South Carolina permits
South Carolina Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, police escorts, height poles, travel hours and Myrtle Beach summer rules for oversize and overweight loads in South Carolina, each checked against the South Carolina 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 125'L
- Travel
- Sunrise to sunset, 7 days
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerSCDOT permits
How South Carolina sizes up a heavy load
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Oversize/Overweight Permit Office issues single trip, multiple trip and superload permits for non divisible loads. These are the numbers we plan every South Carolina 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 South Carolina rules and every other state on your route, each with its official source.
South Carolina limits
South Carolina legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs an SCDOT permit for a non divisible load.
South Carolina legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026), South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5) |
| Legal height | 13'6"H (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026), South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5) |
| Legal length | 53' trailer in a tractor semitrailer on the National Network and designated roads; 40' single vehicle (South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5) |
| Legal weight | 80,000 lbs on Interstates by the bridge formula; lower limits off Interstate (South Carolina Code of Laws Title 56 Chapter 5, SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) Check with the state. |
| Single trip permit | Good for 7 days for one trip on a set route (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| Permit maximums | 16'W and 125'L for non divisible loads; height at least 3" under every overhead structure; larger loads need an exception request at least 5 days ahead (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) Check with the state. |
| Overhang | Up to 15' rear on a trailer under 48', 10' rear on a 48' or 53' trailer, and 3' front (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
Escorts
South Carolina escort requirements
SCDOT sets escorts by width, height, length and overhang, and adds police escorts over 16'W.
South Carolina escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 12'W up to 14'W | 1 front escort on two lane highways; SCDOT may add a rear escort (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| Over 14'W up to 16'W | 1 front and 1 rear escort on all roads, on four lane highways where possible (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| Over 16'W | 1 front and 1 rear civilian escort plus 1 front and 1 rear police escort on all roads, unless the Permit Director approves an exception in writing (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| 16'H and over | 1 front escort with a height measuring device for the whole move (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| 125'L up to 150'L | 1 rear civilian escort (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| Over 150'L | 1 front and 1 rear civilian escort (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
| Rear overhang over 15' | 1 rear escort and a red flag at the end of the load (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) |
SCDOT may require escorts wherever it deems them necessary for safety. A vehicle hauling a load may not also serve as an escort.
Height and routes
Route surveys, signs, flags and lights
What South Carolina asks of tall, wide and long loads.
Route survey
At 16'H and over, a department approved route survey before the permit is issued, plus a front height pole escort for the whole move. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Overhead clearances
The carrier checks every overhead clearance and arranges raising wires or signals at least 3 working days before the move. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Signs
At 12'W and over, OVERSIZE LOAD or WIDE LOAD signs at least 7' by 12" with 10" letters. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Flags and lights
At 12'W and over, 18" flags at the four corners; over 14'W, amber lights on each rear corner seen at 500'. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in South Carolina.
Up to 12'W
Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Sunday. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Over 12'W up to 15'W
Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Sunday, except near large urban areas 7 to 9 a.m. on weekdays and 3 to 6 p.m. on school days (4:30 to 6 p.m. other days). (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Over 15'W
Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. other days. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Continuous travel
Legal size loads up to 130,000 lbs may run 24 hours on request. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Myrtle Beach summer
Memorial Day through Labor Day, no Saturday or Sunday travel east of I 95 on Myrtle Beach area routes, including US 17 from the NC line to Georgetown. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Holidays
No travel on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day; the Permit Director may extend this from noon the day before to noon the day after. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Weather
No movement in heavy rain or fog with visibility under 500', high winds, ice, snow or sleet. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026))
Superloads
South Carolina superload
A South Carolina superload is a non divisible load over 130,000 lbs, or with any single axle over 20,000 lbs. It needs a routing analysis that takes 3 to 5 business days. Over 180,000 lbs needs a certificate of insurance, and over 300,000 lbs needs the manufacturer's weight documents and may need a licensed engineer's structural analysis. (SCDOT Guidelines for Movement of OSOW Vehicles and Loads (Rev. 3/2026)) 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 South Carolina?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the South Carolina permit and plan the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official South Carolina sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the SCDOT 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
South Carolina permit questions
What are the legal size and weight limits in South Carolina?
8'6"W, 13'6"H, a 53' trailer on designated roads and 80,000 lbs on Interstates. Anything bigger or heavier needs an SCDOT permit.
When does South Carolina require escorts?
Over 12'W, a front escort on two lane highways; over 14'W, front and rear on all roads. From 125'L, a rear escort, and over 150'L, front and rear.
When does South Carolina require a police escort?
Over 16'W, 1 front and 1 rear police escort join the 2 civilian escorts, unless the Permit Director approves an exception.
Can oversize loads move on weekends in South Carolina?
Yes, Monday through Sunday in daylight, except on holidays and on Myrtle Beach area routes on summer weekends.
How long is a South Carolina single trip permit good for?
7 days for one trip on the permitted route.
What is a superload in South Carolina?
A non divisible load over 130,000 lbs or with a single axle over 20,000 lbs. Routing analysis takes 3 to 5 business days.
Keep planning
More for your South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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.