Oversize and heavy haul
Oversize load dispatch that checks the axles before it books the move
Dozers, excavators, cranes and other heavy equipment move between jobs on lowboys and RGNs, and every one of those moves has to be legal in every state on the route. We check dimensions and axle weights before offering a load, coordinate permits and escorts when you ask us to, and send each move to you to confirm or pass. You stay the carrier of record and responsible for running legal. 5% of gross with 6+ months of authority.
- Federal width
- 102 in
- Federal gross
- 80,000 lb
- Tandem axle
- 34,000 lb
- Height
- Set by states
Heavy haul dispatch onboarding: what we need from you
Heavy haul brokers and shippers check more than a standard flatbed setup. Have these ready for the setup call.
Bring these
- MC and USDOT numbers, and your safety record
- Insurance limits, including cargo coverage for high-value equipment
- Trailer type: lowboy, RGN, multi-axle, stretch
- Trailer deck heights, lengths and axle spacing
- Your tractor's axle weights and rated capacity
- Securement gear: chains, binders, rated tiedowns
- States where you already hold permits or accounts
- Your escort and pilot car contacts, if any
When does a load become oversize or overweight?
On the Interstate, federal limits are 20,000 lb on a single axle, 34,000 lb on a tandem, and 80,000 lb gross or less under the bridge formula. Width over 102 in is oversize. Edit the EXAMPLE lowboy weights below and see which groups need a permit.
| Axle group | Weight (lb) | Federal limit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steer (1 axle) | 20,000 | Within | |
| Drive tandem (2 axles) | 34,000 | Within | |
| Trailer group 1 (2 axles) | 34,000 | Over: permit needed | |
| Trailer group 2 (2 axles) | 34,000 | Within | |
| Gross (7 axles) | 111,500 | 80,000 | Over: permit needed |
This load needs an overweight permit for every state on the route. We don't book it until the permits match the route.
Limits: 20,000 lb single, 34,000 lb tandem, 80,000 lb gross or the bridge formula (W = 500 * (LN / (N - 1) + 12N + 36)), whichever is lower, on the Interstate. Source: 23 CFR 658.17(e) / FHWA Bridge Formula Weights, checked 2026-10. State roads and permits follow state rules.
Want to test a different axle spacing? Use the federal bridge formula calculator or the truck weight limit checker.
Lowboy dispatch: what we coordinate, and what stays with you
Permits and escorts are coordinated on request only. The carrier is always responsible for the load being legal, the route being followed and the permit being carried.
- 01
Load specs
Exact dimensions and weight with attachments, confirmed with the shipper in writing before the offer reaches you.
- 02
Route and clearances
The permitted route, bridge and overpass heights, and travel-time restrictions for each state.
- 03
Permits, on request
We can work with permit services or state offices on your behalf. The permit is issued to your company, and you carry it.
- 04
Escorts, on request
Pilot cars where states require them, booked to the permit's travel windows.
- 05
Timing
Daylight-only travel, weekend and holiday restrictions, and the curfews some cities set for oversize moves.
- 06
Loading and unloading
Who operates the machine at each end, and whether a crane or ramps are needed.
Official permit rules come from each state. FHWA keeps a list of state oversize and overweight permit offices.
Heavy haul dispatch: equipment we move
Every one of these changes size with attachments and configuration, so we confirm the specs in writing before quoting a move.
Dozers and crawlers
Track machines between job sites, often wide and heavy enough to need both kinds of permit.
Excavators
Full-size excavators, sometimes with the boom or bucket removed to meet height and weight limits.
Wheel loaders and graders
Wide, tall and heavy, with attachments that change every measurement.
Cranes and components
Booms, counterweights and carriers, often on separate trailers.
Ag combines and sprayers
Seasonal, wide and time-critical during harvest.
Industrial equipment
Transformers, tanks and machinery headed to plants and utility sites.
“Oversize permits are a nightmare.”
They can be, especially across several states with different rules, curfews and escort requirements. That's work our desk can take off your plate when you ask. You still carry the permit and drive the route it allows, but you don't have to spend your evening on five state permit portals.
The bridge formula, in plain words
The federal bridge formula limits how much weight any group of axles can carry, based on how many axles there are and how far apart they sit: W = 500 * (LN / (N - 1) + 12N + 36). More axles spread farther apart can carry more weight without overstressing bridges, up to the 80,000 lb federal gross on the Interstate.
Heavy haul gets past those limits only with overweight permits, and each state sets its own permit rules, routes and fees for state roads. That's why a load that's legal in one state can need a permit in the next.
We never suggest running a load over its legal or permitted weight. If the numbers don't work, the load gets more axles, a different trailer or a permit, or it doesn't move with us.
Oversize and heavy haul dispatch questions
What is the bridge formula?
A federal rule (23 CFR 658.17) that caps the weight on any group of axles based on the number of axles and the distance between the outer ones. It protects bridges by spreading weight out. On the Interstate, gross weight also can't exceed 80,000 lb without a permit.
Who pays for permits and escorts?
It's set on the rate con. Often the shipper or broker covers permit and escort costs, or the rate is built high enough to include them. Get it in writing before you confirm. We confirm who pays before an oversize offer reaches you.
How long do oversize permits take?
It varies by state and by load. Many routine oversize permits come back quickly, sometimes the same day, while superloads, unusual routes and multi-state moves take longer and may need route surveys. Plan the move around the slowest state on the route.
Do I need escorts for an oversize load?
It depends on the state, the width, height and length of the load, and sometimes the road. Many states require one escort past a certain width and two past a higher one, plus height poles for tall loads. The permit spells out what's required for that route.
Do you dispatch lowboys and RGNs?
Yes, along with multi-axle and stretch trailers. Tell us your trailer's deck heights, axle spacing and capacity, and we match moves to what it can legally carry.
Can a new MC run heavy haul?
Some heavy haul shippers and brokers want an established safety record, higher insurance limits and experience with the trailer type before they'll set up a carrier. A new authority can still start with smaller permitted moves and build from there. We'll tell you straight which doors are open.
How much does heavy haul dispatch cost?
5% of gross on loads you haul with 6+ months of authority, 7% before that, and 4% per truck for fleets of two or more. No setup fee. See the fee schedule. Smaller machinery that fits legal height is often step deck freight.
Heavy moves, legal on every mile, booked with your yes
No setup fee. No contract. You stay the carrier of record.
Dallas to Denver, RGN, permitted
Example- Gross
- $3,400
- Fee 5%
- -$170
- You keep
- +$3,230