Alabama Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Alabama without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on 2-lane roads and multi-lane roads, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for Alabama, shown as the app shows it.
Rules as of Jul 31, 2026 · Links checked Jul 13, 2026
Read this before you trust a number. Rules change. The issued permit, posted signs and the state permit office always win over this page. JaloPermit is a reading aid, not a permit-filing service. Guests get 3 free decodes a day with no account and no card, logged-in users get 10 a day, and extra decodes are $3.50 each with no subscription.
What moves in Alabama without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Alabama publishes its length limit as semitrailer, so compare it against that measurement on your permit, not the overall rig.
Where the permit and escort tiers start
| Dimension | Legal without permit | Permit tier starts | First escort on 2-lane roads | First escort on multi-lane roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'6" | 12' · Front escort | 12' · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'6" | 15'6" · Front + High pole | 15'6" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 57'0"semitrailer | 57' | 90' · Rear escort | 90' · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,001 lbs | 300,001 lbs · Police escort | 300,001 lbs · Police escort |
"Permit tier starts" is the lowest size in the Atlas ladder that needs a permit. "First escort" is the lowest size that adds a private or police escort on that road class; the full ladder with each tier's rule and source is below.
Alabama escort ladder, tier by tier
Open a tier to read the rule behind it, quoted with its source. Amber tiers add a police escort or a superload review; grey tiers are permit-only with conditions.
On 2-lane roads
Escorts begin at 12' wide
Width
Permit required8'6" – 12'
Permit required over legal width (8'6" on roads with 12-ft or wider lanes; 8'0" where lanes are narrower - Ala. Admin. Code 450-3-1-.02(2)); no escort under 12 ft wide.
Front escort12' – 14'
Loads 12-14 ft wide: one front escort on 2-lane roads (450-3-1-.05(2)(a)); on multilane non-interstate highways the single escort rides at the rear instead (450-3-1-.05(2)(b)). Alabama's real split is 2-lane vs multilane, approximated here as non-interstate vs interstate. Escort applies from exactly 12 ft wide.
Front + Rear14' – 16'
Greater than 14 ft wide: one front and one rear escort on all roads (450-3-1-.05(3)).
Front + Rear + Police16'+
SUPERLOAD: width over 16 ft (ALDOT Superload Requirements). The civilian front and rear escorts of 450-3-1-.05(3) still apply, plus at least two State Trooper or police escorts (ALEA may require more); detailed route survey required. City or county engineer approval required on city streets or county roads. Most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday. Source: ALDOT Alabama Superload Requirements (2025-01-16); Ala. Admin. Code r. 450-3-1-.05(3).
Height
Permit required13'6" – 15'6"
Permit required over the 13'6" legal height (450-3-1-.02(3)). Escort and height pole not required at or below 15'6". No route survey applies at these heights: ALDOT requires route surveys only for superloads and for house moves over 17 ft (450-3-1-.07(5)).
Front + High pole15'6" – 16'
Height in excess of 15'6": front escort with height indicator (height pole) required (450-3-1-.05(1)).
Front + High pole + Police16'+
SUPERLOAD: height exceeding 16 ft (ALDOT Superload Requirements). Minimum 2 State Trooper or police law enforcement escorts, plus the front height-pole escort of 450-3-1-.05(1) still applies; route survey showing all conflict points required; utility notification may be required over 16'6" and a bucket truck over 16'5". Most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday. Two police escort vehicles are required over 16 ft high, in addition to the private escorts. Source: ALDOT 'Alabama Superload Requirements' (Permit Office memo, PDF dated 2025-01-16).
Length
Permit required57' – 90'
Permit required over 57'0" (legal truck-semitrailer combination length, 450-3-1-.02(4)); some configurations have lower legal lengths (40' single vehicle, 45' motor home/bus, 65'-75' car haulers). No length-based escort under 90 ft. Overhang triggers separately: a rear escort is required when the load extends more than 5 ft beyond the rear, and a front escort when it extends 10 ft or more beyond the front (450-3-1-.05(5)(c)).
Rear escort90' – 125'
Lengths 90 to 125 ft, inclusive: one rear escort (450-3-1-.05(5)(a)). Mobile homes may substitute the approved rear lighting system of 450-3-1-.02(7); mobile-home escorts ride in front on 2-lane roads and move to the rear on multilane roads (450-3-1-.05(9)). ALDOT may require additional escorts when deemed necessary.
