Georgia oversize and overweight rules
The short answer
Last checked
Without a permit, a load in Georgia can be up to 8 ft 6 in wide on designated truck routes, 13 ft 6 in high on designated truck routes and 80,000 lb gross (70,000 lb gross with 4 axles on roads other than interstates), with the conditions in the legal limits table. A pilot car is required for loads over 12 ft wide on two-lane roads and four-lane roads other than interstates, or over 100 ft long, and a height pole car for loads 15 ft 6 in or more high; the start differs on some routes or with some loads, with the conditions in the pilot car table. It treats a load as a superload when it is over 16 ft wide, over 16 ft high or 150,001 lb or more gross; the conditions in the axle and fee tables name other superload triggers.
Jump to a section
Legal limits without a permit
| Limit | Up to | Roads | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 inApplies only where travel lanes are 12 feet wide. | Designated truck routes | GDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations, State Designated System |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | Designated truck routes | GDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations, State Designated System |
| Length, semitrailer | 53 ftOn NHS routes, a one-piece load may also ride an extendable semitrailer of up to 75 feet, with the whole vehicle no longer than 100 feet. | Designated truck routes | GDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations, State Designated System |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbCounty roads are limited to 56,000 pounds unless the truck is picking up or delivering there. | All roads | GDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations, Overall Legal Dimensions |
| Gross weight, 4 axles | 70,000 lb | Roads other than interstates | GDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations, State Route Gross Weight |
Axle weight limits
| Axle or group | Without a permit | With a permit | Roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any single axle | 20,340 lb | Not set | All roads |
| 2 axles in a group, spread over 3 ft 4 in to 8 ft, when the gross is over 73,280 lb | 34,000 lbThe same 34,000 pound limit applies to any vehicle over 55 feet long, regardless of gross weight. | Not set | Interstates |
| 2 axles in a group, spread over 3 ft 4 in to 8 ft | 40,680 lbApplies to tractor semitrailer combinations; for trucks generally, GDOT allows 37,340 pounds across axle groups spanning 216 inches or less, leaving out the steering axle. | Not set | Roads other than interstates |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbCounty roads are limited to 56,000 pounds unless the truck is picking up or delivering there. | 150,000 lbThe ceiling of the standard single trip permit, not of every move: 150,001 to 180,000 pounds takes a superload permit, over 180,000 a bridge analysis, and 300,000 or more outside engineering. | All roads |
| Gross weight, 4 axles | 70,000 lb | Not set | Roads other than interstates |
The federal bridge formula applies to axle groups on interstates (GDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations, Interstate Highway Systems, Federal Bridge Formula). “With a permit” lists the state’s permit figures; read each row’s condition, since some are review thresholds rather than limits.
Pilot cars and escorts
Each row is one rule. A load can meet several; the permit lists the escorts for your move.
| Load | Roads | Front | Rear | Height pole | Police | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| over 75 ft up to 100 ft longApplies up to 100 feet; amber lights on the load can take the place of the rear escort vehicle.The condition says what goes along672-2-.06(3)(c)1.(i) | All roads | See the source | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 100 ft longApplies up to 125 feet.672-2-.06(3)(c)1.(ii) | All roads | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 125 ft long672-2-.06(3)(c)1.(iii) | All roads | 1 in front, 1 behind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 ft 6 in or more highNot required if the hauler holds a valid NJUNS trip approval ticket; the handbook adds a front escort with height sensor from 15 feet in bigger signalized cities.672-2-.06(3)(c)2.(i) | All roads | 1 height pole car | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| over 16 ft wideThe Department weighs each load individually and could call for a police escort; the handbook says one front and one rear escort vehicle, so budget for at least those.The permit sets the escorts672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(iii) | All roads | Set by the permit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 12 ft wideCovers loads up to 14 feet 8 inches wide; at the rear, amber lights on the load can take the place of a rear escort vehicle.672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(i) | Two-lane roads | 1 in front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 8 in wideCovers loads to 16 feet wide; if a bridge on the route gives less than 28 feet of lateral clearance, a front escort is also needed (rule 672-2-.03(k)).672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(ii) | Two-lane roads | 1 in front, 1 behind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 12 ft up to 14 ft 8 in wideCovers loads up to 14 feet 8 inches wide; amber lights on the load can take the place of the rear escort vehicle.The condition says what goes along672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(i) | Interstates | See the source | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 8 in wideCovers loads to 16 feet wide; if a bridge on the route gives less than 28 feet of lateral clearance, a front escort is also needed (rule 672-2-.03(k)).672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(ii) | Interstates | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 12 ft wideFour lane roads up to 14 feet 8 inches wide, four or more lanes beyond that. On a non-Interstate limited access highway, amber lights can replace the rear escort only up to 14 feet 8 inches wide; wider loads need a rear escort vehicle.672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(i) and (ii) | Four-lane roads other than interstates | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| over 14 ft 8 in wideCovers loads to 16 feet wide; if a bridge on the route gives less than 28 feet of lateral clearance, a front escort is also needed (rule 672-2-.03(k)).672-2-.06(3)(c)3.(ii) | Four-lane roads other than interstates | 1 behind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- The lead pilot car is the one that carries the height pole.
