If it was easy....

..........anyone could do it.

Inconsistencies drive me nutz. There are...however a LOT of inconsistencies in this business.

To name but a few....the barest few flakes of the upper crust of the bread of government rules.

Hours of Operation.

"Normally" oversized loads are allowed to move only during "hours of daylight"

"Hours of Daylight" however is defined differently in different places.

In Texas ..."hours of daylight" is defined as "one half hour BEFORE sunrise to one half hour AFTER Sunset.

In Georgia ...."hours of daylight" is defined as "one half hour AFTER sunrise to one half hour BEFORE Sunset.

In New Mexico "hours of daylight" is defined as Sunup to Sunset.(except at the Port of Entry on interstate ten heading west...where the DOT guy defines it as "when the sun comes up over the mountain"...the mountain in question is to the east...so it's about an hour or so AFTER sunup when it' crests the ridge.

In Kentucky they don't care...oversize can run nite or day....24/7 (except for city curfews)

In Virginia...if you happen to be unlucky enough to be classified as a "SUPER LOAD" you can ONLY run at night.

City Curfews:

Most places oversized loads are not allowed to travel thru metro areas during rush hour...normally defined as between 7a.m to 9a.m in the morning and 4p.m. to 6p.m. in the evening. This varies. In St. Louis is 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

In Texas a list of cities and their different curfews and curfew restrictions are provided and must be attached to the permit for the permit to be valid.

In Missouri they have a BOOK...small book...50 page pamplet..but a book nonetheless.

In Tennesse if the city curfew is not ON THE PERMIT...then ther isn't one. It varies according to load dimensions.

Alabama doesn't have city curfews...except in Mobile.

Weekend Travel.

Most states oversize can travel 7 days a week except for certain holidays.

Some states however...don't allow Sunday movement.

Some states don't allow Saturday OR Sunday movement.

Some states "it depends on the dimensions of the Load"

Some states...if youre unlucky enough to be a super load........you guessed it.

LIGHTS

Most states require amber lights on the power unit . Either/ or rotating becons or strobe lights. Not all.

Texas has no light requirement for the truck...but the ESCORT must have amber becons.

Colorado requires "at least two but not more than three" amber lights on the trailer...at night...but different if it's a long load.

Weights

Gross weights.
Colorado will allow from 137,000 to 169,000 for an eight axel...depending.
Florida will allow 147,00
Nebraska will allow 160,000
...........and other variations according to state.

Axel Weights
most states allow 20,000 lbs per axle ......since the steer axle isn't normally as strong as the drive axles or trailer axles it's generally limited to 12,000 lbs. Some guys....like me....have special order steer axles and we can handle more...and most states accept that and allows up to 20,000 depending.

Except:

North Carolina won't allow more than 12,000 on the steer regardless...unless it's a superload and that takes up to a week to get a permit.

Axle Groups: (weights)

Usually we're weighed according to axle groups....that is...single (steer) ...Tandem or Tridium (truck drive or trailer) and maybe Quad or more (trailer).

You would think it'd be simple...right?

Steer or single -----up to 20,000
Tandem ----- 40,000
Tridium ------60,000
Quad ------80,000

Some states it is...like Nebraska...

Some states it ain't...

Texas will give me 46,000 on a tandem..but only 60,000 on a tri...and only 70,000 on a Quad.
Oklahoma will only give me 65,000 on a quad...(70,000 if I request a superload permit)..
Missouri will give me 60,000 on a tri....and 60,000 on a quad..or more.

California , Arizona and Nevada only allow 51,750 lbs on a tri. In california it depends on WHICH tri. If it's on the tractor it's 51,750...if it's on the trailor it's 59,500 (i think).

Oregon..however will allow 63,000 on a tri.

Alabama will allow 88,000 on a Quad.....California doesn't allow Quads...at all.

are you confused yet?

Please remember that violation of any of these rules makes the driver subject to a fine...which could range any where for notsomuch ($40 to $50) to a whole lot (I had a buddy who got a $32,000 fine...over on axle weight in one of the carolina's...he has a ten axle rig so he was pretty heavy...but he was legal in other states BESIDES the one he got the ticket in)

You see why I have grey hair?

EvMick....sitting at a rest area east of dallas on i-20