Georgia permits
Georgia Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, height sensors, Atlanta curfews and travel rules for oversize and overweight loads in Georgia, each checked against the Georgia 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 or 75'L
- Travel
- 30 min after sunrise to 30 min before sunset
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerGDOT permits
How Georgia sizes up a heavy load
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Oversize Permit Unit issues single trip and annual permits for oversize and overweight loads in Georgia. These are the numbers we plan every Georgia 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 Georgia rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Georgia limits
Georgia legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a GDOT oversize permit.
Georgia legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W (GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Legal length | GDOT lists 100' overall, including overhang; trade summaries list 75' with a 48' to 53' trailer. (GDOT Oversize Permits) Check with the state. |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross (GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Standard single trip | Up to 16'W, 16'H and 150,000 lbs (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2) |
| Superload | Over 16'W or 16'H, or 150,001 to 180,000 lbs; GDOT says approval may take up to 3 days (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2) |
| Superload Plus | Over 180,000 lbs: axle weights and spacings for a full bridge analysis; approval may take up to 3 weeks (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2) |
| Mega load | 300,000 lbs and up: outside engineering, and at least 30 business days of GDOT review after the engineering firm submits (GDOT Oversize Permits) Check with the state. |
| Permit life | Up to 10 allowable travel days; the permit expires 10 days after it is issued (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Insurance | A certificate on file with GDOT: at least $1,000,000 property damage and $1,000,000 bodily injury per occurrence (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2) |
Escorts
Georgia escort requirements
Escorts start over 12'W or 75'L, and a front escort with a height sensor runs at 15'6"H.
Georgia escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 12'W to 14'8"W, two lane | Front escort, plus a rear escort or amber lights (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 12'W to 14'8"W, four lane | Rear escort (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 12'W to 14'8"W, limited access | Rear escort or amber lights (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 14'8"W to 16'W | Two lane: front and rear escorts. Four lane or limited access: rear escort (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 16'W | GDOT sets escorts case by case and may require a police escort (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 75'L to 100'L | Rear escort or amber light (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 100'L to 125'L | Rear escort vehicle (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| Over 125'L | Front and rear escort vehicles (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
| 15'6"H or more | Front escort with a height sensor, unless you hold an NJUNS trip approval ticket (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits) |
Escort drivers must hold Georgia pilot and escort certification. Amber lights in place of a rear escort need a Georgia light permit. Over 14'8"W, the load may not cross bridges with less than 28' of lateral clearance without a front escort.
Height and routes
Height sensors, signs and flags
What Georgia asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Height sensor
At 15'6"H or more, a front escort with a height sensor, unless the carrier holds an NJUNS trip approval ticket. (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits)
Narrow bridges
Over 14'8"W, no bridges under 28' of lateral clearance without a front escort. (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits)
OVERSIZE LOAD signs
At least 6' by 1' with 8" black letters on yellow or orange, on the front of the truck and the rear of the load, and on any escort. (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2)
Flags
Red flags 18" square on all four corners and every extremity of the load. (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Georgia.
Daylight
30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, Eastern time, unless the permit says otherwise. (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits)
Continuous movement
Legal size loads up to 125,000 lbs may move 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except in bad weather and on holidays. (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits)
Travel days
GDOT's permit page says Monday through Sunday but also lists travel days of Monday through Saturday; trade summaries say no Sunday movement. (GDOT Oversize Permits) Check with the state.
Atlanta, inside I 285
No permit travel inside I 285 unless the load picks up or delivers there. GDOT's page bars travel 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays; the rule says 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. We keep loads off I 285 during both sets of hours. (GDOT Oversize Permits, Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2) Check with the state.
Holidays
No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. (GDOT Oversize Permits)
Weather
No travel in fog, snow or ice. Over 12'W, no travel when visibility is under 600' or ground wind is over 25 mph. (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits)
Superloads
Georgia superload
Georgia has three tiers past the standard permit. A superload is over 16'W or 16'H, or 150,001 to 180,000 lbs. A Superload Plus is over 180,000 lbs and needs axle weights and spacings for a full bridge analysis, with approval in up to 3 weeks. A Mega Load, 300,000 lbs and up, needs outside engineering and at least 30 business days of GDOT review. (Rules of the Georgia DOT, Chapter 672 2, GDOT Oversize Permits)
See how we plan the biggest loads on our Superload Transport page.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
207,000 lb dryer drum
A 207,000 lb dryer drum from Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA.
Read the move →150,000 lb transformer
A 150,000 lb transformer from Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH.
Read the move →Moving a load in Georgia?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Georgia permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Georgia sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the GDOT 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
Georgia permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in Georgia?
8'6"W, 13'6"H and 80,000 lbs gross. GDOT lists 100' overall length including overhang. Anything bigger or heavier needs a GDOT permit.
When does Georgia require escorts?
Over 12'W: a front escort plus a rear escort or amber lights on two lane roads, a rear escort on four lane roads. Over 14'8"W, front and rear escorts on two lane roads. Over 75'L, a rear escort or amber light, and over 125'L, front and rear escorts.
When does Georgia require a height sensor?
At 15'6"H or more, a front escort with a height sensor runs with the load, unless the carrier holds an NJUNS trip approval ticket.
Can oversize loads move at night in Georgia?
Generally no. Permit loads move from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. Legal size loads up to 125,000 lbs may move 24 hours a day.
What are the Atlanta rules for oversize loads?
No permit travel inside I 285 unless the load picks up or delivers there, and none during weekday rush hours. GDOT lists 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.; the rule says 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.
What is a superload in Georgia?
Over 16'W or 16'H, or 150,001 to 180,000 lbs. Over 180,000 lbs is a Superload Plus with a full bridge analysis, and 300,000 lbs and up is a Mega Load that needs outside engineering.
Keep planning
More for your Georgia 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 Georgia 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.