Front + Rear125' – 150'
Over 125 ft through 150 ft: one front and one rear escort (450-3-1-.05(5)(a); 125 ft exactly takes the single rear escort per '90 feet to 125 feet, inclusive'). ALDOT may require additional escorts for lengths under 150 ft when deemed necessary.
Front + Rear + Police150'+
Length in excess of 150 ft: front and rear LAW ENFORCEMENT escorts required (450-3-1-.05(5)(b)) - state troopers, sheriffs/deputies, or city police in marked vehicles with blue lights; constables may not escort (450-3-1-.02(9)). Also a SUPERLOAD (length over 150 ft): detailed route survey required; most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 300,000 lbs
Overweight permit required above 80,000 lbs gross. Alabama's escort rule (450-3-1-.05) keys no escort to weight alone below the superload line; ALDOT may require escorts when deemed necessary. Annual permits cap at 150,000 lbs (450-3-1-.09(5)(c)); heavier moves take single-trip permits and must observe posted bridge restrictions (450-3-1-.04(6)).
Police escort300,001 lbs+
SUPERLOAD: gross weight exceeding 300,000 lbs (ALDOT Superload Requirements). Minimum 2 State Trooper or police law enforcement escorts; detailed route survey and ALDOT bridge analysis via Special Work Authorization required. City or county engineer approval required on city streets or county roads. Most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday. Two police escort vehicles are required over 300,000 lb; no private escort is required for this alone. Source: ALDOT 'Alabama Superload Requirements' (Permit Office memo, PDF dated 2025-01-16).
On multi-lane roads
Escorts begin at 12' wide
Width
Permit required8'6" – 12'
Permit required over legal width (8'6" on roads with 12-ft or wider lanes, Ala. Admin. Code 450-3-1-.02(2)); no escort under 12 ft wide.
Rear escort12' – 14'
Loads 12-14 ft wide: one rear escort on multilane roads (450-3-1-.05(2)(b)); interstates are multilane. Alabama's real split is 2-lane vs multilane, approximated here as non-interstate vs interstate. Escort applies from exactly 12 ft wide.
Front + Rear14' – 16'
Greater than 14 ft wide: one front and one rear escort on all roads (450-3-1-.05(3)).
Front + Rear + Police16'+
SUPERLOAD: width over 16 ft (ALDOT Superload Requirements). The civilian front and rear escorts of 450-3-1-.05(3) still apply, plus at least two State Trooper or police escorts (ALEA may require more); detailed route survey required. Most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday. Source: ALDOT Alabama Superload Requirements (2025-01-16); Ala. Admin. Code r. 450-3-1-.05(3).
Height
Permit required13'6" – 15'6"
Permit required over the 13'6" legal height (450-3-1-.02(3)). Escort and height pole not required at or below 15'6". No route survey applies at these heights: ALDOT requires route surveys only for superloads and for house moves over 17 ft (450-3-1-.07(5)).
Front + High pole15'6" – 16'
Height in excess of 15'6": front escort with height indicator (height pole) required (450-3-1-.05(1)).
Front + High pole + Police16'+
SUPERLOAD: height exceeding 16 ft (ALDOT Superload Requirements). Minimum 2 State Trooper or police law enforcement escorts, plus the front height-pole escort of 450-3-1-.05(1) still applies; route survey showing all conflict points required; utility notification may be required over 16'6" and a bucket truck over 16'5". Most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday. Two police escort vehicles are required over 16 ft high, in addition to the private escorts. Source: ALDOT 'Alabama Superload Requirements' (Permit Office memo, PDF dated 2025-01-16).
Length
Permit required57' – 90'
Permit required over 57'0" (legal truck-semitrailer combination length, 450-3-1-.02(4)); some configurations have lower legal lengths (40' single vehicle, 45' motor home/bus, 65'-75' car haulers). No length-based escort under 90 ft. Overhang triggers separately: a rear escort is required when the load extends more than 5 ft beyond the rear, and a front escort when it extends 10 ft or more beyond the front (450-3-1-.05(5)(c)).
Rear escort90' – 125'
Lengths 90 to 125 ft, inclusive: one rear escort (450-3-1-.05(5)(a)). Mobile homes may substitute the approved rear lighting system of 450-3-1-.02(7). ALDOT may require additional escorts when deemed necessary.
