Federal & State Regulations | Oversize and overweight movements - South Dakota

General requirements

Reducible expectations	No permit can be issued for movement of a load that could be readily reduced in size or weight, except as provided by regulatory exception.
Permit timing	Some permit applications require review by the Department of Transportation or Highway Patrol. This review may take up to two working days to process. Loads over 200,000 pounds, overweight and wider than 12', or higher than 16' may require additional time to process. Allow adequate time for processing.
Method of application	Permits may be obtained by telephone, letter, or in person from any of the four ports of entry or via the internet using the South Dakota's automated permitting system, by fax provided the permit fees are guaranteed or already in the possession of the ports of entry, by letter, in person from any Highway Patrol District Office, or through J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Trip Permits, at (800) 231-5266.
Payments accepted	Utilizing the on-line system, permit fees may be paid via credit card or escrow account.
Electronic permits	A permit must be carried in the permit vehicle and be made available for inspection by any enforcement authority upon request. Any permit granted by a permit issuing authority may be presented electronically as proof of the permit. An electronic copy is considered written evidence of a permit if the permit was issued by electronic means.
Route surveys	An oversize or overweight permit is issued only if the route of travel provides the necessary clearances and load capacity to allow the safe passage of the load.

Insurance requirements

Liability	The issuance of a permit does not relieve the permit holder from liability for damages caused to any person or property.
Coverage	Permitted vehicles must be covered by liability insurance in the minimum amount of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 property damage.

Available permits and fees

General
Permit Period	Conditions	Fee
Single trip	Motor carrier permit	$25
Single trip	From Ports of Entry or Highway Patrol	$25
Single trip	Overweight ADD per ton-mile fee	$0.02
Single trips	Books of 10 Permits (telephone oversize)	$250
Single trip	Mobile homes	$25
Annual	All annual	$60

Permit limitations

Permit limitations
Width	Limitation
General	14' 6"
Overhang	3" (side)
Height	14'
Length	Limitations
Single unit	60'
Two units	85' loaded length • 43' KPRA
Overhang	30' combined front and rear
Weight	Limitations
Axles	Determined on an individual basis de- pending on bridge limits
GVW	Determined by the current bridge weight limit map
Configuration	Limitations
Manufactured housing	Trip or annual permits are available for dealers, manufacturers, or licensed commercial movers of mobile homes • Width: 16' • Height: 15' (over the state highway system) • Length: 80'
Annual	Annual permits for overdimensional loads • Width: 14' 6" • Length: 60' (single unit) • Length: 85' (Two units)

Signs

General sign requirement	Warning signs must be displayed on all vehicles issued an oversize permit that exceed a length of 95' or a width of 12' or that will operate during nighttime hours mounted on both the front and rear of vehicle or load. If rear overhang, rear sign must be on extreme end.
Escort sign requirement	The sign "WIDE LONG LOAD" must be mounted on the front of the leading escort vehicle and the sign "WIDE LOAD AHEAD" is to be mounted on the back of the trailing escort vehicle.
	Type	Size	Lettering	Background
General signs	OVERSIZE LOAD, WIDE LOAD, or LONG LOAD	84" x 18"	Black, 10" with 1 ³/₈" brushstroke.	Yellow and reflectorized when used at night
Escort signs	WIDE LOAD AHEAD or WIDE LONG LOAD	NS	12" high	NS

Lights

General light requirements	Oversized loads must be lit for night operation.
Escort light requirements	Warning lights required.
	Type	Placement
General light type and placement	Amber and red lights (night operation)	Overwidth (more than 4"): • (1) or more amber lamps and reflectors visible from the front and side, marking the edges at their outermost extremity • (1) or more red lamps and reflectors visible from the rear and side, marking the rearmost edges at their outermost extremity • (1) or more amber lamps and reflectors visible from the front, side, and rear, marking any portion of the projecting load which extends beyond the foremost and rearmost edge Rear overhang (more than 4'): • If the overhang is over 2' wide, 2 red lamps and reflectors are required - 1 on each corner • 2' or less, 1 red lamp and reflector. Front overhang (more than 3'): • If the overhang is over 2' wide, 2 amber lamps and reflectors are required - 1 on each corner • 2' or less, 1 amber lamp and reflector
Escort light type and placement	Revolving amber light, or (2) two-way flashing amber lights	Lights must be at least 4" in diameter

