 124,000
7 axles – 146,000
8 axles – 168,000
Maximum without special permission
Steer – 14,000
Single – 22,000
Tandem – 44,000
Tridem – 66,000
Quad – 88,000
Loads exceeding these dimensions, over 180,000 are Super Loads.
Escorts
- Length: With legal trailer length over 90′ – 1 escort, over 105′ – 2 escorts, Trailer length over 57′ – 1 rear escort
- Overhang: over 5′ rear overhang – 1 escort.
- Width: over 12′ – 1 escort.
- Height: over 16’* – 1 escort *(may be needed at lower heights on some routes)
- Bucket or Blade Rule: If bucket or blade protrudes past sides of trailer at 12′ wide – 1 escort. (No escort needed if outriggers are used to prevent bucket or blade from protruding sides of trailer).
Miscellaneous
Bulldozers, front end loaders and similar equipment shall be loaded with the blade to the rear any time the blade protrudes beyond the transporting vehicle. Overweight dozer and blade must be attached, or else hauled on separate loads if blade is detached. 60′ Structural steel is exempt from permits and escorts.
Signs, Flags & Lights
“Oversize Load” signs front and rear of any overwidth or overlength vehicle. Flags must be placed at front and rear corners of any overdimensional load or vehicle. Over 4′ rear overhang requires lights at night. (Over 5′ needs permit, and can’t run at night). There are no sign or flag requirements for overheight only or overweight only loads.
Alabama Blade and Bucket Rule
2 pilot cars are required at 12′ in Alabama any time a blade or bucket protrudes past the edges of the trailer. This applies to dozers, excavators and any other equipment with a blade or bucket. Also, the blade or bucket must be loaded to the rear.
