Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - North Carolina

General requirements

Reducible expectations	Permits will only be issued to vehicles, combinations, or loads that cannot be reasonably dismantled or disassembled. However, one, two, or three steel coils, transported on the same vehicle, is considered a nondivisible load for purposes of permit issuance.
Permit timing	NS
Method of application	Permits can be requested via the telephone (up to 4), fax, on-line, or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	Payment can be made be cash or company check, major credit card, or escrow account (single trip permits only).
Electronic permits	Permits must be carried in the vehicle and be available for inspection at all times during the move.
Route surveys	The issuance of a permit by the NCDOT does not imply nor guarantee the clearance for the permitted load(s). All vertical clearances should be checked by the permittee before moving beneath the structure and/or utility lines.

Insurance requirements

Liability	Responsible for damages and cost involved to persons or property as a result of the permitted movement.
Coverage	Sufficient to cover any damage to road surfaces, bridges or other structures which may be caused by a proposed movement. The exact amount of security will be determined by the issuing agent.

Available permits and fees

General
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Trip	Fee overdimension or overweight (may be cumulative, e.g. length + width + height + weight = total)	$12 each
Annual	For non-divisible general commodities permit	$185
Annual	For a mobile/modular home permit	$200
Annual	Transporting electric vehicle batteries	$498
Trip	House (application fee)	$20
Superload
Trip	Application fee (non refundable)	$100
Trip	Plus fee overdimension or overweight (may be cumulative, e.g. length + width + height + weight = total)	$12 each
Trip	Plus an additional fee per 1,000 lbs over 132,000 lbs	$3 per

Permit limitations

Permit limitations
Width	Limitation
General	15' • However, a permit may be granted for loads exceeding 15 feet wide after analysis of the proposed load and evaluation of the proposed route
Mobile or modular units	Up to 16' with a 3" gutter edge
Blades	If front-end loader buckets cannot be angled to extend no more than 14' across a roadway, they must be removed
Height	Height limit is governed by the structures under which the movement will pass.
Length	Limitations
General	105' Approval may be given by the Central Permit Office for permitted loads in excess of 105 feet after review of geographic route of travel, consideration of local construction projects and other dimensions of the load
Weight	Limitations
General	The maximum weight permitted on a designated route is determined by the bridge capacity of bridges to be crossed during movement
Electric Vehicle Batteries	Up to 132,000 lbs is considered non-divisible
General Trip or Annual
Configuration	Limitations
Steer axle	20,000 lbs
Single axle	25,000 lbs
Tandem axle	50,000 lbs
Tridem axle	60,000 lbs
4 or more axle group	68,000 lbs
5 or more axle group	Exceeding 68,000 lbs requires an engineering study
3-axle single vehicle	70,000 lbs gross weight
4-axle single vehicle	90,000 lbs gross weight
5-axle single vehicle	94,500 lbs gross weight
5-axle vehicle combination	112,000 lbs gross weight
6-axle single vehicle	108,000 lbs gross weight
6-axle vehicle combination	120,000 lbs gross weight
7-axle single vehicle	122,000 lbs gross weight
7-axle vehicle combination	132,000 lbs gross weight
7 or more axle vehicle combination	Exceeding 132,000 lbs gross weight requires an engineering study
Self-propelled Off-highway Construction Equipment (with low pressure or low flotation)
Configuration	Limitations
Single axle	37,000 lbs
Tandem axle	50,000 lbs
2-axle single vehicle	70,000 lbs
3-axle single vehicle	80,000 lbs
4-axle single vehicle	90,000 lbs
Manufactured Housing
Configuration	Limitation
General	• Width: Up to 16' and a 3" gutter
Annual	Being transported from a manufacturer to a North Carolina mobile or modular home dealership • Height: 13' 6" • Width: 14' with an allowable roof overhang not to exceed a total of 12" or 16' with a 3" gutter
Annual	A North Carolina-licensed mobile or modular home retail dealer and the transporter for delivery of mobile or modular homes within a maximum 25-mile radius of the dealer location • Height: 13' 6" • Width: 14' with an allowable roof overhang not to exceed a total of 12"
Length	Mobile or modular home units may not exceed a length of: • 76' and a total overall length inclusive of the towing vehicle of 105'
Annual (without escorts)
Configuration	Limitation
General	Transporting general nondivisible commodities, which have a minimum extreme wheelbase of 51', and does not exceed: • Width of 12' • Height of 13' 6" • Length of 105' • GVW of 90,000 lbs • 20,000 lbs on steer axle • 25,000 lbs on single axle • 50,000 lbs on tandem axle • 60,000 lbs tridem axle • 68,000 lbs for a 4 or more axle grouping
Special mobile equipment	Special mobile equipment, defined as non-property hauling vehicle, which as permanently attached equipment, that is operated on the highway only for the purpose of traveling to and from a non-highway job and is licensed as special mobile equipment, capable of traveling at 45 mph which has a minimum wheel base of 30' and that does not exceed a: • Width of 12' • Height of 13' 6" • Length of 105' • GVW of 90,000 lbs • 20,000 lbs steer axle • 25,000 lbs single axle • 50,000 lbs tandem axle • 60,000 lbs tridem axle • 68,000 lbs for a 4 or more axle grouping
Configuration	Limitation
Sealed containerized cargo	A vehicle combination consisting of a power unit and trailer hauling a sealed ship container may qualify for a specific route overweight permit provided the vehicle: Is going to or from a designated seaport and has been or will be transported by marine shipment • Is licensed for the maximum allowable weight for a 51-foot extreme wheel base measurement • Does not exceed legal width, height, and length • Is a vehicle combination with at least five axles

