Arkansas Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules

27 CAR 111-205(e) and 111-505(b)(3): on all highways that are not controlled access or divided highways with four (4) or more lanes, the movement of a permitted vehicle "over twelve feet (12') in width but not more than fourteen feet (14') ... shall be accompanied by one (1) escort vehicle that shall travel in front of the permitted vehicle". Escort and towing vehicle keep 200 feet between them (111-504(j)). Manufactured homes over 12'0" through 14'6" take the same single front escort (111-505(c)(2)). On a controlled access, divided highway with four or more lanes this width range is not escort-triggered (111-505(b)(1)(A)). The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

27 CAR 111-205(f) and 111-505(b)(2): on all highways that are not controlled access or divided highways with four (4) or more lanes, "the movement of any vehicle, which exceeds fourteen feet (14') in width, shall be accompanied by two (2) escort vehicles. One (1) escort vehicle shall precede the permitted vehicle and one (1) escort shall follow it." Manufactured homes cross to two escorts above 14'6" (111-505(c)(3); Ark. Code 27-35-306 and ARDOT's 2023 Permit Rules manual both print 14'9" - the stricter codified figure is shown). Cutter blades and other equipment of a hazardous nature over 14'0" must be cradled down to 14'0" or less (111-205(i)). The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

Two escorts, one preceding and one following, as above (27 CAR 111-505(b)(2)). Width of more than 16'6" makes the move a "super load of extraordinary weight or dimension" (111-110(a)): issued at ARDOT's discretion, engineering examinations may be required, and the application must be submitted far enough in advance. Permitted width off the Interstate system is capped at 20'0" (111-205(a)); interstate permits stop at 18'0" (111-205(c)).

27 CAR 111-205(a) caps permitted width on all highways except interstates at "twenty feet (20') or less", judged on public safety, highway condition, distance traveled and traffic volume. Above 20'0", 111-205(b): "Under emergency conditions and at the discretion of the Permit Section, a maximum overall width of twenty-four feet (24') may be authorized by permit for short moves." Two escorts (one preceding, one following) remain the published requirement over 14'0" (111-505(b)(2)), and a command-rank AHP officer may require additional escorts for the safety of the traveling public (111-205(g)(1)). House and structural moves are a separate permit class (111-701 et seq.), authorized up to 28'6" wide exclusive of roof overhang, and always take one escort in front and one behind (111-505(e)).

27 CAR 111-206(b), 111-504(k)(1) and 111-505(d)(1): "Any vehicle or load that exceeds fifteen feet (15') in height is required to have one (1) escort vehicle equipped with a clearance bar that extends six inches (6") above the permitted height preceding the load, unless otherwise specified on the permit." The clearance-bar (high-pole) vehicle IS the single lead escort - Arkansas does not add a second vehicle at this height - and the same rule applies on every road class. The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

Single lead escort with a clearance bar six inches above the permitted height continues (27 CAR 111-206(b)). At "height of fifteen feet six inches (15' 6") or more" the move is also a "super load of extraordinary weight or dimension" (111-110(a)): permit issued at ARDOT's discretion, engineering examinations may be required, and the application must be submitted far enough in advance.

The single lead escort with clearance bar continues (27 CAR 111-206(b)). Above 17'0", 111-206(c)(1) adds: "the mover shall obtain written agreements signed by the owners of overhead facilities (utilities, traffic signals, etc.) along the route and the move shall be accompanied by representatives of the owners." 111-206(c)(2) lets those owners decline in writing instead, so the utility accompaniment is conditional and is not counted here as a pilot vehicle. Super load review applies at 15'6" and above (111-110(a)). The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

27 CAR 111-505(a)(1) places the single escort in FRONT on every highway other than interstates, controlled access and divided highways with four (4) or more lanes: "One (1) escort shall follow a vehicle with a load of one hundred feet (100') or more in length on interstates, controlled access, and divided highways with four (4) or more lanes, and lead a vehicle with a load of one hundred feet (100') or more in length on all other highways." Exactly 100'0" is inside the requirement ("or more"). Above 115'0" two escorts are required on highways with fewer than four lanes (111-505(a)(2)). An overall length of 100'0" or more is also a super load (111-110(a)); travel is daylight-only over 90'0" (111-207(c)(3)).

27 CAR 111-505(a)(2): "Two (2) escorts (one (1) leading and one (1) following) are required on all highways with fewer than four (4) lanes for a load that exceeds one hundred fifteen feet (115')." Road-class approximation: this class is encoded to the stricter fewer-than-four-lane case; a four-lane highway that is not controlled access or divided reads literally under 111-505(a)(1) as one leading escort. Super load (111-110(a)); daylight-only travel over 90'0" (111-207(c)(3)); no over-length permit is issued for a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination (111-207(e)(1)).

