Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - Mississippi

General requirements

Reducible expectations	The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) may, upon application in writing and good cause being shown, issue a special permit authorizing the applicant to make a movement which exceeds the legal size and/or weight limitations.
Permit timing	Single trip permits are valid for three consecutive days and blanket permits for continuous operation can be issued for periods up to 12 months.
Method of application	Special permits may be obtained by telephone, fax, letter, in person or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	NS
Electronic permits	Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of any authority granting such permit.
Route surveys	The application for any permit must specifically describe the general operation and load to be moved, and the particular highways for which the permit to operate is requested.

Insurance requirements

Liability	Applicants must provide a valid federal DOT number or a Certificate of Insurance with the MDOT listed as the certificate holder. with no less than $500,000 single limit liability on file with the MDOT.
Coverage	No less than $500,000 single limit liability on file with the MDOT. Exceptions may be made when in the opinion of Department a movement is not of a nature likely to cause damage to the highway or one time personal movements.

Available permits and fees

Overdimension
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Trip		$10
Annual	Oversize width blanket or continuous movement overlength trailer blanket • Width up to 14' OR Length up to 99'	$100
Variable	Oversize Manufactured Housing Blanket. Pre-numbered permit book, 50 permits ($10 each)	$500
Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Trip	Overweight (minimum fee $10)	$.05 per mile per 1,000 lbs over legal
Annual	Special heavy equipment blanket permit (for overweight - non-refundable)	$4,500
Annual	Timber industry two-piece load blanket permit authorizes the movement of two pieces of equipment used in the timber industry as a one-piece load on state routes only. The company will be issued a series of prenumbered permit forms.	$200
Annual	Continuous Movement/Self Issued Blanket Authorization (CMSI) to move sealed containerized cargo or equipment 7 days per week	$500

Overdimension and/or Overweight
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Annual	Write-Your-Own blanket permits (oversize/overweight, motor cranes, and off-road self- powered equipment)	$200
Annual	Forestry 100,000 lbs maximum GVW Width: Up to 14' Height: Up to 14'	$200
Annual	Harvest Permit used for hauling specific materials 84,000 lbs maximum GVW	$25

Permit limitations

Permit limitations
Configuration	Limitations
Timber industry two-piece load	• Tandem 44,000 lbs • Tridem 60,000 lbs • GVW 100,000 lbs (strict - if over - no permit)
Overlength trailer blanket	Truck and trailer combination not to exceed 99'
Overwidth blanket	14' maximum width
Manufactured housing	• 14' up to 16' in width • 14' in height • 120' overall length of the towing vehicle and manufactured housing
CMSI	Continuous movement/self-issued blanket • All dimensions must be legal • 95,000 lbs GVW
Special heavy equipment	• 12' in width • 13' 6" in height • 99' in length • GVW 150,000 lbs
Forestry	Annual special permits for the transporting of forestry-related may be issued for each vehicle that serves as a pulling unit. Available for the hauling of equipment or machinery customary and necessary for timber-harvesting activities, including, but not limited to, bulldozers, knuckleboom loaders, cutters, skidders, track machines of the same kind, mulchers and other machines used for silvicultural activities. The permit is available to those hauling the subject equipment to and from timber harvest operations, as well as those hauling the equipment to and from a truck repair shop or equipment service center. • 14' in width • 14' in height • GVW 100,000 lbs
Sealed Containers	Maximum GVW determined by inner and outer bridge up to 95,000 lbs. 95,000 GVW requires a minimum of 51' outer bridge and 39' on the inner bridge (5 axle combination)

Signs

General sign requirement	An OVERSIZE LOAD sign is required on the front and rear of all movements exceeding 12' in width.
Escort sign requirement	An oversize load sign mounted on the front for the lead escort and rear for following escort. An escort vehicle that alternates from lead to following must have oversize load signs front and rear.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD	84" x 18"	10" black lettering with 1.4" brushstroke.	Yellow or orange
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD

