South Dakota permits
South Dakota Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, escorts, Black Hills routes, clearances, travel hours and heavy load review for oversize and overweight loads in South Dakota, each checked against the SDDOT and Highway Patrol rules.
Last checked: Oct 13, 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.
- Escorts start
- Over 16'W Interstate
- Daylight only
- Over 10'W
- Legal size
- 8'6"W, 14'H
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerSDDOT and SDHP permits
How South Dakota sizes up a heavy load
The South Dakota Highway Patrol issues oversize and overweight permits under the rules in ARSD chapter 70:03:01, and SDDOT publishes the rules and clearance lists in the South Dakota Motor Carrier Handbook. These are the numbers we plan every South Dakota 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 rules for every state on your route, each with its official source.
South Dakota limits
South Dakota legal limits and permit thresholds
Over any legal limit, the load needs a South Dakota permit before it enters the state.
South Dakota legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linked| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Legal width | 8'6"W, 102 inches (SDCL 32-22-3, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, vehicle size) |
| Legal height | 14'H (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, vehicle size, SDDOT clearance and route restrictions) |
| Permit in hand | Before entering the state or moving the load (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits) |
| Longer review | Over 200,000 lbs, overweight and wider than 12', or over 16'H (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits) |
Escorts
South Dakota escort requirements
South Dakota sets escorts by width and highway, and places a single escort by highway type.
South Dakota escorts by load size
Official sources linked| Load | Escorts |
|---|---|
| Over 16'W on the Interstate | One escort (ARSD 70:03:01:20, escort vehicles, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits) |
| Over 20'W on other state highways | One escort (ARSD 70:03:01:20, escort vehicles, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits) |
| Over 10'W on listed Black Hills highways | One front escort (ARSD 70:03:01:20, escort vehicles) |
| Where a single escort runs | In front on two lane highways, behind on divided highways (ARSD 70:03:01:20, escort vehicles, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits) |
| More than 2 feet into the next lane | Multiple escorts and flagpersons (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits) |
Escort rules come from ARSD 70:03:01:20. The permit office may add escorts for route limits, traffic or unusual configurations. (ARSD 70:03:01:20, escort vehicles, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
Height and routes
Route surveys, tall loads and utilities
What South Dakota asks of the tallest loads.
Route survey
The South Dakota rules set no height or width that triggers a route survey. A permit is issued only if the route has the clearances and load capacity the load needs. (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
Clearances
All vertical clearances are the permit holder's responsibility, and SDDOT publishes a list of low clearances on the state highway system for planning. (ARSD 70:03:01:13, vertical clearances, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, vehicle size, SDDOT clearance and route restrictions)
Tall loads
Over 14'6"H, daylight travel only. Over 16'H, the permit may take longer than the usual two working days. (ARSD 70:03:01:07, time of movement, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in South Dakota.
Daylight hours
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. (ARSD 70:03:01:01, definitions)
Daylight only
When an escort is required, the load is wider than 10' or taller than 14'6", a single unit is over 45'L, a combination is over 110'L, or the load cannot keep the posted speed. (ARSD 70:03:01:07, time of movement, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
Interstate at night
Loads inside those limits may move at night on the Interstate and within two miles of an Interstate interchange. (ARSD 70:03:01:07, time of movement, SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
Overweight only
Overweight permit loads may move at night when no escort is required. (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
Superloads
South Dakota superloads
South Dakota does not use a superload label. Most permit reviews take up to two working days, but loads over 200,000 lbs, loads that are overweight and wider than 12', and loads over 16'H may take longer. A permit is issued only if the route has the clearances and load capacity the load needs. (SD Motor Carrier Handbook, permits)
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 →110,000 lb switchgear building
A switchgear building of 110,000 lbs, from Houston, TX to Los Angeles, CA.
Read the move →Moving a load in South Dakota?
Send the dimensions and weight. We file the South Dakota permit and book the escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official South Dakota sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the official 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 13, 2026.
Questions
South Dakota permit questions
What are the legal size limits in South Dakota?
8'6"W and 14'H.
When does South Dakota require escorts?
Over 16'W on the Interstate and over 20'W on other state highways. On listed Black Hills highways, a front escort over 10'W.
Does South Dakota require a route survey?
The rules set no height or width that triggers a route survey. All vertical clearances are the permit holder's responsibility, and a permit is issued only if the route has the clearances and load capacity the load needs.
Can oversize loads move at night in South Dakota?
Not when an escort is required or the load is wider than 10' or taller than 14'6". Loads inside those limits may move at night on the Interstate.
How long does a South Dakota permit review take?
Usually up to two working days. Loads over 200,000 lbs, overweight loads wider than 12' and loads over 16'H may take longer.
Keep planning
More for your South Dakota 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 Dakota 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.