How to Read an Arkansas Oversize Permit: Field-by-Field Guide

Arkansas defines a permit as written permission that lets the bearer move an oversize or overweight load along specific routes, during a specified period of time, with certain restrictions (27 CAR § 111-101). Those three things, the route, the time window and the restrictions, are what a driver has to read off an Arkansas permit before rolling. Get any of them wrong and the permit can be revoked, and the operator can be arrested.

This guide walks through what an Arkansas permit holds, part by part, and the state rule behind each part. Every rule below links to its source: mainly ARDOT’s permit rules, 27 CAR Part 111, its Part 111 appendix, and ARDOT’s Oversize and Overweight Permits page. ARDOT does not publish a sample permit, so this guide follows the information the rules say goes into a permit application and the conditions the rules attach to a permit. Where the rules leave something open, the answer is the same: read your permit and call the Permit Section.

Who issues Arkansas oversize permits

Arkansas OS/OW permits are issued by the Permit Section of the Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) (27 CAR § 111-101). The Part 111 appendix puts it plainly: the Permit Section is the only source for overweight and oversize permits. A load over the legal size or weight may not move on Arkansas highways without first getting a permit from ARDOT (27 CAR § 111-105).

Under 27 CAR § 111-103, you can apply in writing, in person, by telephone, by fax, or online through ARPARS, the Arkansas permitting and routing system linked from ARDOT’s Oversize and Overweight Permits page. The Permit Section is staffed 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on weekends and holidays, but certain types of permits can be obtained through ARPARS 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A note on the rule book: ARDOT’s Oversize and Overweight Permits page still links a 2023 edition of the permit rules. The rules now in force are 27 CAR Part 111, effective September 21, 2026, and that is the text this guide follows. A few details changed. For example, the 2023 edition required a 7-inch screen for an electronic permit and the current rule says 6 inches. If anything on your permit seems to conflict with this guide, the permit and the Permit Section win.

Two other groups come up, and neither issues the state permit:

Arkansas Highway Police officers enforce the permit. The permit must be open to inspection by any law enforcement officer or authorized agent of the department (27 CAR § 111-105), and the appendix lists the Highway Police weigh stations you will pass.
Cities and counties control roads off the state highway system. If your route leaves the state system, coordinating with the local authority and following its rules is your job, and ARDOT may ask for written proof that you did (27 CAR § 111-105).

Start at the top. Find the permit number (shown here only as a placeholder, AR-XXXXXXX; we never show real ones), the permittee and the movement dates. Then check three things.

The name. The name of the person the permit is issued to must be on the permit, and only that person is authorized to make the move. The permit is not transferable (27 CAR § 111-103).
The permit type. Unless the permit says otherwise, an Arkansas permit covers a single one-way, nondiverted movement, with adequate time allowed for the trip (27 CAR § 111-103). The Part 111 appendix lists the other types, including six-day county permits and several annual permits for specific vehicles and loads.
The dates. Your time to make the move is the period stated on the permit. ARDOT may extend it only if you ask before the permit expires and the trip was prevented by inclement weather, a documented breakdown or another documented circumstance beyond your control. The rule says no other revisions are provided for (27 CAR § 111-103).

A six-day county permit reads differently. It covers two or more moves by one vehicle within six consecutive days, limited to one county or two contiguous counties named on the permit. It is issued to a specific power unit whose serial number or VIN is printed on it, covers one specific piece of equipment or cargo, lists the inclusive dates, cannot be extended, and does not allow movement on the restricted holidays (27 CAR § 111-107).

Carry it right. The permit must be in the vehicle it refers to (27 CAR § 111-105). It may be shown on a mobile device with a screen of at least six inches (27 CAR § 111-101). If you run on a self-issue permit, the original must be in the cab or with the driver, and a photocopy, fax or other reproduction is not valid for movement (27 CAR § 111-105).

Vehicle, load, dimensions and weights

The middle of the permit describes what is moving. The Part 111 appendix lists what the application must include, and those details are what the permit is built from: a description of the load and its serial number; license numbers, year, make, model and full VIN of the truck and trailer and the state where they are registered; the number of axles and the spacings between them; gross weight; steering axle weight and rating and each axle weight; the number of tires and tire width on each axle; maximum width, length and height; front overhang; and origin, destination, highways and requested dates.

