How an Oversize Load Works

By: Charles W. Bryant  | 
An oversize load on the road
An oversize load can make for tight spaces on the highway.
Ralph Crane/Stringer/Getty Images

If you've ever spent much time driving on U.S. expressways, then you're familiar with this sight: A large flatbed tractor-trailer is in front of you with what looks to be a full-sized house at rest on the bed. There are signs everywhere declaring it an oversize load and a small car with a tiny, yellow warning light on top is following it to make sure nobody gets too close.

What is an oversize load? It's what you call it when a truck needs to haul something that's deemed too large for the road it's traveling on. This can be anything from a mobile home to a large piece of construction equipment or materials. The common denominator for oversized loads is that they can't be made smaller for transport.

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It might seem like a rarity to see an oversize load, but hauling large objects is big business. There are dozens of companies throughout the United States that specialize in oversize loads. There are pilot car companies that provide cars and drivers with experience in checking clearance and ensuring the safety of the payload and the traffic around them. There are even companies that sell flags and signage for oversize loads.

What constitutes an oversize load varies from state to state and within those states, from city to city, if the truck travels on smaller, local roadways. This is important because wherever you travel with a load considered oversized, you'll need special permits. Any time you cross a state line, you'll need to have your permit in hand. If you get off the major highway to deliver your load, you'll need a city permit, even if you have a state permit. State highways are governed by a different agency than local roads. It's the same reason you'll see highway patrol cars writing tickets on expressways and local law enforcement setting up shop in town.

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How To Tow an Oversize Load

A truck with an oversize load banner
If you see this in your rearview mirror and you aren't a pilot car, maybe you should move out of the way.
tillsonburg | ©istock photos

Let's say your parent's have left you a lovely, double-wide trailer home in their will. As much as you love the abode, with its wood-paneled walls and Berber carpeting, you don't want to live on the narrow plot where it sits in the mobile home community. The dumpster is right beside it, and the neighbors lack something in the personality department. You get the big idea to move it out to a nice, quiet spot in the desert and live rent-free for the rest of your life. It's easy enough to simply find a company to move it for you. But you're a stickler for details and want to know some specifics about how the move will work.

Here's how towing an oversize load works: The first thing your moving company will do is get the specs of your trailer, where it's coming from and where it's going. The moving company will need to know the exact dimensions — height, width, length and weight. This information will help the company determine the following:

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  • truck and truck bed size needed
  • route it'll be able to take
  • what kind of specialized equipment is needed to safely secure the load
  • what special permit(s) the company needs to secure
  • how to accurately price your move
  • how many and what kinds of signage to bring
  • whether you'll need one or more pilot vehicles

The number of escort vehicles you'll need, if you require escort vehicles, will contribute to your costs. Some companies require the use of their own fleet of pilot cars and drivers, while some allow you to bring in a third-party company. Ask if the moving company will match the price of another company. This can save you time and effort. Just as each state has its own definition of what constitutes an oversize load, each one has its own laws regarding the use of pilot cars.

It's good to know what to expect when dealing with a hauling company. Take some time to research the oversize load regulations and laws in your state so you can be well-informed of your needs and choices.­

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Oversize Load Towing Tips

A home being towed on a highway
And you thought towing a boat was a pain.
VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm/Getty Images

If you've got oversize load towing on the brain, we've got some oversize load towing tips for you to keep in mind: First of all, aside from the size and pilot-car wide load regulations, all states and cities have different laws for when you're allowed to travel with your oversize load. Most won't let you drive during the morning or evening rush hours or at night. Some states won't allow travel on Sundays or holidays, so keep this in mind when making your moving arrangements. Signage also varies from state to state, requiring specific sizes, colors and quantities of signs and flags, depending on your load.

If you plan to have something moved, get the local and state rules and regulations yourself so you know what you're getting into. That way there'll be no surprises when the estimate comes in for what it will cost and how long it will take. You'll be paying for the services of the escort vehicle company, which includes the driver, the car and the fuel. You'll also be paying for the truck, the truck driver and the fuel.

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Working in the Wide and Oversize Loads Business

If you're really into oversize load towing, and you have a good driving record, you might think about starting your own pilot car business. One thing you need to keep in mind: it means being away from home quite a bit. So if that's not appealing, then it probably isn't the job for you. Since you'll be supplying your own vehicle, there's also the wear and tear on your car or truck to consider. It's also fairly seasonal, with more oversized loads being shipped during warmer months. Each state has its own pilot car guidelines so look into that first if you're considering a career as a pilot driver.

You'll need to invest money in signage and lights for your car, and then it's up to you to pull in the business. You are your own company, so you will have to do your own marketing and advertising, which will cost a little money. It may take several months to book regular jobs, so plan ahead financially to stay afloat. You'll get paid with invoices, which usually means a waiting period between the time you drive and when the check comes — another financial consideration. You'll be road-weary and away from family and friends quite a bit, but you're your own boss and master of your own destiny, which appeals to the mavericks of the open road — the pilot car driver.

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Sources

  • "Georgia Pilot Car Guidelines." uspilotcars.com. 2008. http://uspilotcars.com/georgia_pilot_car_regulations.html
  • "Oversize Load Permit Conditions." san-clemente.org. 2008. http://sanclemente.org/sc/Inf/Forms/Engineering/Download/414506%20Traffic%20-%20Oversize%20Load%20Permit%20Conditions.htm
  • "Oversize Loads - Routing High and Wide." southern.ralifan.net. 2008. http://southern.railfan.net/highwide/sou/67-12/over.html
  • "Oversize Loads." jrchristoni.com. 2008. http://www.jrchristoni.com/services_oversizeloads.htm
  • http://www.wideloadshipping.com/

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