Front + Rear125' – 150'
Over 125 ft through 150 ft: one front and one rear escort (450-3-1-.05(5)(a); 125 ft exactly takes the single rear escort per '90 feet to 125 feet, inclusive'). ALDOT may require additional escorts for lengths under 150 ft when deemed necessary.
Front + Rear + Police150'+
Length in excess of 150 ft: front and rear LAW ENFORCEMENT escorts required (450-3-1-.05(5)(b)) - state troopers, sheriffs/deputies, or city police in marked vehicles with blue lights; constables may not escort (450-3-1-.02(9)). Also a SUPERLOAD (length over 150 ft): detailed route survey required; most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 300,000 lbs
Overweight permit required above 80,000 lbs gross. Alabama's escort rule (450-3-1-.05) keys no escort to weight alone below the superload line; ALDOT may require escorts when deemed necessary. Annual permits cap at 150,000 lbs (450-3-1-.09(5)(c)); heavier moves take single-trip permits and must observe posted bridge restrictions (450-3-1-.04(6)).
Police escort300,001 lbs+
SUPERLOAD: gross weight exceeding 300,000 lbs (ALDOT Superload Requirements). Minimum 2 State Trooper or police law enforcement escorts; detailed route survey and ALDOT bridge analysis via Special Work Authorization required. Most superloads must travel 9 PM-6 AM Sunday-Thursday. Two police escort vehicles are required over 300,000 lb; no private escort is required for this alone. Source: ALDOT 'Alabama Superload Requirements' (Permit Office memo, PDF dated 2025-01-16).
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Daylight hours only, Monday through Saturday. Applies to every ALDOT-permitted move, oversize and overweight-only alike. Most superloads are instead required to run 9 PM to 6 AM, Sunday through Thursday.
- Night travel
Not permitted for ordinary permitted loads, oversize or overweight-only alike. Exception: most superloads (over 16 ft wide, 16 ft high, 150 ft long or 300,000 lbs) are required to run 9 PM to 6 AM, Sunday through Thursday, as set by the ALDOT permit office.
- Weekend travel
No travel at any time on Sundays. Saturday daylight travel is allowed. Holiday closures routinely extend across the adjoining weekend, running from sunset the day before to sunrise the day after.
- Holiday restrictions
No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. Closures run at minimum from sunset the day before to sunrise the day after, and often span the adjoining weekend. Check ALDOT's annual holiday notice.
- Urban restrictions
None specified statewide
Signage Alabama expects
- Oversize load sign
Sign 7 feet wide by 18 inches high, black OVERSIZE LOAD lettering on a yellow background, letters 10 inches high with a 1.4 to 1.5 inch brush stroke. Mounted front and rear of the transport vehicle so the license plate and headlights are not blocked. WIDE LOAD is not acceptable.
- Flags
Fluorescent orange or red flags, 18 by 18 inches minimum, at the four corners of the load or at its extremities when over length.
- Beacons
Every permitted transport vehicle must display a flashing or strobe amber light visible 360 degrees at 500 feet. Escort vehicles require the same. Superloads also need a lighting plan with flashing amber or strobe lights mounted on all extremities.
Alabama permit office
The permit office is the authority on every number on this page. Call it, or open the official site, before you rely on a threshold for a load that is close to a line.
Already have your permit?
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What are the legal limits in Alabama without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Alabama, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 57'0" long (semitrailer) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 5'0" front and 5'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Alabama permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Alabama?
On 2-lane roads in Alabama, escorts begin at 12' wide. On multi-lane roads, escorts begin at 12' wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 12' – 14' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Alabama?
Night travel: Not permitted for ordinary permitted loads, oversize or overweight-only alike. Exception: most superloads (over 16 ft wide, 16 ft high, 150 ft long or 300,000 lbs) are required to run 9 PM to 6 AM, Sunday through Thursday, as set by the ALDOT permit office. Weekend travel: No travel at any time on Sundays. Saturday daylight travel is allowed. Holiday closures routinely extend across the adjoining weekend, running from sunset the day before to sunrise the day after. Holidays: No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. Closures run at minimum from sunset the day before to sunrise the day after, and often span the adjoining weekend. Check ALDOT's annual holiday notice.