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Reducible expectations | No permit will be issued for a vehicle whose weight, width, length or height can be readily separated or dismantled. | |||
Permit timing | The permit fee must be submitted before the issuance of a permit. | |||
Method of application | An application for a single trip permit may be made by telephone, by letter, by email, by fax, in person, electronically, or J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266. | |||
Payments accepted | Payments can be made by credit card, company check, money order, or by a certified or cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted. | |||
Electronic permits | NS | |||
Route surveys | Permitted vehicles may not operate on any public road in the state other than on roadways allowed or described on the permit. |
Liability | No person shall drive or operate any vehicle or load on the highway in such a manner that it causes damage to the highway or structures. If damage or personal injury should occur as a result of the oversize or overweight movement, the permittee will be held liable for all costs. The applicant agrees to hold the Department of Transportation harmless from all suits, claims, damages, or proceedings of any kind that may result from the oversize or overweight movement. | |||
Coverage | For commercial motor carriers where the gross vehicle weight is greater than 10,000 pounds: For bodily injury, a minimum of $300,000 for each person and $1 million for multiple person for injury or death as a result of any one occurrence; and for property damage, a minimum of $1 million for damage to property of others in any one occurrence. |
General | ||
Permit Period | Conditions | Fee |
Single trip | Valid for no more than 10 days • Width & height limit of 16' • Weight limit of 150,000 lbs | $30 |
Multi trip | Allows load to return to its original destination on the same permit, if done so within 10 days, with the same vehicle configuration, and following the same route. • Width & height limit of 16' • Length 100' • Weight limit of 150,000 lbs | $100 |
6-month | For tobacco or unginned cotton loads. • Width cannot exceed 9' Height and length must be legal. | $25 |
Annual | Standard annual: • Width: 8' 6" vehicle, 10' load • Height: 14' 6" • Length 100' • GVW maximum: 100,000 lbs • Axle limit: 25,000 lbs. • 40' box container: 100,000 lbs on a 5 axle tractor trailer • 20' box container: 80,000 lbs with tandem maximum 44,000 lbs • 20' box container on a 40' center mount or center-mount triaxle trailer: 100,000 lbs on a 5 or more axle tractor/trailer | $150 |
Annual | Annual Plus - Vehicles and loads that meet the requirements for an annual permit may apply for a special permit to carry wider loads on the National Highway System. • Width: 14' from the base of the load to a point 10' above the pavement and 14' 8" or the upper portion of the load. | $500 |
Annual | Commercial wrecker emergency tow permit - For vehicles towing disabled, damaged, or wrecked commercial vehicles even though such wrecker or its load exceeds the maximum limits. Permits are limited to: • Single axle weight up to 21,000 lbs • Tandem axle weight up to 40,000 lbs • Length up to 125' | $500 |
General sign requirement | Signs must be mounted on both the front of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle or load when the vehicle or load is over 8' 6" wide, 13' 6" high, or 100' in length. | |||
Escort sign requirement | When escorts are required for over legal width, or height, or length, a sign must be mounted on the front of the escort vehicle (for a front escort) and to the rear of the escort vehicle (for a rear escort). | |||
Type | Size | Lettering | Background | |
General signs | OVERSIZE LOAD | 6' x 12" | 4" x 8" black lettering | Orange or yellow |
Escort signs | OVERSIZE LOAD | 6' x 12" | 4" x 8" black lettering | Orange or yellow |
General light requirements | During the movement of all permitted loads it is required that all warning lights on the truck, transport vehicle, and unit be operating. | |||
Escort light requirements | When actively escorting, escort vehicle head lamps must be burning at all times during movement. Other lights only to be activated while escorting load. | |||
Type | Placement | |||
General light type and placement | A flashing or revolving light at least 8" in diameter, with a minimum candlepower of 35,000 lumens or equivalent. An alternative option is an LED light with a multidirectional type lens that flashes at a rate of at least 60 flashes per minute. | Top-mounted. Amber light visible for at least a quarter mile and the LED visible be clearly visible from a distance of at least 500' from the rear and sides at 180° day or night. | ||
Escort light type and placement | A flashing or revolving light at least 8" in diameter, with a minimum candlepower of 35,000 lumens or equivalent. An alternative option is an LED light with a multidirectional type lens that flashes at a rate of at least 60 flashes per minute. | Top-mounted. Amber light visible for at least a quarter mile and the LED visible be clearly visible from a distance of at least 500' from the rear and sides at 180° day or night. |
Type | Size | Placement | ||
General Flags | Red warning flags | 18" square | Displayed at the corners of both sides of such overwidth vehicle or load, at both the front and rear. | |
Escort Flags | NS | NS | NS |
Size | Placement | Content | |
NS | NS | NS |
Escorts are required as follows:
Load Information | Escort Requirements |
---|---|
Width exceeding 12 ft up to and including 14 ft 8 in. | Front escort and rear escort/amber lights is required for travel on a two-lane roadway. Rear escort only required on four-lane highway. |
Width exceeding 14 ft 8 in. up to and including 16 ft | Front escort and a rear escort is required for travel on a two-lane roadway. Rear escort is required for movement on a limited access highway. |
Height 15 ft 6 in. or greater | Front escort with height sensor. |
Length exceeding 75 ft up to and including 100 ft | Rear escort/amber lights. |
Length exceeding 100 ft up to and including 125 ft | Rear escort. |
Length exceeding 125 ft | Front and rear escorts. |
Escort vehicles are also required as follows:
During the movement of an over-dimensional load/vehicle, a pilot/escort driver, in the performance of the flagging duties, may control and direct traffic to stop, slow, or proceed in any situation(s) where it is deemed necessary to protect the motoring public from the hazards associated with the movement of the over-dimensional load/vehicle. The pilot/escort driver, acting as a flagger, may aid the over-dimensional load/vehicle in the safe movement along the highway and must:
Escort vehicles must be a:
Equipment must not reduce visibility or mobility of pilot car/escort vehicle while in operation.