27 CAR 111-205(d) and 111-505(b)(1): "on any controlled access, divided highway with four (4) or more lanes, a permitted vehicle or load in excess of fourteen feet (14') in width, inclusive of overhangs, clearance lights, eaves, or any other appurtenance, shall be accompanied by one (1) escort vehicle", which "shall travel behind the permitted vehicle or load a distance of two hundred feet (200') while in continuous travel". If any segment of the route is not controlled access or divided with four or more lanes, two escorts (one preceding, one following) are required over 14'0" (111-505(b)(2)). Manufactured homes take the single following escort only above 14'6" (111-505(c)(1); Ark. Code 27-35-306 and ARDOT's 2023 Permit Rules manual both print 14'9" - the stricter codified figure is shown). Maximum permitted width on interstate highways is 18'0" (111-205(c)). The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

Same single following escort at 200 feet as above (27 CAR 111-505(b)(1)). Over 16'6" wide the move is a "super load of extraordinary weight or dimension" under 111-110(a): ARDOT "shall have the discretion to issue a permit", "shall have the discretion to require engineering examinations", and the application must be submitted far enough in advance. Interstate permits stop at 18'0" (111-205(c)). Two escorts are required on any route segment that is not controlled access or divided with four or more lanes (111-505(b)(2)).

27 CAR 111-205(c): "Except for manufactured homes, the maximum overall width of a vehicle authorized to be moved upon interstate highways by permit is eighteen feet (18'), inclusive of: (1) Overhangs; (2) Clearance lights; or (3) Any other appurtenances." A load over 18'0" wide (other than a manufactured home) cannot be permitted on the Interstate system, so it must move on other highways, where 111-505(b)(2) requires two escort vehicles, one preceding and one following. Off-interstate permit width is capped at 20'0" (111-205(a)), with 24'0" only "under emergency conditions and at the discretion of the Permit Section ... for short moves" (111-205(b)). Super load review applies over 16'6" (111-110(a)).

27 CAR 111-206(b), 111-504(k)(1) and 111-505(d)(1): "Any vehicle or load that exceeds fifteen feet (15') in height is required to have one (1) escort vehicle equipped with a clearance bar that extends six inches (6") above the permitted height preceding the load, unless otherwise specified on the permit." The clearance-bar (high-pole) vehicle IS the single lead escort - Arkansas does not add a second vehicle at this height - and the same rule applies on every road class. The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

Single lead escort with a clearance bar six inches above the permitted height continues (27 CAR 111-206(b)). At "height of fifteen feet six inches (15' 6") or more" the move is also a "super load of extraordinary weight or dimension" (111-110(a)): permit issued at ARDOT's discretion, engineering examinations may be required, and the application must be submitted far enough in advance.

The single lead escort with clearance bar continues (27 CAR 111-206(b)). Above 17'0", 111-206(c)(1) adds: "the mover shall obtain written agreements signed by the owners of overhead facilities (utilities, traffic signals, etc.) along the route and the move shall be accompanied by representatives of the owners." 111-206(c)(2) lets those owners decline in writing instead, so the utility accompaniment is conditional and is not counted here as a pilot vehicle. Super load review applies at 15'6" and above (111-110(a)). The Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).

27 CAR 111-505(a)(1): "One (1) escort shall follow a vehicle with a load of one hundred feet (100') or more in length on interstates, controlled access, and divided highways with four (4) or more lanes, and lead a vehicle with a load of one hundred feet (100') or more in length on all other highways." Exactly 100'0" is inside the requirement ("or more"). If any part of the route uses a highway with fewer than four lanes, two escorts (one leading, one following) are required above 115'0" (111-505(a)(2)). An overall length of 100'0" or more is also a super load (111-110(a)), and travel is daylight-only over 90'0" (111-207(c)(3)).

Arkansas's two-escort length rule is expressly limited by lane count: "Two (2) escorts (one (1) leading and one (1) following) are required on all highways with fewer than four (4) lanes for a load that exceeds one hundred fifteen feet (115')" (27 CAR 111-505(a)(2)). On interstates, controlled access and divided highways with four (4) or more lanes the published requirement stays one following escort (111-505(a)(1)) - but any route that uses a highway with fewer than four lanes needs two. Super load (111-110(a)); daylight-only travel over 90'0" (111-207(c)(3)); the Permit Section may require additional escorts (111-505(f)).