Mississippi permits
Mississippi Oversize Permit Rules
Route surveys, super loads, legal limits, escorts, night moves, travel hours and holiday rules for oversize and overweight loads in Mississippi, each checked against the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Last checked: Oct 2, 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.
- Route survey
- Over 17'W, 121'L or 15'7"H
- Escorts start
- 13'W or over 99'L
- Legal size
- 8'6"W, 13'6"H, 80,000 lbs
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerMDOT permits
How Mississippi sizes up a heavy load
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Permit Division issues oversize and overweight permits under its Permit Manual and Permit Rules. These are the numbers we plan every Mississippi 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 Mississippi rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
Mississippi limits
Mississippi legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs an MDOT permit.
Mississippi legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Route survey | Over 17'W, 121'L or 15'7"H, or 189,999 lbs or more, the load is a super load and the application needs a route survey and a traffic control plan (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Legal width | 8'6"W (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Legal length | 53' trailer; 99' overall (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs gross (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Signs | Over 12'W, OVERSIZE or WIDE LOAD signs (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
Escorts
Mississippi escort requirements
Mississippi sets escorts by width, length and overhang.
Mississippi escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Police escort | At the state's discretion, depending on the route and load. The MDOT manual names loads 18'W and over, and the Permit Rules 20'W and over. Your permit sets it. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| 13'W or more | Front escort on two lane highways; rear escort on divided highways, with amber lights on the rear of the load (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Over 99'L | Front and/or rear escort, as the permit sets (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Overhang 15' or more | Escort for a rear overhang or front projection of 15' or more (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
| Night, 10'W or more | Escort for a permitted night move 10'W or wider (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code)) |
Escort rules come from the MDOT Permit Manual and Permit Rules. The permit lists the escorts for each load. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Height and routes
Route surveys, super loads and railroads
What Mississippi asks of the biggest loads.
Route survey
Over 17'W, 121'L or 15'7"H, or at 189,999 lbs or more, the load is a super load. The application needs a route survey and a traffic control plan. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Utility and railroad letters
Over 16'H, written acknowledgement and permission from the utility and railroad companies on the route. The MDOT manual lists 16'7"H. (MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code), MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026))
Height pole
MDOT may require an escort with a height pole when the route or load calls for it. It is case by case, and your permit sets it. (MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code), MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026))
Railroads
Over 120'L, written acknowledgement and permission from the affected railroad companies. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Posted bridges
No permitted movement on posted bridges. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Mississippi.
Hours
Up to 12'W, sunrise to sunset. Over 12'W, 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Night moves
Night moves may be permitted only up to 12'W, 150,000 lbs and 99'L, with an escort at 10'W or more. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Holidays
No movement from noon the day before, or on, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Weather
No over width movement in inclement weather. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
Superloads
Mississippi super loads
A Mississippi super load is over 17'W, 121'L or 15'7"H, or 189,999 lbs or more. Any one limit makes it a super load, and the application needs a route survey and a traffic control plan. (MDOT 2026 Permit Manual (1/13/2026), MDOT Permit Rules (Miss. Admin. Code))
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 Mississippi?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the Mississippi permit, the route survey and the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Mississippi sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the MDOT pages and rule text below and confirmed by a second source. Rules we could not confirm twice are left off this page. Rules change, and the permit itself always decides. Last checked: Oct 2, 2026.
Questions
Mississippi permit questions
When does a Mississippi load need a route survey?
Over 17'W, 121'L or 15'7"H, or at 189,999 lbs or more. It is then a super load, and the application needs a route survey and a traffic control plan.
What are the legal size and weight limits in Mississippi?
8'6"W, 13'6"H, a 53' trailer, 99' overall and 80,000 lbs gross.
When does Mississippi require escorts?
At 13'W or more, a front escort on two lane highways and a rear escort on divided highways. Over 99'L, or with 15' or more of overhang, an escort as well.
Can oversize loads move at night in Mississippi?
Only when the permit allows it, up to 12'W, 150,000 lbs and 99'L, with an escort at 10'W or more.
What does Mississippi require over 120'L?
Written acknowledgement and permission from the affected railroad companies.
What does Mississippi require of a load over 16'H?
Written permission from the utility and railroad companies on the route. A height pole escort is case by case, and your permit sets it.
Which holidays stop oversize loads in Mississippi?
New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, from noon the day before.
Keep planning
More for your Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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.