Read every number against the actual truck. Running outside what the permit allows is a failure to comply with it, which is grounds to cancel or void the permit (27 CAR § 111-1601). Context for those numbers:

Legal limits: 8'6" wide (8 feet for manufactured homes), 14 feet high, length set by trailer length, and 80,000 pounds gross on five or more axles meeting the federal bridge formula. Legal axle weights are 20,000 pounds single, 34,000 pounds tandem and 50,000 pounds tri-axle (27 CAR § 111-102).
Permitted axle weights: no permit is issued over 20,000 pounds on a single axle; 46,000 pounds on a tandem (no axle over 23,000); 60,000 pounds on a tridem (no axle over 20,000); or 68,000 pounds on a quadrum (no axle over 17,000) (27 CAR § 111-306). A permitted steering axle tops out at 20,000 pounds single or 24,000 pounds tandem (27 CAR § 111-305).
Width: permits top out at 20 feet on non-interstate highways and 18 feet on interstates, with up to 24 feet only for short emergency moves at the Permit Section’s discretion (27 CAR § 111-205).
Height: over 14 feet needs a permit. Over 17 feet, you need written agreements from the owners of overhead utilities and signals along the route, and their representatives go with the move, unless they give you a letter saying they do not want to (27 CAR § 111-206).
Length: a trailer up to 53'6" has no overall length limit, and a longer trailer is still legal if the whole combination is 60 feet or less. Past that, a permit is needed, and trailer length includes any load hanging off the rear. A load sticking out more than 3 feet past the front wheels or bumper needs a permit, and no permit is issued for a front overhang over 20 feet (27 CAR § 111-207).
Superloads: 180,000 pounds or more, or more than 16'6" wide, 100 feet or more long, or 15'6" or more high. ARDOT may require engineering examinations, so apply well ahead (27 CAR § 111-110).
Speed: the load must be able to hold 40 mph on every road it is permitted on, and its maximum speed is the posted limit unless the permit notes a different one (27 CAR § 111-109).

Our guide to reading overweight permit axle weights covers axle groups and spacings in more detail.

The route section

The route is the list of highways the load may use, and in Arkansas the Permit Section picks it. Under 27 CAR § 111-103, ARDOT routes each load by looking at traffic volume, highway dimensions, road surfaces, the type of truck, the federal bridge formula and the bridges and structures between origin and destination. The route is chosen for public safety regardless of extra distance, route or times of movement, so it may not be the road you would pick. 27 CAR § 111-204 says the Permit Section specifies the route, the time of travel, and the type and number of escorts on each over-dimensional permit.

Then the rules put the route on you:

Stay on it. Any variance from the permitted route is a violation of the permit and may get it revoked (27 CAR § 111-103).
Check it first. The permittee must check the designated route before starting to make sure the load can safely get through it (27 CAR § 111-105).
No clearance guarantee. A permit is not an assurance that bridges and structures can carry the load or that clearances will fit the permitted height (27 CAR § 111-105).
If something is wrong, call. If the driver meets a condition on the route the permit did not contemplate, or signs of an emergency that cast doubt on the trip, the operator must call the Permit Section at 501-569-2381 for instructions. Not calling, or not following the instructions, voids the permit (27 CAR § 111-103).
Spacing. No over-dimensional load may follow another closer than 1,000 feet (27 CAR § 111-204).
Signs and mailboxes. Before the move, get the owners’ consent to remove any signs, mailboxes and posts along the route that are in the way, and put them back as soon as possible (27 CAR § 111-204).

Escorts and pilot cars

Arkansas sets escort counts by road type. “Four-lane” below means a controlled access, divided highway with four or more lanes. Widths include overhangs, clearance lights, eaves and any other appurtenance (27 CAR § 111-205, 27 CAR § 111-505).

Load	Four-lane divided highways	All other highways
Over 12 ft up to 14 ft wide	No width escort in the rule	One escort, in front
Over 14 ft wide	One escort, behind, 200 ft back	Two escorts, one in front and one behind
100 ft or more long	One escort, following (also on interstates)	One escort, leading
Over 115 ft long	See permit	Two escorts, front and rear, on highways with fewer than four lanes
Over 15 ft high	One escort in front with a clearance bar 6 inches above the permitted height, unless the permit says otherwise

Manufactured homes and houses have their own escort rules in 27 CAR § 111-505. Beyond the table, the Permit Section may require more escorts, and one or more law enforcement vehicles, for safety (27 CAR § 111-505), and a command-rank Highway Police officer may require more as well (27 CAR § 111-205). The permit is what counts, because the Permit Section writes the type and number of escorts on it (27 CAR § 111-204). The permittee must furnish the escorts (27 CAR § 111-501).

No permit or fee is needed for an escort vehicle (27 CAR § 111-501, 27 CAR § 111-503), but 27 CAR § 111-504 sets what it must carry:

Insurance: at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, with proof in the vehicle.
Vehicle and ID: a truck of at least quarter-ton rated capacity or a car of at least 2,000 pounds, with the company name and address on each door, legible at 50 feet.
Sign: “OVERSIZE LOAD” on yellow, black letters with a 2-inch stroke and at least 10 inches high.
Light and flags: a rotating, strobe or LED amber light on top, visible all the way around, and two solid red 18-inch flags mounted atop the vehicle at an angle, in line with the light.
Gear: a 10-pound Class BC fire extinguisher, four 15-minute flares, light sticks or triangles, a clearance bar for overheight loads, and two-way radios between escort and truck.
Distance: 200 feet between the escort and the towing vehicle at all times.