Superloads
Georgia treats a load as a superload when it is any one of these:
- over 16 ft wide
- over 16 ft high
- 150,001 lb or more gross
- over 180,000 lb gross
Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.06(3); see also 672-2-.03(k), Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.01(k) and (l), GDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types (Single Trip list and superload notes)
When you can travel
Holidays
All permitted vehicles and loads
No travel on the holiday itself: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Other state holidays allow travel. The latest posted schedule is 2024, so 2026 dates follow the same pattern: Thanksgiving Thu Nov 26, Christmas Fri Dec 25, New Year Fri Jan 1 (2027). Permits up to 125,000 lb at legal dimensions run continuously except weather and listed holidays.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.03(c); GDOT holiday travel scheduleDates computed
Weekends
Permitted loads
GDOT sources conflict. The oversize permit page says movement Monday through Sunday in daylight; a GDOT training workbook says no permitted travel on Sundays unless the permit says otherwise. House moves: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The permit face governs.
Night
All permitted loads
Movement only from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset unless the permit says otherwise. Permits up to 125,000 lb gross with no dimension over legal may move continuously except in bad weather and on listed holidays.
Cities and rush hour
Atlanta: inside I-285
All permits
The permit is not valid inside the I-285 perimeter unless the pickup or delivery is inside it (proof needed). The rule text bars 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday; GDOT’s page says 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Other cities may be limited by the permit.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.02(4); GDOT Oversize Permits page
Every state on one page: holiday, weekend, night and city restrictions by state. For this year’s holiday, see Thanksgiving 2026 restrictions.
Single trip permit fees
Within each kind of fee the largest that fits your load applies, and the kinds add up.
| Fee | When it applies | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Permit feeGDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types, Single Trip, Standard Single | Every single trip permit | $30 |
| Permit feeGDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types, Single Trip, Superload Single ($125.00), width and height greater than 16 feet | over 16 ft wide | $125 |
| Permit feeGDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types, Single Trip, Superload Single ($125.00), width and height greater than 16 feet | over 16 ft high | $125 |
| Permit feeGDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types, Single Trip, Superload Single ($125.00) | from 150,001 lb up to 180,000 lb gross | $125 |
| Permit feeGDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types, Single Trip, Superload Plus | over 180,000 lb gross | $500 |
Source: GDOT Oversize Permits page, Permit Types, Single Trip fee list
Where to apply
Georgia issues permits through GAPROS. Apply at gaprospermits.com.
Wind
- Permitted loads over 12 ft wide must stop when the wind is over 25 mph (Rule 672-2-.03(c)).
What the rules don’t say
Where the sources are silent or say two things. Ask the state before you rely on these.
Legal limits
- Georgia’s size and weight figures apply to the state designated routes. Limits on other state routes can differ, so confirm the limit for any route off the designated system.
- County roads are held to 56,000 pounds gross unless the truck is picking up or delivering. Confirm local limits when your route leaves state highways.
- