Sometimes, utilities and petrochemical equipment need to be moved over highways and, unfortunately, traffic delays are often part of getting this equipment where it needs to be.
Sometimes these loads require haulers to move utility lines, temporarily disrupting service to residents along the way. These disruptions on the nation’s highways are something we at H. Brown take seriously. We minimize this inconvenience by performing hauls safely, on time and with all the proper permitting.
Successful Jobs Start With Permits
In Louisiana, the legal (meaning no permit is required) maximum load width is eight feet on non-designated roads and eight and a half feet on designated roads.
The legal maximum load height is 13 and a half feet and 14 feet on non-designated highways. The legal maximum length for semitrailers is 65 feet on non-designated routes (50 feet for just the trailer) and 59 and a half feet on designated truck routes (plus front 4 feet and rear 8 feet overhang). The legal weight is 80,000 lbs; 85,000 lbs on non-designated highways.
Louisiana Department of Transportation officials issue permits for slow-moving “super loads” moving through the state. Utility vehicles and law enforcement often escort these loads.
If a driver is bringing an oversize load into Louisiana, he must have the permit for the load permit before crossing the state line. These permits are issued based on how long it takes to complete the haul (usually one to three days).
Permits generally confine the haul to daylight hours but can be issued for any day of the week. There are exceptions to this; for example, regulations restrict a load of more than 14 feet wide to Saturday mornings. Also, laws permit continuous travel (night and weekends) if your load is overweight but not over 65 feet long.
Some of these permitting restrictions are meant to keep bridge traffic free and clear. For example, in Louisiana, permitted loads may not cross any bridge spanning the Mississippi River in the New Orleans area from 6:30-9 a.m. or 3:30-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Loads more than 14 feet wide may not travel on Interstate highways in Louisiana unless they consist of fiberglass swimming pools, tanks, boats and mobile homes.
Loads more than 12 feet wide aren’t allowed on the Interstate system through Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge or New Orleans from 7-9 a.m. or 3:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The state requires “Oversize Load” signs for all loads more than 10 feet wide, 75 feet long or that exceed legal overhang. This means using flags on all four corners of your load and on anything that protrudes. You must flag the over-length as well. There are no sign/flag requirements specifically for height.
Finally, there may be additional restrictions on major holidays and in certain areas on Mardi Gras.
Your permit and provision sheets will have more details about these restricted areas, so work with your heavy haul partners to go over the fine print.
Trust H. Brown
H. Brown has the trucks and the training to handle virtually any over-dimensional load, whether it is a short onsite haul or an interstate job. Our dual-lane, multi-lane platform, and beam and dolly capabilities allow us to meet all permitting and bridge requirements.
Our trucks and trailers come with GPS tracking systems, 24-hour load updates, and security for your equipment. In addition, our highly skilled staff works closely with bridge and road engineers to develop, design and manage your move.