Louisiana Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Louisiana 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Louisiana 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" | 8'7" | 12'1" · Front escort | 12'1" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 15'11" · Front + High pole | 15'11" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 59'6"semitrailer | 59'7" | 90'1" · Rear escort | 90'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | Check the state permit office. | — | — |
"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.
Louisiana 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 12'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
Oversize permit required. No escort up to 12 feet wide. City or parish escorts and local permits may apply in metro areas.
Front escort12'1" – 16'
Over 12' up to 16' wide: one private escort. It leads on two-lane highways and follows on multi-lane routes.
Police escort16'1" – 18'
Over 16' wide: State Police escort required on all state highways. Over 18' wide: front and rear State Police are mandatory.
Police escort18'1"+
Over 16' wide: State Police escort required on all state highways. Over 18' wide: front and rear State Police are mandatory.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 15'10"
Over 13'6" off the Interstate: permit required, no escort.
Front + High pole15'11" – 16'8"
Over 15'10": height-pole truck must lead on the state-maintained highway system. On multi-lane routes an escort is also needed behind the load.
Front + High pole16'9" – 18'
Over 16'8": the lead pole truck must be equipped to safely lift utility lines unless the Permit Office approves stripping.
Front + High pole18'1"+
Over 18' high: bucket truck required, and front and rear State Police escorts may be required. Above 20 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Length
Permit required59'7" – 90'
Permit required. No escort up to 90 feet. City or parish escorts and local permits may apply in metro areas.
Rear escort90'1" – 125'
Over 90' up to 125': one private escort, traveling behind the load on all highways.
Police escort125'1"+
Over 125' long: State Police escort required and the hauling trailer must have a steerable or trackable dolly.
On multi-lane roads
Escorts begin at 12'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
Oversize permit required. No escort up to 12 feet wide.
Rear escort12'1" – 16'
Over 12' up to 16' wide: one private escort. Escorts travel behind overwidth loads on multi-lane highways.
Police escort16'1" – 18'
Over 16' wide: State Police escort required, arranged through the nearest Troop. Over 18' wide: front and rear State Police are mandatory.
Police escort18'1"+
Over 16' wide: State Police escort required, arranged through the nearest Troop. Over 18' wide: front and rear State Police are mandatory.
Height
Permit required14'1" – 15'10"
Over 14' on the Interstate: permit required, no escort.
Front + High pole15'11" – 16'8"
Over 15'10": height-pole truck leads on state-maintained highways. Loads traveling only on Interstate highways are exempt.
Front + High pole16'9" – 18'
Over 16'8": the lead pole truck must be equipped to safely lift utility lines. Interstate-only moves are exempt.
Front + High pole18'1"+
Over 18' high: bucket truck required, and front and rear State Police escorts may be required. Above 20 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Length
Permit required59'7" – 90'
Permit required. No escort up to 90 feet.
Rear escort90'1" – 125'
Over 90' up to 125': one private escort. Escorts travel behind over-length loads on all highways.
Police escort125'1"+
Over 125' long: State Police escort required and the hauling trailer must have a steerable or trackable dolly.
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Sunrise to sunset for oversize loads, as determined by the National Weather Service. Permit loads that are legal in width and length with no projecting load, 14'4" or less high and not over 120,000 lbs gross are generally not held to daylight hours.
- Night travel
Prohibited for oversize loads. Generally not prohibited for permit loads with no projecting load, legal width and length, 14'4" or less high and not over 120,000 lbs gross, so overweight-only moves may run at night. Night moves need all required safety lights.
- Weekend travel
No statewide Saturday or Sunday curfew. Monthly oversize permits are sold Monday-Friday, Monday-Saturday or Monday-Sunday, and the metro Interstate and New Orleans curfews run Monday-Friday only. The days listed on your permit control. Daylight hours still apply.
- Holiday restrictions
Oversize permit loads are generally prohibited on certain designated holidays, and a permit may exclude holidays and other days. Loads that are legal in width and length, 14'4" or less high and not over 120,000 lbs gross are generally not prohibited on holidays.
- Urban restrictions
Over 12' wide, Mon-Fri: no Interstate travel 7-9 AM or 3:30-5:30 PM in Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, New Orleans; none on NOLA streets 7-9 or 3:30-6. Mon-Fri 6:30-9 and 3:30-6: no permit load within 2 mi of NOLA Mississippi River bridges or the US-190 bridge.
Signage Louisiana expects
- Oversize load sign
Two "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs required over 10' wide, on the front of the vehicle and the rear of the load. Signs at least 7 feet long and 18 inches high, black lettering on yellow, letters at least 10 inches high with a 1.5 inch stroke. Also required over legal length or overhang.
- Flags
Red or fluorescent orange, at least 18 inches square. Overwidth loads carry four, two on the front edges and two on the rear edges at the widest points. Over-length loads or rear overhang over 4 feet: one flag at the extreme rear, two if that portion is wider than 2 feet.
- Beacons
No beacon required on the load itself. Escort vehicles must run an amber 360-degree dome, bar or strobe light, 9" lens, at least 60" above the road, on while escorting. Overwidth loads at night or in inclement weather need two amber front and two red rear lights.
Louisiana 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.
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What are the legal limits in Louisiana without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Louisiana, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 59'6" long (semitrailer) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 4'0" front and 8'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Louisiana permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Louisiana?
On 2-lane roads in Louisiana, escorts begin at 12'1" wide. On multi-lane roads, escorts begin at 12'1" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 12'1" – 16' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Louisiana?
Night travel: Prohibited for oversize loads. Generally not prohibited for permit loads with no projecting load, legal width and length, 14'4" or less high and not over 120,000 lbs gross, so overweight-only moves may run at night. Night moves need all required safety lights. Weekend travel: No statewide Saturday or Sunday curfew. Monthly oversize permits are sold Monday-Friday, Monday-Saturday or Monday-Sunday, and the metro Interstate and New Orleans curfews run Monday-Friday only. The days listed on your permit control. Daylight hours still apply. Holidays: Oversize permit loads are generally prohibited on certain designated holidays, and a permit may exclude holidays and other days. Loads that are legal in width and length, 14'4" or less high and not over 120,000 lbs gross are generally not prohibited on holidays.