For how escort lines read across permits generally, see oversize permit escort requirements.

Travel times and the Little Rock curfew

Sunrise to sunset is the default. Permits are issued for movement from sunrise to sunset only, as established by the National Weather Service (27 CAR § 111-106).

Little Rock rush hours. There is no oversize movement through the Greater Little Rock area from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. or 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, on:

I-30, mile markers 138 to 143;
I-40, mile markers 151 to 155; and
all of I-630.

That curfew does not apply on Saturday or Sunday (27 CAR § 111-106).

When a load can run around the clock. The rules allow it in a few cases, and the permit will say so:

A load up to 90 feet overall that is within legal width and height may travel 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by permit. Over 90 feet, daylight only and not on the restricted holidays (27 CAR § 111-207).
An overweight load that is within legal width, height and length may get a permit to move on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and at night, obtained in advance (27 CAR § 111-307), including continuous movement on selected highways (27 CAR § 111-105).

Our curfew and travel restriction checklist shows how to mark these windows on a trip plan.

Holidays, weekends and weather

Holidays. No permits are issued for movement on the days these holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (27 CAR § 111-106). And if one of those holidays is observed on a Monday or Friday, there is no movement on the weekend that touches it, so a Monday holiday also shuts the Saturday and Sunday before it.

Other state holidays are different. A permit may be issued for movement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day (George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day), Veterans Day and Christmas Eve if you get it in advance (27 CAR § 111-106), because the Permit Section office is closed on those days too.

Weekends. Over-dimensional loads may get permits for Saturday and Sunday movement unless the day falls on a restricted holiday (27 CAR § 111-204). The Permit Section itself is closed on weekends (27 CAR § 111-103), so plan to have the permit in hand before Friday afternoon, or use a permit type available through ARPARS.

Weather. A permit is not valid for movement when visibility is less than 500 feet or in inclement weather, such as extremely hard driving rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow or other hazardous conditions. Movement may also be restricted in strong winds or gusts over 20 knots (23 mph) (27 CAR § 111-106). If weather stops the trip, ask for an extension before the permit expires (27 CAR § 111-103).

Signs, flags and lights

27 CAR § 111-204 sets the marking rules for a load over legal width, height or length:

Signs: a plainly legible “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign across the front and back of the loaded vehicle, made of durable material, yellow with black letters of a 2-inch stroke and at least 10 inches high.
Flags: 18-inch red or fluorescent orange flags on all four corners of the load.
Lights: tail lamps and signal lamps that meet state and federal standards. The general rule for over-dimensional loads does not add amber lights on the load itself, so check your permit for any lighting condition.
Overweight only: a load that is overweight but within legal width, height and length does not need oversize signs, and needs no escort unless the Permit Section requires one (27 CAR § 111-308).
Cutter blades and other hazardous equipment over 14 feet wide must be cradled at an angle that brings the overall width to 14 feet or less (27 CAR § 111-205).

Manufactured homes and houses have their own sign, flag and traffic rules later in 27 CAR Part 111.

Conditions, restrictions and what voids the permit

Read every condition and restriction printed on the permit as carefully as the route. A few standing rules apply on top of them:

Stopping traffic. A permitted load may briefly stop and direct traffic while maneuvering on or off a street or highway, but never for more than 3 minutes and never within 500 feet of the crest of a hill (27 CAR § 111-108).
Damage is yours. ARDOT is not liable for damage caused by a permitted load or its escort, and the permittee pays for any damage to roads, bridges, people and property (27 CAR § 111-105).
ARDOT can cancel. The department may cancel, void or invalidate a permit at any time (27 CAR § 111-103).

27 CAR § 111-1601 lists what ARDOT may weigh when it cancels or voids a permit: a permit issued in error; a permit obtained by false pretenses or fraud; failure to comply with the permit, the permit rules or Arkansas law; and changed conditions that affect public safety or the roads and bridges. Any violation may result in the operator’s arrest, and on overweight violations the owner or employer who let the driver run over the permitted weight can also be criminally liable. Repeat violations can suspend permit privileges: two in 12 months for up to 30 days, rising to up to a year at five violations. Suspensions can be appealed in writing to the Permit Section commander.