Flags

	Type	Size	Placement
General Flags	Red or orange	18" square	Mounted on brackets or standards on corners of any overdimensional vehicle or load being moved. Attached to all of the corners of an overwidth vehicle or load, to all of the corners of any load that extends beyond the width of the bed of the hauling vehicle, to all oversized loads that project more than 3' ahead of the vehicle's front bumper or that project more than 4' beyond the rear of the bed of a vehicle. If the rear overhang is over 2' wide, 2 flags are required - 1 on each corner.
Escort Flags	Red or orange	12" square	Mounted on brackets on each side of the sign

Escort vehicle markings

Size	Placement	Content
NS	NS	NS

Escort/flagperson requirements

Escort vehicles are required in front on two-lane highways or in the rear on divided highways. Vehicles over 16 feet wide traveling on the interstate highway system require an escort. Vehicles over 20 feet wide traveling on the state highway system also require an escort. Escorts may be required due to route limitations, traffic conditions, or unusual permit configurations.

Custom haulers of baled or stacked livestock feed and dealers doing business in the state and hauling overwidth farm implements are exempt from this requirement.

The movement of earth-moving equipment, singly or in convoy, requires an escort vehicle in front on state highways. On the interstate system, the escort must follow.

Except on U.S. Highway 16 from Rapid City to the Keystone Wye and on U.S. Highway 18, a vehicle that exceeds a width of 10 feet must be accompanied by a front escort when operating on state highways in the Black Hills area (the Black Hills area is the area south and west of Interstate Highway 90 from the Wyoming state line to Rapid City, west of State Trunk Highway 79 from Rapid City to the junction of State Trunk Highway 79 and U.S. Highway 18, west of U.S. Highway 18 from the junction of State Trunk Highway 79 and U.S. Highway 18 to Oelrichs, and west of U.S. Highway 385 from Oelrichs to the Nebraska state line). A local highway patrol trooper may waive the front escort requirement for a specified period of time on any section of state highway in the Black Hills area if the highway has adequate geometrics to provide for the safe operation of vehicles.

Flagpersons

Except for the movement of buildings and other large, oversize structures, state regulations do not specify that flagpersons have to be used for overdimensional movements. When traffic or roadway conditions warrant, qualified flagpersons should be available to direct traffic and ensure safety.

Escort car/company requirements

Escort vehicles must be licensed motor vehicles. Motorcycles may not serve as escort vehicles.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

Escort vehicles must display a revolving amber light, or two, two-way flashing amber lights. Lights must be at least four inches in diameter.

Escorts must have signs that read WIDE LOAD AHEAD or WIDE LONG LOAD, depending on the type of move. The latter sign, if required, must be mounted on the front of the leading escort; the former, if required, on the back of the trailing escort. Lettering must be at least 12 inches high. The regulations do not stipulate colors or sign dimensions.

Bright red or orange flags at least 12 inches square must be mounted on brackets or standards on each side of the sign.

Signs must be covered or removed when the escort is not accompanying a move.

Travel restrictions

Daytime	Movement is restricted to daylight hours if an escort is required, the permit vehicle is not able to attain and maintain the speed of posted speed limits, is wider than 10', is higher than 14' 6", is a single unit whose overall length exceeds 45', is a multiple-unit combination whose overall length exceeds 110', is a 2-unit combination with an individual unit length longer than 60', is a 3 or more unit combination with an individual unit length longer than 48', or will travel on state highways which are non-interstate and beyond a 2-mile radius of an interstate highway interchange.
Weekend	NS
Holidays	NS
Visibility	An oversize permit is not valid when visibility is reduced to one-half mile or less by weather, dust, or smoke. An oversize or overweight permit is not valid when the road surface is slippery because of snow, ice, slush, or frost. Highway patrol officers may further restrict or prohibit operation under any oversize or overweight permit during periods when, in their judgment, weather conditions make continued operation unsafe.

['Size and Weight Limits']

['Oversize and Overweight Movements']

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Oversize and overweight movements - South Dakota