Permits are one of the first questions on a heavy haul, and one of the most common causes of a late start. The rules depend on the size of the load as it travels and on the route it takes.
This post covers what makes a load oversize in Florida and what to give the hauler before you book the date. It is not legal advice. We check the current FDOT permit rules for each route.
The three numbers that trigger a Florida permit
Florida needs a permit when a load is over 8 feet 6 inches wide, 13 feet 6 inches tall, or 80,000 pounds. Any one of the three is enough.
Many machines clear all three when they are bare. Add a wide bucket, a blade, or a boom that cannot fold, and the load can cross a line. Add the trailer deck under it, and the height can too.
Our oversized load transport page lists the kinds of loads we move over these limits.
Weight counts the machine, the trailer, and the tractor together. We haul up to 82,000 pounds, and we look at the full combination, not just the machine on the spec sheet.
Why the route matters as much as the load
A permit is tied to a route. A load that is fine on one road can be a problem on another because of bridges, work zones, or turns.
We plan the route from your two addresses. We look at the main roads in Central Florida, such as US-27, I-4, and I-75, and at the last stretch to the gate. Those last miles are where tight turns and low wires tend to show up.
If the route changes after the permit is set, tell dispatch as early as you can.
Some roads are fine in the daytime and a problem at rush hour. When timing is the issue, we plan the move for a window that keeps the load out of the heaviest traffic, within what the permit and the rules allow.
When escorts and pilot cars come in
Escorts are added when the width calls for them. Width over 12 feet is the usual point where Florida adds a civilian escort. Flags, signs, and lights go on the load when the rules or the route require them.
An escort is part of the plan, not an afterthought. It takes lead time to line one up, so the date should be set only after the width is known.
If you are not sure whether your load is wide enough to need one, ask. We would rather answer the question on the first call than find out at the gate.
Our heavy haul trucking page explains how we move the bigger loads.
Why a load can change size between the quote and the yard
A quote is built on the numbers you give us. The load that shows up on haul day is sometimes a little different. A bucket is swapped, a rail is added, or the machine is parked with the boom out.
None of this is unusual. What matters is catching it before the permit is set. A change of a few inches can push a load past a line, and a permit written for one size does not cover another.
When the machine moves from one yard to another before the haul, ask the yard to confirm how it is set up. Then pass that on to dispatch the same day.
Information that gets the permit started
The permit work goes faster when dispatch has the facts on the first call:
- Make and model of the machine
- Width, height, and weight as it will travel
- Which attachments stay on and which come off
- Pickup and drop addresses
- Any date you cannot move
Photos help too. A picture of the machine on the ground shows things a spec sheet does not, such as a wide track or a mast that does not fold.
If you are booking for someone else, such as a rental customer or a crew at the site, get the same numbers from them and pass them along.
Avoiding delays once the date is set
Most permit delays come from a number that changed after the quote. A machine arrives with a new attachment, or a bucket gets swapped, and the load is now wider than planned.
Tell us the day it changes. A small change can be handled if we hear about it before the truck rolls. If you are not sure, prepare the equipment with the numbers in mind and measure it again at the yard.
Dispatch is open 24 hours at 863-632-7302. You can also request a quote online.
Common questions about this
When does a load need a Florida permit?
Over 8 feet 6 inches wide, 13 feet 6 inches tall, or 80,000 pounds. We check the current FDOT permit rules for the route when we plan the haul.
Do you handle the permit for me?
We plan the permits and the route as part of the haul. Tell us the size as it will travel and the two addresses on the first call.
Does an oversize load always need an escort?
No. Escorts are added when the width requires them. Width over 12 feet is the usual point where Florida adds a civilian escort.
Related reading
Trailer Guide
Lowboy vs RGN: Which Trailer Does Your Machine Need?
Lowboy or RGN? See how the two drop-deck trailers differ on loading, height, and weight, and how dispatch picks one for your machine.
Pricing
What Changes the Price of a Heavy Equipment Haul
The real factors behind a heavy equipment hauling quote: machine size, permits, route, and ground at both ends. See what to send us.