Florida permits
Florida Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, height poles, law enforcement escorts, travel hours and weather rules for oversize and overweight loads in Florida, each checked against the Florida 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
- Over 12'W, 14'6"H or 95'L
- Travel
- Daytime, no weekends or holidays
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerFDOT permits
How Florida sizes up a heavy load
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) State Permit Office in Tallahassee issues oversize and overweight permits for state maintained roads, mostly through its Permit Application System (PAS). These are the numbers we plan every Florida 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 Florida rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Florida limits
Florida legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs an FDOT trip or blanket permit.
Florida legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W (102") (Florida Statutes 316.515, size limits, Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (Florida Statutes 316.515, size limits) |
| Legal length | 48' semitrailer; up to 57' where the kingpin is no more than 41' from the rear axle, except on restricted roads; 40' straight truck (Florida Statutes 316.515, size limits) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross (Florida Statutes 316.535, weight limits) |
| Trip permit | Good for ten days on a set route (FDOT Over Weight Over Dimension Permits) |
| Self issue | PAS self issues trip permits up to 16'W, 18'H, 150'L and 200,000 lbs (140,000 lbs for self propelled equipment) (FDOT Over Weight Over Dimension Permits) Check with the state. |
| Other permits | Annual blanket, annual vehicle specific blanket and three month route specific blanket permits (FDOT Over Weight Over Dimension Permits) |
Escorts
Florida escort requirements
FDOT sets escorts by width, height and length, and adds law enforcement escorts for the biggest loads and for night moves.
Florida escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 12'W up to 14'W | At least 1 escort at all times; 2 qualified escorts on lanes under 12', bridges under 30' curb to curb and busy roads, unless the load carries 4 warning lights (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) |
| Over 14'W up to 16'W | 2 qualified escorts, 1 front and 1 rear (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) |
| Over 16'W | Local moves only. On a limited access highway, 2 qualified escorts in daytime, or 1 law enforcement and 1 qualified escort at night; on other state roads, 2 law enforcement escorts at all times (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) Check with the state. |
| Over 14'6"H up to 16'H | A lead escort with a height pole (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) |
| Over 16'H | 1 law enforcement escort plus the qualified height pole escort; local moves only (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) Check with the state. |
| Over 95'L | 1 qualified escort (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) |
| Over 150'L | 2 qualified escorts (1 on a limited access highway) (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) |
| Over 250'L | 1 law enforcement escort and 1 qualified escort (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) Check with the state. |
Escorts must be Florida qualified (or qualified by a state with equal standards) and carry an amber light, OVERSIZE LOAD sign, flags and two way radio. FDOT may add escorts on the permit.
Height and routes
Height poles, signs, lights and clearance letters
What Florida asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Height pole
Over 14'6"H, the lead escort runs a nonconductive height pole set at least 6" above the load. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Clearance affidavits
Over 18'H, the application needs an affidavit that the route clears the load plus 6"; over 22'W, that it clears the width plus 2' each side. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) Check with the state.
Signs and lights
Over 10'W, 80'L or 14'6"H: OVERSIZE LOAD signs at least 7' by 18" and amber warning lights seen at 500'. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Flags
Flags at least 18" square on all four corners and at the ends of every overhang or projection. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Florida.
Legal width
Up to 14'6"H and 80'L at legal width: all days and all hours under the permit. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Up to 10'W
All days, daytime hours only. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Over 10'W, 14'6"H or 80'L
Daytime hours only, and no travel on holidays. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Weekends and holidays
No movement on weekends and holidays unless the permit says otherwise. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) Check with the state.
Peak hours
Over 12'W or 85'L, no movement in congested areas during peak traffic hours unless the permit allows it; the permit lists the local curfews. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Night moves
Only when FDOT traffic engineers recommend or require it, with law enforcement escorts. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Weather
No travel when visibility is under 1,000'. A load already moving exits at the first safe place and parks until it clears. (Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions)
Superloads
Florida large load review
Florida does not set one superload size in its rule. Trip permits past PAS self issue limits (16'W, 18'H, 150'L or 200,000 lbs) go to the FDOT Permits Office for review, and over 16'W also to District Traffic Engineering, with local moves only. Items that wide must go by rail, air or water when possible. (FDOT Over Weight Over Dimension Permits, Fla. Admin. Code Rule 14 26.012, movement conditions) 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 Florida?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Florida permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Florida sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the FDOT 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
Florida permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Florida?
8'6"W, 13'6"H, a 48' semitrailer (up to 57' under the kingpin rule) and 80,000 lbs gross. Anything bigger or heavier needs an FDOT permit.
When does Florida require escorts?
Over 12'W, at least 1 escort; over 14'W, 2 qualified escorts front and rear. Over 14'6"H, a lead escort with a height pole. Over 95'L, 1 escort, and over 150'L, 2.
When does Florida require a law enforcement escort?
Over 16'W off limited access highways, over 16'H, over 250'L, and for night moves under permit.
Can oversize loads move at night or on weekends in Florida?
Loads over 10'W, 14'6"H or 80'L move in daytime only. Weekend and holiday moves are barred unless the permit allows them.
How long is a Florida trip permit good for?
Ten days on the route listed on the permit.
Can I self issue a Florida permit?
Yes, in FDOT's Permit Application System for trip permits up to 16'W, 18'H, 150'L and 200,000 lbs.
Keep planning
More for your Florida 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 Florida 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.