Legal size limits without a permit
| Measurement | South Carolina legal limit |
|---|---|
| Height | 13 ft 6 in (standard federal limit) |
| Width | 8 ft 6 in |
| Front Overhang | 3 ft (permit-referenced maximum) |
| Rear Overhang | Standard legal not separately listed; permit overhang caps shown below |
Axle and gross weights
How much each axle group and the whole vehicle can carry in South Carolina, 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 | 20,000 lbs (loads exceeding this trigger superload review) |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | Tandem 40,000 lbs; Tridem/Quad 60,000 lbs; scaling up to 130,000 lbs gross for 7-axle configurations |
| Tridem axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Quad axle | Confirmed at filing | Confirmed at filing |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | Up to 130,000 lbs on a Multiple Trip-Route Specific permit; general Multiple Trip permit capped at 100,000 lbs |
Superload: Non-divisible load exceeding 130,000 lbs and/or single-axle weight exceeding 20,000 lbs requires routing analysis (3-5 business days)
Permit types we file in South Carolina
Single Trip PermitRoute-specific permit, valid 7 days, vehicle-specific.
Multiple Trip Permit (Annual)Up to 14 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 100,000 lbs, valid one year.
Multiple Trip - Route Specific PermitUp to 15 ft height and 130,000 lbs for non-divisible loads on a fixed route.
Maximum dimensions with a permit
| Dimension | Maximum with a permit |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 125 ft for non-divisible loads; 110 ft for mobile homes |
| Width | Up to 16 ft for non-divisible loads/mobile homes before special approval |
| Height | Up to 15 ft standard; 16 ft+ requires a department-approved route survey |
| Rear Overhang | Up to 15 ft on trailers under 48 ft; 10 ft max on 48-ft+ trailers |
Loads at or above 16 ft high, or non-divisible loads over 130,000 lbs / single axles over 20,000 lbs, require a department-approved route survey.
Escorts and travel restrictions
Escort & pilot car rules
- Width 12-14 ft: one front escort on two-lane roads.
- Width 14-16 ft: one front and one rear escort required on all roadways.
- Width exceeding 16 ft: front and rear civilian plus police escorts.
When you can travel
- Loads up to 12 ft wide: sunrise to sunset, any day.
- Loads over 15 ft wide: restricted to 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on school days.
- No travel on major federal holidays.
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.
South Carolina specifics
- Banner size, flag size and light rules for South Carolina 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 SCDOT and can change. We confirm the current rules for your exact load before filing.