Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - Alabama

General requirements

Reducible expectations	A permit will not be issued for transporting a load that can be readily dismantled or separated. However, bulldozers and similar construction equipment are not considered to be readily separable. The load must be reduced to the smallest size and still exceed legal dimensions to qualify for a permit.
Permit timing	Vehicles or combinations of vehicles and loads using single trip permits are allowed five days to complete one round trip. Time extensions will not be granted unless the trip is interrupted by acts of nature such as floods, snow, ice, storms, etc. Annual oversize or overweight permits must be applied for in writing and paid for in advance.
Method of application	An application for a single oversize or overweight trip permit may be made by telephone, on-line, or in person. Annual oversize or overweight permits must be applied for in writing and paid for in advance. Or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	Payment for permits may be by business check, cash, money order, credit card, or by certified or cashier’s check. A personal check will not be accepted.
Electronic permits	The original copy of every permit must be carried in the vehicle and be open to inspection by any law enforcement officer or authorized agent of the department.
Route surveys	A detailed route survey for loads in excess of 16' wide or 16' high, locating all points of contact and means of avoiding such contact points

Insurance requirements

Available Permits and Fees

Overdimension
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
General overdimension
5 days	Other oversized vehicles, loads, and equipment not specified below	$20
Annual*	• Maximum width: 12' • Maximum height: 14' • Maximum length: 75'	$100
Mobile homes, modular homes, sectional houses, portable buildings, and boats
5 days	Up to and including 12' wide, 75' long	$10
5 days	Boats greater than 12' wide	$20
5 days	Portable buildings greater than 12' wide and/or 75' long	$20
5 days	Houses	$20
5 days	Off the road equipment	$10
Annual*	Modular Homes, sectional houses, portable buildings, boats and vehicles or combination of vehicles: • Maximum width: 12' • Maximum height: 14' • Maximum length: 75'	$100
Annual*	Mobile home: • Maximum width: 14' • Maximum height: 14' • Maximum length: 75'	$100
Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Heavy Commodities or Equipment
5 days	From 80,001 pounds up to 100,000 pounds	$20
5 days	From 100,001 pounds up to 125,000 pounds	$40
5 days	From 125,001 pounds up to 150,000 pounds	$70
5 days	From 150,001 pounds and over	$110
5 days	If also over dimension add	$10
Annual*	Maximum weight 150,000, maximum axle 22,000 pounds	$100
Sealed Container
Annual	Maximum weight 100,000, maximum axle 22,000 pounds	$100
*Annual permits require the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle to be provided on the permit.

Signs

General sign requirement	Must display on the front and rear, where the license plate and headlights are not blocked.
Escort sign requirement	On the front of front escort and rear of rear escort OR above the roofline of escort where it is visible from the front and rear.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	7' x 18"	10" black letters, 1.4" to 1.5" wide	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	Relative to the size of the escort vehicle so that the entire message may be seen completely and clearly.	10" black letters, 1.4" to 1.5" wide	Yellow

Lights

General light requirements	All transport vehicles must be equipped.
Escort light requirements	The escort’s headlights shall be set at low beam at all times.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	Flashing or strobe amber light: Red light:	Visible 360° at 500' Displayed at night at the end of any load that extends more than four feet beyond the rear
Escort light type and placement	Flashing or strobe amber lights:	Visible 360° at 500'

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Fluorescent orange or red	18" square	Posted at all 4 corners of the vehicle A red flag at least 12 inches square must be displayed at the end of any load that extends more than four feet beyond the rear. All overwidth movements must display warning flags.
Escort Flags	NS	NS	NS

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
NS	NS	NS

Escort/Flagperson requirements

Escorts are required as follows:

Load Conditions	Escort Requirements
Width 12-14 feet	Front escort on two-lane roads Rear escort on multi-lane highways
Width exceding 14 ft	Front and rear escorts
Height exceeding 15 ft 6 in	One front escort with height pole
Length of 90 ft to 125 ft	One rear escort
Length exceeding 125 ft	Front and rear escorts
Front overhang of 10 ft or more	One front escort
Rear overhang extending more than 5 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle	One rear escort

Escort car/company requirements

Escort vehicles need to be a properly licensed single unit vehicle (e.g. passenger automobile, pick-up truck, or SUV) with an unobstructed view and clear line of sight in all directions. A flatbed truck or service vehicle may be used if it maintains an unobstructed view and clear line of sight in all directions. No vehicle towing a trailer can be used as an escort vehicle.

The non-emergency use of cell phones or other portable electronic devices, other than those designated to support the movement of the specific oversize combination vehicle, except to communicate hazard related information, is prohibited.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

Escort vehicles must be equipped with flashing or strobe amber lights that are visible 360 degrees at 500 feet. The escort’s headlights shall be set at low beam at all times. All vehicles supporting the move shall be able to contact each other, including escort vehicles, law enforcement escorts, and the permitted vehicle. A sign shall be mounted on the front and rear of any escort vehicle or above the roofline where it is visible from the front and rear. The sign must contain the wording “OVERSIZE LOAD” in black letters on a yellow background. The size of the sign needs to be relative to the size of the escort vehicle so that the entire message may be seen completely and clearly. The letters must be ten 10 inches high with a 1.4 to 1.5-inch brush stroke. No other signage is allowed. The banner shall only be attached or visible during the transportation of the permitted load.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Permitted vehicles may travel daylight hours only.
Weekend	Travel is not permitted at any time on Sundays.
Holidays	Travel is not permitted during: • New Year’s Day • Memorial Day • July 4th, • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day
Visibility	When weather conditions constitute hazardous travel or when weather conditions render visibility less than 500' the driver shall proceed to the first area where the load can be safely removed from the roadway and parked until the weather clears or road conditions improve.

Liability	A permit to operate a vehicle which exceeds the statutory limits of height, weight, or length will be issued only on condition of payment of proof of insurance. The insurance will be conditioned for payment to ALDOT and will be held in trust to pay the owners of bridges, traffic signals, signs, or other highway structures damaged by a vehicle operating using the permit. The liability under the insurance certificate is contingent upon proof of negligence or fault on the part of the permittee, agents, or operators. ALDOT may require additional insurance as deemed necessary to compensate for any damage to public roads, including bridges.
Coverage	$300,000 split limit coverage or $1,000,000 combined single limit coverage as a minimum.

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Oversize and overweight movements - Alabama