Escort vehicle must be equipped with outside rear-view mirrors, located on each side of the vehicle.
Escort vehicles are not permitted to pull a trailer of any kind nor carry a load.
No passengers or pets are allowed in pilot/escort vehicle during movement of oversize loads, except for a certified individual in training status.
Pilot/escort vehicles must be equipped with a two-way radio capable of transmitting and receiving voice messages over a minimum distance of one-half mile. Radio communications must be compatible with accompanying pilot/escort vehicles, permitted vehicle operator, and police escort, when necessary. When operating with a police escort, a CB radio is required.
Escorts must be equipped with the following safety items:
An escort vehicle must not have unauthorized equipment on the vehicle such as those generally reserved for law enforcement personnel.
A pilot/escort driver must meet the requirements of 49 CFR 391.11 if using a vehicle for escort operations in excess of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has established rules for driver training and a certification program for drivers of vehicles escorting oversize/overweight loads. Any driver operating a vehicle escorting an oversize/overweight load must meet the training requirements and obtain certification under the rules issued by the GDOT. The requirement to obtain certification is effective January 1, 2011, but in order to give escort vehicle drivers time to obtain the certification, full enforcement will not begin until July 1, 2011.
Operators authorized to escort a permitted oversize/overweight load in Georgia must make application to GDOT and meet the following requirements:
Each qualified applicant is required to complete eight classroom hours of GDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit's Escort Vehicle Operator Certification Program offered by the Georgia Technical College System with an examination score of at least 80% to obtain the official certification. The course will cost $79. Upon completion, the GDOT will issue a certificate to each individual comprised of a wallet card to be maintained in the vehicle during operation.
The certification is effective for four years from the issue date.
The GDOT will recognize escort vehicle operator certifications from other states for operators that currently have a valid out-of-state driver's license and certification. Operators with an out-of-state driver's license without a valid certification, and all operators with a Georgia driver's license, will be required to obtain a certification from Georgia. All escort vehicle operator certifications and a valid driver's license is required to be available in the escort vehicle for inspection whenever the operator is performing the role of an escort.
The certification application can be found at https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/documents/15260/OSP_EscortVehicleProgram-Application.pdf.
Georgia no longer requires escort vehicle operators to carry additional insurance coverage. Previously, $1 million combined single limit coverage for bodily injury and/or property damage was required.
A coordination and planning meeting must be held prior to and immediately following load movement. The driver(s) carrying or pulling the oversize load(s), the pilot/escort vehicle driver(s), law enforcement officers (if assigned), Department personnel (if involved), and public utility companies (as appropriate) must attend. Escort operators should pre-run the route, if necessary, to verify acceptable clearances.
The meeting must include discussion and coordination on the conduct of the move, including at least the following topics:
Following the load movement, a debriefing meeting shall be held and the appropriate parties (operator of oversize load, pilot/escort vehicle driver, law enforcement) must complete the “After Action Report.”
Sign requirements on pilot/escort vehicles are as follows:
Lighting is required as follows:
The pilot/escort vehicle operator must obtain a permit for the amber light from the appropriate state agency for the use of the light.
Incandescent, strobe, or diode (LED) lights may be used provided they meet above criteria.
Lights must only be activated while escorting an oversize load, or when used as traffic warning devices while stopped at the side of the road taking height measurements during the pre-running of a planned route. A route survey may not be conducted during the piloting of an oversize load.
When actively escorting, escort vehicle head lamps must be burning at all times during movement.
Daytime | Unless otherwise indicated on the permit or further limited, the movement of a permitted vehicle or load will take place only from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30-minutes before sunset. | |||
Weekend | Loads may operate Monday through Saturday unless otherwise shown on the permit. | |||
Holidays | Movements are prohibited on the following holidays: • New Year's Day • Memorial Day • July 4th • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas | |||
Visibility | No movement will be made during foggy weather, snow, or icy conditions. |