Heavy haul in California
Heavy Haul Trucking in California
Reliable Transport LLC permits, routes and escorts heavy haul and superload moves into and across California with our own team. We are based in Dayton, Ohio, and we haul across the USA and Canada.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.
Reliable Transport LLC
California loads, planned in house
We are USDOT 3906954 and MC 1441035. Our in house permitting team plans each California route around Caltrans route colors, pilot car rules and curfews, and every truck runs Live GPS Samsara tracking and dash cam.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerFeatured California move
2025- Freight
- Switchgear building, 110,000 lbs
- The building
- 65'L x 17'W x 15'H
- Loaded
- 185'L x 17'W x 17'H
- Gross weight
- 250,000 lbs
- Route
- Houston, TX to Los Angeles, CA
- Support
- State troopers, escorts and bucket trucks
- Groundwork
- Route surveys and bridge studies
- When
- 2025
Moves we have made
A 110,000 lb switchgear building into Los Angeles
In 2025 we moved a 110,000 lb switchgear building from Houston, Texas to Los Angeles, California. The building itself measured 65'L x 17'W x 15'H.
Loaded, the move measured 185'L x 17'W x 17'H, at 250,000 lbs gross.
Route surveys and bridge studies came first. State troopers worked the move alongside our escorts and bucket trucks, and the building was delivered in Los Angeles.
More of our moves
Heavy loads we have hauled
150,000 lb transformer
Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH in early 2024, at 240,000 lbs gross and 16'H loaded, with help from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
207,000 lb dryer drum
Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA in December 2025, at 300,000 lbs gross and 165'L x 13'6"W x 17'H loaded, with a crew of 15.
220,000 lb submarine engine
Within Missouri in January 2025, at 320,000 lbs gross and 136'L x 10'W x 16'H loaded.
Moving a load in California?
Send the weight, dimensions and route, and we will plan the move.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
California permits in plain English
What California asks of a heavy load
These California rules shape a heavy haul route. Our permitting team checks the current rules for every state on your route. The full list, with every source, is on our California oversize permit rules page.
Permit and escort rules
Official sources linked| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Single trip permit | A load over 8'6"W, 14'H or 80,000 lbs moves on a Caltrans single trip permit. A single trip permit is good for one way travel and is valid for seven consecutive days. (Caltrans transportation permits; Caltrans single trip permits) |
| Length and height | A single trip permit load can be up to 135'L. (Caltrans single trip permits) |
| Variance permit | A load over 15'W, over 17'H or over 135'L needs a variance permit. (Caltrans variance permits) |
| Route survey | A load over 17'H needs a written route survey from the applicant, filed with the variance permit application. (Caltrans variance permits, Caltrans permit FAQ) |
| Pilot cars by width | On yellow routes, one pilot car is needed over 12'W, two over 15'W and a CHP escort over 16'W. Green, blue and brown routes call for pilot cars at lower widths, so our team checks the route color for every move. (Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Chapter 5) |
| Pilot cars by length | A pilot car is needed over 120'L on yellow and green routes, and for a rear overhang over 30'. (Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Chapter 5) |
| CHP escorts | A load over 16'W on yellow routes, or over 15'W on green, blue and brown routes, needs a CHP escort. (Caltrans CHP escort policy memo, May 2021; Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Chapter 5) |
| Travel hours | Unless the permit says No Night Travel, a load that does not need a pilot car may travel 24/7. (Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Chapter 5) |
| Curfews | Loads over 10'W may not move in the Los Angeles area from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. or 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In the San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco areas, the curfew runs from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. (Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Chapter 5) |
| Bay Bridge | Permitted loads may not cross the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. or 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. unless the permit says otherwise. A load over 12'W may cross from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A load over 14'H needs a CHP escort westbound through the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel. (Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual, Chapter 5) |
Rules change. We checked these rules on October 1, 2026 against the linked Caltrans pages and documents, and each one against a second source. Our permitting team confirms the current rules for every move.
What we offer
Heavy haul services in California
Where we haul
California cities we serve
Each page covers local permit rules, routing and escorts for heavy loads in that city.
Questions
California heavy haul questions
When does a California load need a permit?
A load over 8'6"W, 14'H or 80,000 lbs needs a Caltrans single trip permit to move on the State Highway System.
How many pilot cars does a wide load need in California?
It depends on the route color and the width. On yellow routes, one pilot car is needed over 12'W, two over 15'W and a CHP escort over 16'W.
Can wide loads move at rush hour in Los Angeles?
No. Loads over 10'W may not move in the Los Angeles area from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. or 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Do you haul in California from Ohio?
Yes. We are based at 7660 W Third St in Dayton, OH 45417, and we haul across the USA and Canada, including California.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerCalifornia heavy haul quote
Ready to move it?
Send the weight and dimensions, the pickup and delivery points, and your dates. We will work out the permits, route, escorts and equipment.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.