Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - Arkansas

General requirements

Reducible expectations	No vehicle or combination of vehicles, with a multi-unit or otherwise reducible overload may be issued a special permit.
Permit timing	NS
Method of application	Application may be made in person, writing, by telephone, by any acceptable means of electronic communication, or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	A person may set up a monthly charge account with the Department for the issuing of permits by posting a Surety Bond in a minimum amount of $1,000.00.
Electronic permits	A permit must be carried in the vehicle while the vehicle is operating under the permit. The term “permit” includes electronic media displayed on a mobile device provided that device shall have a screen size of at least 7”. A photocopy, fax, or other reproduction of a self-issue permit is NOT valid for movement.
Route surveys	The permit section will route vehicles by considering the traffic volume, the dimensions of highways, types and conditions of road surfaces, type of transporting vehicle, the federal bridge formula, and the structural integrity of bridges and other structures between the point of origination and destination. The permitee will be responsible for checking the designated route of the permit prior to starting travel to ensure the permitted vehicle/load can safely negotiate the designated route. The routes selected will also be based on public safety, regardless of increased distance, route, or times of movement. Any variance from the permitted route is a violation of the permit and may result in the permit being voided.

Insurance requirements

Liability	The department will not be held liable for any damage to public roads or bridges or to persons or private property caused by a permitted load or vehicle or its escort vehicle. The permitee is responsible for any and all damages to roads, bridges, persons, and private property resulting from the movement, and must recompense the department or a political subdivision for any expenditures made by the department or political subdivision to repair damage caused by the permitted vehicle or load to a public road or facility of the state highway system.
Coverage	Amount required varies by permit.

Available permits and fees

Overdimension
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	Overdimension only	$17
Annual	Vehicles of special design (crane) • Within a radius of 35 miles • Maximum front overhang 5'	$100
Annual	57' trailer	$500
Manufactured home unit
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	Up to 16' 6" wide	$17
Single trip	Exceeding 16' 6" wide	$150
Specialized water drilling and agriculture aviation vehicles
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual	Within a radius of 35 miles	$100
Annual	Exceeding a 35-mile radius	$300
Overweight
General
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	• Single axle limit 20,000 lbs • Tandem axle limit 46,000, no more than 23,000 lbs on any single axle • Tridem axle limit 60,0000, no more than 20,000 lbs on any single axle • Quadrum axle limit 68,000, no more than 17,000 lbs on any single axle
Single trip	Permit fee plus fees below	$17
Single trip	100 miles or less - per ton or fraction of	$8
Single trip	101 to 150, inclusive - per ton or fraction of	$10
Single trip	151 to 200, inclusive - per ton or fraction of	$12
Single trip	201 to 250, inclusive - per ton or fraction of	$14
Single trip	251 miles or more - per ton or fraction of	$16
Single trip	Plus if gross weight is 180,000 lbs or more, add	$500
Mobile Construction Vehicles and Equipment
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	100 miles or less - per ton or fraction of	• $1.25 first 5 tons • $2.50 next 5 tons • $3.75 addition tons
Single trip	101 to 150, inclusive - per ton or fraction of	• $2.00 first 5 tons • $3.50 next 5 tons • $5.00 addition tons
Single trip	151 to 200, inclusive - per ton or fraction of	• $2.50 first 5 tons • $4.50 next 5 tons • $6.25 addition tons
Single trip	201 to 250, inclusive - per ton or fraction of	• $3.25 first 5 tons • $5.50 next 5 tons • $7.50 addition tons
Single trip	251 miles or more - per ton or fraction of	• $3.75 first 5 tons • $6.25 next 5 tons • 8.75 addition tons
Sealed Containerized Cargo
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual	Part of international trade and be moved on the highways due to importation from or exportation to another country. • A copy of the international bill of lading must be submitted • Legal dimensions • 5 axle vehicles maximum 20,000 lbs per a axle, maximum GVW 90,000 • 6 axle vehicle maximum 20,000 lbs per a axle, maximum GVW 95,000	$5,500
Agronomic or Horticulture Products
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual	Special permits may be issued to certain agronomic or horticulture products in their natural state. • Minimum 5-axle truck tractor and semi-trailer combination • Up to 100,000 pounds but that does not exceed the height, length, or width restrictions • Up to 5 different routes on up to five identified trailers with the same axle spacings • Level 1 inspection required • No portion of such trip is on any part of the Federal Interstate or Defense highways	$800
Animal Feed Vehicles
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	Movement on state highways of a truck tractor and single semi-trailer combination with 5 axles hauling animal feed to livestock or poultry. • Single axle limit of 20,000 lbs • Tandem axle limit of 36,500 lbs • Maximum GVW 85,000	$17
Annual		$500
Overdimension and Overweight
Emergency Vehicles (wrecker and/or towing & recovery vehicles)
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual	Movement of disabled or wrecked vehicles or combination of vehicles from highways, roads, streets, or highway right-of-way to: • The nearest point of storage or repair used by the towing or wrecker company; • The nearest point of storage or repair used by the owner or operator of the vehicle; or • The nearest authorized repair center for the vehicle.	$500

Permit limitations

Permit limitations
Width	Limitation
20' or less	Based on the condition of the highway, distance traveled, and the volume or type of traffic.
Up to 24'	May be allowed for short moves.
18'	On interstate highways
14'	Cutter blades and other equipment of a hazardous nature exceeding 14 feet in width must be cradled to such an angle to reduce the maximum overall width.
Overhang	Limitations
20'	Maximum front overhang

Signs

General sign requirement	Sign must be displayed across the front and rear of the loaded vehicle that exceeds allowable width, height, or length.
Escort sign requirement	Escorts accompanying oversize loads must display signs stating OVERSIZE LOAD.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	NS	10" black letters, 2" brushstroke	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	NS	10" black letters, 2" brushstroke	Yellow

Lights

General light requirements	NS
Escort light requirements	Required
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	NS	NS
Escort light type and placement	Must have operating either a rotating amber light or a strobe-type amber light.	The rotating or strobe light shall be mounted on top of the escort vehicle. In order to ensure 360° visibility, the light shall in no way be obstructed from view by any signs or appurtenances on the vehicle.

