A resident of Houston, Texas, Stephen Patrick Day is the CEO of Logistics Group International (LGI). With a network of over 20,000 carriers across North America, Stephen Day company, LGI, specializes in the freight arrangement of over-dimensional and over-weight cargo.
Typically, there are many considerations to be made before transporting oversize loads. The most important is the actual size of the load (weight) and its dimensions (length, width, and height). These parameters will determine what permits the carrier will need to safely transport the load from origin to destination. In the United States, every state has a different threshold for oversize shipments but the standard is about 48-53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and 8.5 feet high. That means a shipment is oversize if it’s longer, wider, or higher than the above dimensions. Such shipments will require special permits.
Weight is another important factor. Weight restrictions apply per vehicle axle. That means a shipment may be below a road’s weight limit but exceed the limit per axle. Making adjustments to the load can bring the shipment to within legal limits, eliminating the need for special permits.
In general, the state of an oversize shipment’s dimensions and weight may necessitate new permits. In addition to permits, they could also affect route and cost. For example, shipments over 12 feet wide require pilot vehicles at the front and back and, in many states, are only allowed on the road at certain times.
Stephen Day 