New Orleans, Louisiana
Heavy Haul in New Orleans
Breakbulk and heavy lift loads to and from the Port of New Orleans, trucked under Louisiana and city permits, with the escorts and night windows planned by our own team.
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.
Port heavy haul
From the river to the jobsite
Reliable Transport LLC runs heavy haul and superload moves across the USA and Canada from our home base in Dayton, Ohio. For a New Orleans load, our in house team files the LA DOTD permit and any local permit, plans the route and books the escorts, and plans the city escort and the overnight window wide loads need on New Orleans streets.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerOn New Orleans streets
City escorts, utilities and night windows
City rules come from the New Orleans Department of Public Works permit page and application, port facts from Port NOLA, each confirmed by a second source.
NOPD escorts
On city streets, loads over 13'6"H, 12'W or 90'L need an NOPD traffic escort. Interstate moves are exempt. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application)
Utilities over 15'H
Loads over 15'H must be cleared with Entergy and the other utilities on the route before the move. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application)
Wide loads at night
Loads 14'W and over move only from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., except moves made entirely on US or state routes. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application)
City permit
City streets need a Department of Public Works oversized load permit: a $40 application fee plus $10 for a single trip or $125 a year. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application)
Port of New Orleans
Port NOLA handles breakbulk and heavy lift cargo. (Port of New Orleans cargo handling capabilities, Port of New Orleans cargo fact sheet, Port of New Orleans terminals)
Sources: City of New Orleans, oversized load permit; City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application; Port of New Orleans cargo handling capabilities; Port of New Orleans cargo fact sheet; Port of New Orleans terminals.
Louisiana rules
New Orleans oversize rules at a glance
The city rules first, then the Louisiana rules every New Orleans load runs under.
New Orleans and Louisiana
Official sources linked| Where | Restriction |
|---|---|
| NOPD escort | Over 13'6"H, 12'W or 90'L on city streets. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application) |
| Over 15'H | Clear the move with Entergy and the other utilities. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application) |
| 14'W and over | City streets 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. only, except on US and state routes. (City of New Orleans, oversized load permit, City of New Orleans DPW oversized load permit application) |
| Height | Over 15'10"H a pole truck runs in front on state highways. (LA DOTD truck regulations book (2026)) |
| Legal limits | Without a permit, a load in Louisiana can be up to 8'6"W and 13'6"H (14'H on interstates), at up to 80,000 lbs gross. (LA DOTD truck regulations book (2026), La. R.S. 32:380, width, La. R.S. 32:381, height, La. R.S. 32:386, weight) |
| Private escorts | Over 12'W up to 16'W, or over 90'L up to 125'L: 1 private escort with a Louisiana escort vehicle permit. (LA DOTD truck regulations book (2026), LAC 73:I.309, permit restrictions) |
| State Police | Over 16'W or 125'L, a State Police escort, arranged through the troop nearest the move. (LA DOTD truck regulations book (2026), LAC 73:I.309, permit restrictions) |
| City curfews | Over 12'W, no weekday interstate travel at rush hours in 5 cities, and no permit loads near the New Orleans Mississippi River bridges at rush hours. (LA DOTD truck regulations book (2026), LAC 73:I.309, permit restrictions) |
| Interstates | Over 14'W, no interstate travel. (LAC 73:I.309, permit restrictions) |
| Travel hours | Sunrise to sunset; most permit loads may not move at night. (LA DOTD truck regulations book (2026), LAC 73:I.309, permit restrictions) |
Rules change often. We checked these on October 2, 2026 against the official sources linked in each row, and each one against a second source. Rules we could not confirm twice are left off this page. Our permitting team confirms the current rules for every move.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
These moves ran on other routes. They show the size of loads our team permits, routes and escorts.
19'W to 24'W loads
Port of Houston, Texas to Arizona in June 2024, with 5 loads from 19'W to 24'W and 2 loads at 134'L.
110,000 lb switchgear building
Houston, TX - Los Angeles, CA in 2025, at 250,000 lbs gross and 185'L x 17'W x 17'H loaded.
207,000 lb dryer drum
Louisville, KY - 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.
Moving something in New Orleans?
Send the size and weight. We will tell you what the permit, route and escorts look like.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Questions
New Orleans heavy haul questions
When does a New Orleans load need an NOPD escort?
On city streets, over 13'6"H, 12'W or 90'L. Interstate moves are exempt.
What does New Orleans require over 15'H?
The move must be cleared with Entergy and the other utilities on the route.
When can wide loads move on New Orleans streets?
Loads 14'W and over move from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., except moves made entirely on US or state routes.
What does the city permit cost?
A $40 application fee plus $10 for a single trip or $125 a year.
How heavy a load can you haul?
Our superload service handles loads up to 300,000 lbs, with permits, routing and escorts by our own team.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerKeep planning
More for your New Orleans move
Other port pages
Port heavy haul
Ready to move it?
Send the load dimensions, weight, pickup and delivery points. Our in house team prices the permits, route and escorts and gets back to you fast.
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.