Alabama permits
Alabama Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, height indicators, law enforcement escorts, daylight travel and holiday windows for oversize and overweight loads in Alabama, each checked against the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Last checked: Oct 1, 2026
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.
- Legal size
- 8'6"W, 13'6"H, 80,000 lbs
- Escorts start
- 12'W or 90'L
- Travel
- Daylight, no Sundays
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerALDOT permits
How Alabama sizes up a heavy load
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Vehicle Permit Office issues single trip and annual permits for oversize and overweight loads on the State Highway System. These are the numbers we plan every Alabama load with. Run your exact load and route through our permit tool to see every state on the trip.
Check your load
Enter your width, height, length and weight in our permit tool to see the Alabama rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Alabama limits
Alabama legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs an ALDOT permit.
Alabama legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W on roads with lanes of 12' or more; 8'W on narrower lanes (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1, Code of Alabama Title 32 Chapter 9 (ALDOT copy)) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1, Code of Alabama Title 32 Chapter 9 (ALDOT copy)) |
| Legal length | 57' truck semitrailer combination; 40' single vehicle (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1, Code of Alabama Title 32 Chapter 9 (ALDOT copy)) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs on Interstates; the state table allows more off Interstate for some axle spacings (Code of Alabama Title 32 Chapter 9 (ALDOT copy)) Check with the state. |
| Permit needed | Over legal width, length, height or weight on the State Highway System (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| Single trip permit | 5 days to complete one trip (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
Escorts
Alabama escort requirements
ALDOT sets escorts by width, height, length and overhang, and every superload runs with law enforcement escorts.
Alabama escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| 12'W to 14'W, two lane | 1 front escort (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| 12'W to 14'W, multilane | 1 rear escort (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| Over 14'W | 1 front and 1 rear escort on all roads (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| Over 15'6"H | Front escort with a height indicator (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| 90'L to 125'L | 1 rear escort (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| 125'L to 150'L | 1 front and 1 rear escort (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| Over 150'L | Front and rear law enforcement escorts (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
| Overhang | Over 5' past the rear: 1 rear escort. 10' or more past the front: 1 front escort (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) |
ALDOT may require more escorts when it deems them necessary. Escort vehicles carry amber lights seen 360 degrees at 500', an OVERSIZE LOAD sign and radio contact with the load.
Height and routes
Height indicators, signs and route surveys
What Alabama asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Height indicator
Over 15'6"H, the front escort runs a height indicator. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Route survey
Every superload needs a detailed route survey by the permit company or its agent. (ALDOT Alabama Superload Requirements) Check with the state.
Signs
OVERSIZE LOAD signs 7' wide by 18" high on the front and rear of the load. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Flags
18" fluorescent orange or red flags at the four corners of the load. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Alabama.
Daylight
Permitted loads travel in daylight hours only. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Sundays
No permit travel at any time on Sundays. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Holidays
No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1, ALDOT 2026 Holiday Restrictions)
2026 holiday windows
ALDOT widens these to full windows, for example sunset Wednesday, November 25 to sunrise Monday, November 30, 2026. (ALDOT 2026 Holiday Restrictions) Check with the state.
Weather
No travel when visibility is under 500' or weather makes travel hazardous; park at the first safe place until it clears. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Spacing
Keep one half mile between permitted loads, and pull off when traffic backs up. (Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1)
Superloads
Alabama superload
An Alabama superload is over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 300,000 lbs gross. It needs a justification letter, load and axle drawings, a route survey, a bridge analysis for weight and at least 2 State Trooper or police escorts. (ALDOT Alabama Superload Requirements, Ala. Admin. Code chapter 450 3 1) Check with the state.
See how we plan the biggest loads on our Superload Transport page.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
150,000 lb transformer
A 150,000 lb transformer from Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH.
Read the move →207,000 lb dryer drum
A 207,000 lb dryer drum from Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA.
Read the move →Moving a load in Alabama?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Alabama permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Alabama sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the ALDOT pages and rule text below and confirmed by a second source. Where we could not confirm a rule twice, the page says to check with the state. Rules change, and the permit itself always decides. Last checked: Oct 1, 2026.
Questions
Alabama permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Alabama?
8'6"W on roads with 12' lanes (8'W on narrower lanes), 13'6"H, a 57' truck semitrailer and 80,000 lbs on Interstates. Anything bigger or heavier needs an ALDOT permit.
When does Alabama require escorts?
From 12'W, 1 escort (front on two lane roads, rear on multilane roads); over 14'W, front and rear. From 90'L, a rear escort, and from 125'L, front and rear.
When does Alabama require a height indicator?
Over 15'6"H, the front escort runs a height indicator.
Can oversize loads move at night or on Sundays in Alabama?
No. Permitted loads travel in daylight only, never on Sundays or the six major holidays.
How long is an Alabama single trip permit good for?
5 days to complete the trip.
What is a superload in Alabama?
Over 16'W, 16'H, 150'L or 300,000 lbs. It needs a route survey, a bridge analysis for weight and at least 2 law enforcement escorts.
Keep planning
More for your Alabama move
Permit rules in other states
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerReliable Transport LLC | Reliable Heavy Haul
Ready to move it?
We haul oversize and overweight loads across the USA and Canada from our home base at 7660 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45417. Send your load details and we will plan the Alabama permit, route and escorts.
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.