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red or fluorescent orange	18" square	Must be posted on all four corners of all overwidth, overheight, and overlength vehicles and/or cargoes.
Escort Flags	Red or fluorescent orange	18" square	Must be mounted other than vertical or horizontal on top of the escort vehicle (a 40 to 70° angle is preferred). May not extend more than 6" on either side and may not exceed 8' at maximum spread. Flags must be mounted in line with the warning lights.

Escort vehicle markings

	Size	Placement	Content
Escort vehicle marking	NS	NS	NS

Escort/Flagperson requirements

Escort car requirements

Escorts are required as follows:

Load Conditions	Highway Type	Escort Requirements
Width exceeds 14 ft	Controlled access, divided highway with four (4) or more lanes	One rear escort 200 ft behind
Width exceeds 14 ft	All other highways	One rear and one front escort
Width exceeds 12 ft up to 14 ft	All highways that are not controlled access, divided highways with four (4) or more lanes	One front escort
Overall height exceeds 15 ft	Not specified	One front escort with height clearance bar extended 6 in. above the permitted height
Overall height exceeds 17 ft	Not specified	The mover shall obtain written agreements signed by the owners of overhead facilities (utilities, traffic signals, etc.) along the route and the move shall be accompanied by representatives of the owners.
Overall length is 100 ft or more	On interstates, controlled access, and divided highways with four (4) or more lanes	One rear escort
Overall length is 100 ft or more	All other highways	One front escort
Overall length is 115 ft or more	On all highways with fewer than four (4) lanes	One rear and one front escort

Flagperson requirements

Persons issued overweight or oversize permits are authorized to temporarily stop or halt traffic and safely direct, control, and regulate traffic around the overweight or oversize payload while maneuvering their overweight or oversize payloads on or off public streets or highways. No overweight or oversize permitted payload may halt or stop traffic for more than three minutes or within 500 feet from the crest of a hill.

Escort car/company requirements

An escort vehicle must be either a truck of not less than one-quarter-ton rated load capacity or an automobile of not less than 2,000 pounds gross weight and must be properly licensed. The escort vehicle must display the name and address of the company/owner of the escort vehicle on each door, plainly legible, and visible to the motoring public at a minimum distance of 50 feet. Well-known company logos are acceptable. Logos/Names must reflect what is shown on the documentation used for proof of insurance that is carried in the vehicle.

Anyone providing an escort service must have and maintain bodily injury coverage in amounts of at least $100,000 for each bodily injury or death, $300,000 for each accident, and property damage coverage of at least $25,000 for each accident ($325,000 minimum combined single limit coverage).

Escort vehicles must be equipped with the following safety equipment:

A 10-pound Class BC dry or equivalent chemical-type fire extinguisher
Four 15-minute burning flares, light sticks, or triangles;
For overheight loads, the escort vehicle shall have a clearance bar of some design attached to the escort vehicles to warn of any clearance problems of the load being escorted;
Two-way radio communication between the escort and towing vehicles; and
Any other devices as required by the permit.

Escort operators must maintain 200 feet of distance between the escort vehicle and the towing vehicle.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

Escorts accompanying oversize loads must display signs stating OVERSIZE LOAD. The sign must be made of a durable material with a yellow background and black letters with a two-inch brushstroke and a minimum height of 10 inches.

Escort vehicles must have operating either a rotating amber light or a strobe-type amber light. Specific requirements are as follows:

Rotating lights:
- Incandescent or halogen bulb lamps capable of emitting a minimum of 35,000 total candle-power, factory certified;
- Steady beam of light emitted;
- Minimum lens height of six inches; and
- Horizontally visible from all directions (360 degrees);
Strobe lights:
- Strobe type light source capable of emitting a minimum of 500,000 total candlepower, factory certified;
- Flashing light capable of a minimum of 80 flashes per minute;
- Minimum lens height of three and one-half inches; and
- Horizontally visible from all directions (360 degrees).

The above the light must be mounted on top of the escort vehicle and must not be obscured by signs.

Two solid red flags, 18 inches square, must be mounted other than vertical or horizontal on top of the escort vehicle (a 40 to 70 degree angle is preferred). The flags may not extend more than six inches on either side of the vehicle and may not exceed eight feet in width at maximum spread. Flags must be mounted in line with the warning lights.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Permits will normally be issued for movement during daylight hours only.
Weekend	Permitted loads that are overweight only may be allowed to operate on Saturdays, Sundays.
Holidays	No movement will be allowed, on the following holidays: • New Year’s Day • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day If the holiday falls on Monday or Friday, no weekend movement is allowed. Movement under special permit will be allowed on the following holidays: • Martin Luther King’s Birthday • Robert E. Lee’s Birthday • George Washington’s Birthday • Veteran’s Day Permits may be issued for the movement of overweight vehicles on holidays or during nighttime hours, provided that all other dimensions are legal.
Visibility	Permits are not valid for movement during periods of reduced vision or inclement weather. Additionally, movements may be restricted during strong winds or wind gusts exceeding 23 mph.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - Arkansas