Alabama Oversize / Overweight Regulations

What is considered as "Oversized Load" in Alabama?

DIMENSIONS: Width: 8' (Roadways <12 ft) Width 8' 6" (Roadways 12' &+) Height: 13' 6" Length: Single Vehicle - 40' Truck-semi-trailer - 57' Legal Overhang - 5' Front and rear

What is considered as "Overweight Load" in Alabama?

WEIGHTS Load Weight: 20,000 lb./axel Tandem Axel: 34,000 lb. Steering Axel: 20,000 lb. Gross Weight: 80,000 lb. 

Alabama Oversize / Overweight Permits

Alabama Pilot Cars / Escorts

When escort vehicles are required:

ALDOT may require that permitted vehicles use front or rear escorts when deemed necessary. Escorts are required but are not limited to the following: 

Over height vehicles/loads: Front escort with height indicator is required for heights greater than 15’6”. 

Over width vehicles/loads: (a) Loads greater than 12’ and up to 14’ wide require 1 front escort on two-lane roads, or (b) 1 rear escort for multilane roads. 

Loads greater than 14’ wide require 1 front and 1 rear escort on all roads. 

Over length vehicles/loads: 

(a) A single rear escort is required for lengths greater than 90 feet up to 125 feet,

A front and a rear escort are required for lengths greater than 125 feet up to 150 feet.

(b) Front and rear law enforcement escorts are required for lengths greater than 150 feet.

(c) A rear escort is required for any permitted vehicle transporting a load extending more than 5 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle. A front escort is required for any permitted vehicle transporting a load extending 10 feet or more beyond the front of the vehicle.

Alabama Axle Regulations

Maximum weight on Interstate Highway System of Alabama that shall have a greater weight than:

20,000 pounds per axle,

34,000 pounds per tandem axle

Maximum overall gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles using the following formula:

W = 500 (LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36)

W = overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds,
L = distance in feet between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles,
N = number of axles in group under consideration.

Alabama Trip and Fuel (IRP / IFTA) Permits

7-Day Fuel Permit - $20.00

7-Day Trip Permit - $20.00

Combined 7-Day Trip & Fuel Permit - $40.00

Vehicles that are subject to International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) licensing requirements must obtain an IFTA fuel license and decal and an IRP license plate and cab card before operating interstate.

Alabama Overweight / Oversize Fines

Overweight Fines

WEIGHT	FINE
2,000 – 3,000 lbs	$10
3,001 – 4,000 lbs	$30
4,001 – 5,000 lbs	$60
5,001 lbs and over	$100

Running Hours and Holiday Restrictions

"Oversize" Banner requirements

A sign shall be mounted on the front and rear of the transport vehicle where the license plate and headlights are not blocked. The sign shall contain the wording “OVERSIZE LOAD” in black letters on a yellow background. The size of the sign shall be 7 feet wide and 18 inches high. The letters shall be 10 inches high with a 1.4” – 1.5” brush stroke. 

Flag Requirements

All Oversize Vehicles require 18” square fluorescent orange or Red at four corners at the extremities of the load.

Warning Lights

There is no mention of light requirements for oversize vehicles.Transport vehicles shall be equipped with a flashing or strobe amber light, visible 360 degrees at 500 feet. If escort vehicles are required, they will be equipped with warning lights.

Flags, Lights and Banners

Running Hours

1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 Hour after sunset Running not Permitted: Sundays and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Alabama Tire Regulations

Every motor carrier, motor vehicle, truck, semitrailer, and trailer shall be equipped with pneumatic tires of sufficient traction surface in accordance with the capacity of the motor carrier or motor vehicle,

Tread: Minimum of 2/32 inch around the tire.

A tire is considered unsafe if any ply or cord is exposed; any bump or bulge, tread separation, tread or sidewall cracks or cuts in excess of one inch, or grooved unless specially manufactured for re-grooving.  

It is permissible to use tire chains or metal studded or safety spike tires of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, rain, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.

Every solid rubber tire on a vehicle moved on any highway shall have rubber on its entire traction surface of at least four inches and one inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.

Alabama Annual Permits

An annual or single trip permit shall not authorize the operation of a vehicle including all enforcement tolerances: if total gross weight exceeds 150,000 pounds; provided, that gross weights over 100,000 pounds shall require advance routing by the department; if single axle weight exceeds 22,000 pounds.

An annual permit is valid for one (1) year. They are vehicle specific. The VIN on the permit MUST match the VIN on the transporting vehicle. Annual permits are limited to the following dimensions:

Dimensions:

• Maximum Weight: 150,000 pounds 
• Maximum Width: 12 feet 
• Maximum Length: 75 feet 
• Maximum Height: 14 feet
• Maximum Single Axle Weight: 22,000 pounds

Cost: $100

Alabama Road Conditions

Work Zone Safety:

SLOW DOWN . Workers and equipment are working to maintain and improve highways. Slow down.

Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.

If possible,, PLAN AHEAD when traveling through a work zone in order to reach your destination on time.

Alabama Manufactured Houses and Mobile homes

Single Trip Permit 

Valid for 5 days 

Valid for One Round Trip – empty to destination, hauling load back, or vice-versa 

Mobile Homes – maximum permissible dimensions = 16’ wide x 16’ high

Annual Permit

Mobile Homes – maximum permissible dimensions = 14’ wide x 14’ high 

Need “Routing Authorization” permit for Mobile Homes ≥ 12’ wide up to maximum 14’ wide 

Routing Authorization from Permit Office must accompany the Annual Permit

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Oversize / Overweight Regulations By State