Lights

General light requirements	Dependent and roadway and time of day
Escort light requirements	Required
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	(2) 5" flashing or revolving amber lights	Sufficient for five hundred 500' visibility mounted approximately 6' above the pavement on the rear corners of loads.
Escort light type and placement	Flashing or revolving amber lights	NS

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red warning flags	18" square	Front and rear corners when specified. Displayed on all corners at 6' above the pavement on moves exceeding 10' in width.
Escort Flags	Warning flags (2)	NS	Mounted on the vehicle

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
NS	NS	NS

Escort/flagperson requirements

When moving during daylight hours operating on two-lane roadways (one lane per direction of travel) loads 13 feet wide or greater will require, at a minimum, the use of a front escort.

When moving during daylight hours operating on divided highways (two or more through-lanes per direction of travel) loads 13 feet wide or greater will require, at a minimum, the use of a rear escort.

For loads 12 feet wide or less, daylight hours are sunrise to sunset as reported by the National Weather Service. For loads greater than 12 feet in width, daylight hours are defined as 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset as reported by the National Weather Service.

Night movements may be permitted for loads not exceeding 12 feet in width, or 150,000 pounds, or 99 feet long, as long as the following conditions are met:

When moving at night on two-lane roadways (one lane per direction of travel), loads 10 feet wide or greater will require, at minimum, the use of a front escort and flashing amber lights on the rear of the load; or
When moving at night on divided highways (two or more through-lanes per direction of travel) loads 10 feet wide or greater will require, at minimum, the use of a rear escort and flashing amber lights on the rear of the load.

Loads less than 10 feet in width do not require escorts.

One front escort, along with flashing amber lights mounted on the rear of the load, is required for loads and vehicles greater than 12 feet wide, not exceeding 16 feet in width, on two-lane roadways (one lane per direction of travel).

An escort vehicle used by the permittee with loads in excess of 12 feet, not exceeding 16 in width, on divided highways (two or more through lanes per direction of travel) will be required to trail the load, plus flashing amber lights must be mounted on the rear of the load.

Rear overhang of 15 feet or greater will require a front and/or rear escort depending on the location of the overhang(s) (forest products may have a 28-foot overhang but only daylight movement is allowed). Front projection 15 feet or greater requires a front and/or rear escort.

Vehicles with a total length exceeding 99 feet, but are less than 105 feet must obtain an oversize permit, and will be required to have at least one escort vehicle. Escort may be increased to front and rear according to routes.

Vehicles exceeding 105 feet total length will be required to obtain an oversize permit, and will be required to have at least one escort vehicle. Escort may be increased to front and rear according to routes.

When considered necessary for the protection of the public or the highway, permits may require reduced speed limits, law enforcement escort(s) or other safety precautions such as:

Front and rear escort;
Escorts with a height pole;
Daylight movement only; or
Certain portions of the roadway or routes may be excluded for travel.

Escort car/company requirements

The escort vehicle must be equipped with a flashing or revolving amber light, two warning flags mounted on the vehicle, an oversize load sign mounted on top of the vehicle, and an oversize load sign mounted on the front for the lead escort and rear for the following escort. An escort vehicle that alternates from lead to following must have oversize load signs on the front and rear. Two-way communication is required between escort(s) and the towing vehicle.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Night movements may be permitted for loads not exceeding 12' in width, 150,000 lbs or 99' long or height exceeding 13' 6", or rear overhang greater than 4' properly lit
Weekend	Movement is not allowed on Sunday.
Holidays	Movement is not allowed after noon on days preceding the following holidays, or on the following holidays: • New Year’s Day • Fourth of July • Thanksgiving Day • Memorial Day • Labor Day • Christmas Day.
Visibility	Overwidth loads may not move when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons or vehicles upon the highway at a distance of five hundred (500) feet, or when pavement conditions, winds or other weather conditions constitute hazardous travel.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - Mississippi