Road transport is permanent. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, trucking transports more than 10 billion tons of cargo annually, and that number is growing. Six percent of that, or 600 million tons of all truckloads, were heavy/heavy loads. one
The bulk freight industry has its own complexities. In addition to trucking companies and drivers, there are businesses that support oversized transportation operations, including brokers contracted for their services, clients and vendors of safety equipment and signs, as well as contract escort vehicle operators. Finally, every state has an agency dedicated to allowing and regulating overweight and overweight loads.
What is Overload?
Simply put, an oversized load is any load that exceeds the maximum legal width, height and/or length defined by each state or province in the United States and Canada. 2nd
Typically, the maximum legal load width is 8.5 feet and the maximum height limit is 13.5 to 14.5 feet. Legal length varies considerably from state to state, both in terms of definition and measured length. While the maximum vehicle width can also vary by state, the 8.5 width is almost uniform as it is based on the standard width of a highway travel lane, which is typically 12 feet for interstate and major highways. This discussion focuses on overwidth loads—loads wider than 8.5 feet.
Any cargo greater than 8.5 feet wide is, by definition, an oversized cargo and, with a few exceptions, will require a state permit to travel on public highways. In some cases, on local, narrower roads, the maximum legal trailer width may only be 8 feet. Depending on the situation, when a load exceeds 12 or 14 feet in width, there are additional requirements and/or restrictions such as pilot or escort vehicles (P/EV) and limited permitted travel times and routes. Any load exceeding 16 feet in width becomes a "superload" and is subject to further requirements to ensure that the load can be moved safely. Some overloads may require temporary road closures and the involvement of state police or other law enforcement agencies.
