Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | Arkansas legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 14' |
| Width | 8'6" (8' for manufactured homes) |
| Front Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
| Rear Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in Arkansas, without a permit and with an overweight permit.
| Axle group | Legal limit | With a permit |
|---|---|---|
| Steer axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | UNCONFIRMED - increases per permit type/bridge formula |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | Up to 46,000 lbs under standard overweight permits |
| Tridem axle | 50,000 lbs | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | Up to 90,000-95,000 lbs for standard overweight/sealed-container permits (5-6 axle); higher weights require superload review |
Superload: GVW of 180,000 lbs or more, width over 16'6", length of 100' or more, or height of 15'6" or more requires discretionary 'extraordinary dimension' approval
Permit types we file in Arkansas
Single-Trip PermitIssued for a specific one-way move.
Annual PermitValid for one year for a specific configuration making repeated similar moves.
Multi-State Envelope PermitRegional (Southeastern states) permit for qualifying oversize configurations.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 90' for continuous movement; 100'+ require daylight-only travel and extraordinary-dimension review |
| Width | Up to 20' (24' emergency); 18' max on Interstates |
| Height | Up to ~14'+ standard; extraordinary loads up to 15'6"+ with added requirements |
| Rear Overhang | Confirmed at filing |
Loads exceeding 16'6" width, 100' length, 15'6" height, or 180,000 lbs GVW require discretionary 'extraordinary dimension' (superload) approval from ARDOT.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- Width 12'-14' requires one front escort; over 14' requires front and rear escorts (or a single rear escort on 4+ lane controlled-access divided highways).
- Height over 15' requires one escort with a 6" clearance bar preceding the load; over 17' requires written utility-company agreements.
- Length of 100'+ on non-Interstate highways requires a lead escort; 100'+ on controlled-access highways requires a trailing escort; 115'+ on roads under 4 lanes requires both.
When you can travel
- Most oversize movements are restricted to daylight hours (per NOAA sunrise/sunset).
- Movement is prohibited when visibility is under 500', during rain/ice/sleet/snow, or when wind gusts exceed 20 knots.
- No movement on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
- Greater Little Rock interstates (I-30, I-40, I-630) prohibit oversize movement 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.
Signs, flags and lights
Most states require
- An “OVERSIZE LOAD” banner on the front of the truck and the rear of the load.
- Red or fluorescent orange warning flags at each corner and at the widest points of the load.
- Amber warning lights or clearance lights when moving at night, where night travel is allowed.
Arkansas specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for Arkansas are listed on your permit.
- We include them in your permit notes so your driver has them before the trip.
Rules change. Limits and requirements are set by ARDOT and can change. We confirm the current rules for your exact load before filing.