Where to find the issuing office

Arkansas OS/OW permits come from the ARDOT Permit Section, Arkansas Highway Police. According to ARDOT’s Oversize and Overweight Permits page:

Online: ARPARS, linked from the ARDOT permit page
Phone: (501) 569-2381, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email: ahppermit@ardot.gov
In person: Arkansas Department of Transportation, 10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, Arkansas 72209, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Payment: bonded account, credit card, check or cash
Closed: Saturday, Sunday and all legal state holidays. ARDOT’s central office is 501-569-2000.

The Part 111 appendix lists Arkansas Highway Police weigh stations at Alma (I-40, mile marker 9), Bridgeport (I-55, mile marker 1), Fayetteville (I-49, mile marker 71), Hope (I-30, mile marker 26), Lehi (I-40, mile marker 274), Marion (I-55, mile marker 9) and Riverside (I-40, mile marker 283). Our guide to oversize loads and weigh stations covers what to expect at the scale.

A pre-trip checklist, and where JaloPermit fits

Before departure on an Arkansas permit, confirm:

The permit is in your company’s name, covers the move you are making, and its dates are still good. Ask for any extension before it expires.
The permit is in the cab, on paper or on a device with at least a 6-inch screen. A copy of a self-issue permit is not valid.
Every dimension and axle weight on the permit is equal to or more than the actual load.
You have checked the designated route yourself, know you must not leave it, and have the Permit Section number (501-569-2381) ready if something on the road is not what the permit expected.
Escorts match the type and number on the permit, are equipped to 27 CAR Part 111, and run in the right position for each road type.
The plan stays between sunrise and sunset unless the permit allows otherwise, and clears the Little Rock weekday curfew on I-30, I-40 and I-630.
No travel falls on a restricted holiday or on a weekend next to a Monday or Friday holiday, and the plan allows for weather and wind stops.
“OVERSIZE LOAD” signs and corner flags are up, and lights work.

JaloPermit can speed up the reading part. Drop an already-issued, text-based permit PDF into the permit decoder on the JaloPermit homepage and it lays out the route, escorts, curfews, dimensions and limits on one route card, with weigh stations, truck stops and low-bridge alerts. Then compare it with the original. For the state rules at a glance, see the Arkansas page in the JaloPermit Atlas. For a general walk-through of any state’s permit, see how to read an oversize load permit. Our Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico permit guides cover those states the same way, and if your trip crosses state lines, read multi-state oversize permit trips.

JaloPermit, which publishes this guide, is a reading aid for issued permit PDFs. It is not a permit-filing service and it does not plan routes or provide navigation. The issued permit always wins.

JaloPermit reads text-based PDFs only, not scans or photos. Guests get three free decodes a day with no account and no card. Logged-in users get 10 free decodes a day. After those free decodes, each one is $3.50. There is no subscription.

Questions about how JaloPermit reads a permit? Email support@jalopermit.org.

FAQs

Who issues oversize permits in Arkansas? The Permit Section of the Arkansas Highway Police, part of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). It is the only source for Arkansas oversize and overweight permits. You can apply online through ARPARS, by phone at (501) 569-2381 Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in writing, by fax, or in person in Little Rock.

Can I run an oversize load at night in Arkansas? Generally no. Permits are issued for movement from sunrise to sunset. The exceptions are written into the permit: loads up to 90 feet long that are within legal width and height may run 24 hours a day by permit, and overweight loads within legal dimensions can get permits for night, weekend and holiday travel obtained in advance.

What is the Little Rock oversize curfew? No oversize movement from 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, on I-30 from mile marker 138 to 143, I-40 from mile marker 151 to 155, and all of I-630. The curfew does not apply on Saturday or Sunday.

When do I need an escort in Arkansas? On highways that are not four-lane divided, a load over 12 feet wide up to 14 feet needs one front escort, and over 14 feet needs two. On four-lane divided highways, a load over 14 feet wide needs one rear escort. Loads 100 feet or longer need one escort, and over 115 feet need two on roads with fewer than four lanes. Loads over 15 feet high need a front escort with a clearance bar. The permit lists the escorts required.

Can oversize loads move on holidays or weekends in Arkansas? Weekend permits are available unless the day is a restricted holiday. No movement is permitted on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas, and if one of those is observed on a Monday or Friday, the attached weekend is also closed. Moves on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Veterans Day and Christmas Eve need a permit obtained in advance.

Can I carry my Arkansas permit on my phone? Yes. The current rule counts a permit shown on a mobile device with a screen of at least six inches. If you travel on a self-issue permit, the original must be in the cab or with the driver, and a photocopy or fax is not valid.

Does JaloPermit file Arkansas permits? No. JaloPermit is a reading aid for permits that have already been issued. It does not file or order permits. The issued permit always wins.

What does JaloPermit cost? Guests get three free decodes a day with no account and no card. Logged-in users get 10 free decodes a day. After those free decodes, each one is $3.50. There is no subscription.