Signs

General sign requirement	Displayed on the front and rear bumpers of any vehicle combination permitted for more than 10' wide. May be 2 separate banners totaling a length of 7' to provide for display of registration plates/decals.
Escort sign requirement	Displayed on the escort vehicle as determined by the required escort placement (may be front and/or rear) or on top of the vehicle for 16-foot-wide mobile/modular home escort.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD or WIDE LOAD	7' x 18"	10" black lettering with 1.5" brushstroke	Yellow
Escort signs	OVERSIZE LOAD or WIDE LOAD	Extend the entire width of vehicle	10" black lettering with 1.5" brushstroke	Yellow

Lights

General light requirements	Flashing amber lights must be used as determined by the issuing permit office. Must burn headlamps during highway movement of permitted loads.
Escort light requirements	Warning lights required. Must burn headlamps during highway movement of permitted loads.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	Rotating sealed beam or strobe (minimum 4" lens)	Self-propelled vehicles are required to display lights (minimum 800-watts candle power) on any front and/or rear overhang if the vehicle is approved for continuous travel.
Escort light type and placement	Rotating sealed beam or strobe (minimum 4" lens)	In good working condition on top of the vehicle.

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red or orange	18" square	Displayed on all sides at the widest point of load for all overwidth loads.
Escort Flags	NS	NS	NS

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
8" x 12"	Both sides of vehicle	The name and telephone number of the registered owner of the vehicle.

Escort/flagperson requirements

Escort vehicles are required as follows:

Permitted Load Condition	Escort Requirements
Height exceeds 14 feet 5 inches	One leading pole car escort
Rear overhang is 15 feet or more or overall length is 110 feet	One rear escort
Width exceeding 12 feet	One escort
Weight of 150,000 pounds or more	One front escort

Escort vehicles should remain at a distance of 200 feet from the overwidth vehicle. If sight distance is less than 300 feet, such as in cities or other congested areas, the escort vehicle should more closely lead the load to protect other traffic from the swing of the load at corners and turns.

Any vehicle when loaded and restricted or otherwise cannot travel the posted speed limit may be required to have a properly equipped rear escort.

Escort car/company requirements

Escort vehicles must weigh more than 2,000 pounds with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of less than 17,000 pounds.

All escort vehicle operators are required to obtain an approved DOT certification (or hold another state's certification that is recognized by North Carolina) prior to performing the duties of an oversize/overweight load escort vehicle operator in North Carolina. Upon finishing the certification program, the DOT will issue a certificate which will be valid for four years from issuance date and will be reissued upon satisfactory completion of a current certification exam.

The vehicle operator must be at least 21 years of age, or at least 18 years of age with a Class A commercial driver's license, and must have had a valid driver’s license for the previous 12 months without a conviction of reckless driving or driving while impaired.

Certification credentials must be carried in the vehicle and readily available for inspection by law enforcement officials within the jurisdiction.

The vehicle must display placards or identification signs measuring at least 8 inches by 12 inches listing the name and telephone number of the registered owner of the power unit (company or individual) on the right and left side of the power unit.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

The following are required:

Two-way radio contact with power unit & escort vehicle;
Yellow banners at least 18 inches high and the width of the bumper, bearing the legend OVERSIDE LOAD in black lettering 10 inches high with a 1-¹/₂-inch brush stroke;
Flashing amber rotating sealed beam or strobe, minimum five-inch diameter base/minimum four-inch lens height are required to be mounted on the top of the escort vehicle; and
Headlamps must be turned on during movement.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Movements must be made between sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday.
Weekend	No Sunday travel unless otherwise stated on the permit.
Holidays	Permitted vehicles with a gross weight exceeding 112,000 lbs and/or overdimension loads or vehicles cannot travel on the following holidays from noon on the weekday before the holiday until noon on the weekday after the holiday: • New Year’s Day • Memorial Day • Independence Day • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day
Visibility	No moves may be made when weather conditions render visibility less than 500'.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

...

Oversize and overweight movements - North Carolina