What Permits Are Required For Heavy Haul?

Heavy haul trucking is becoming more advanced in the US. With the country’s wide open spaces and wide highways, shipping large, unusually sized cargo is best done over the road.

The thing is, it takes more than a powerful rig and equipment; it takes a meticulous driver with experience to get the job done safely.

What are we heavy hauling these days?

In the US, the most common XL cargo that needs special shipping are the following:

• Containers
• Solar panels
• Generators
• Mobile homes
• Windmill propellers
• Construction equipment

Especially with the solar industry growing as companies look to reduce the carbon footprint through energy use, the demand for experienced heavy haul drivers is heightened.

Truck drivers can become certified to haul heavy loads. If you are looking to gain experience as a driver, you’ll first need to acquire the necessary permits to do so.

What permits do you need to become a heavy haul driver?

Every state in the US has its own set of standard requirements when it comes to oversized loads. But, one requirement is the same across the board. If freight weighs up to 80,000 lbs or reaches 8 ft 6 in in width, it is considered heavy haul and a heavy haul permit is required to ship.

With this permit, trucks are required to carry a sign on the front and back that states “Oversized Load” and they they must possess low beam headlights.

An application for the permit must be completed at least two days prior to the shipping date. For the cost of the permit, it varies from state to state, so this is something you’ll have to look up.

You’ll also need escort services, which also differs depending on the state. This can be in the form of a police escort, civilian escort or pilot car.

To order a permit, you can go directly through the state to save on service fees that a permit service will charge. Many states make it more convenient to go through the acquisition process by offering the option to apply online.