Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | Florida legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 13'6" (14'0" for automobile transporters) |
| Width | 102" (8'6"), excluding safety devices |
| Front Overhang | 3' (4' for stinger-steered auto transporters) |
| Rear Overhang | 3' (6' for auto/boat transporters; 10' for horticultural loads) |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in Florida, 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 | Not fixed by statute; evaluated per Federal Bridge Formula/route |
| Tandem axle | Governed by distance-based bridge table rather than one fixed figure | Not fixed by statute; bridge-formula/route-specific |
| Tridem axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | 200,000 lbs (140,000 lbs for self-propelled equipment) under FDOT's self-issue Permit Application System (PAS) ceiling |
Superload: Loads exceeding 200,000 lbs (140,000 self-propelled), or 16' wide / 18' high / 150' long, exceed the self-issue ceiling and require full FDOT engineering/route review
Permit types we file in Florida
Ten-Day Trip PermitSingle or round-trip permit valid up to 10 days for a defined route.
Annual Blanket PermitYear-round coverage for a carrier's operations or a specific vehicle configuration.
Three-Month Route-Specific Blanket PermitQuarterly permit for repeated moves along one specified route.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | 150 ft (self-issue PAS ceiling) |
| Width | 16 ft |
| Height | 18 ft |
| Rear Overhang | Up to 10 ft |
Loads at or beyond the 16'w / 18'h / 150'L / 200,000 lb self-issue ceiling move into FDOT's individual engineering/route-review process.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- Height pole (vertical indicator) required preceding any load 14'6" or taller.
- Single escort required for loads 80'-120' long; loads over 16' high also require a law-enforcement escort.
- Front AND rear escorts required for over-width loads, e.g. 12'-14' wide on certain roadways.
- Loads 10'-12' wide restricted to night travel (9pm-5am) south of Florida City.
When you can travel
- Daylight-only travel required for loads over 14'6" high, 80'+ long, or over 8'6" wide.
- Movement banned on major holidays for loads over 10' wide, 14'6" high, or 80' long.
- Peak-hour travel (7-9am, 4-6pm weekdays) restricted for loads over 12' wide or 85' long in specified counties/cities.
- No movement over 120 ft long allowed under the standard blanket permit.
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.
Florida specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for Florida 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 FDOT and can change. We confirm the current rules for your exact load before filing.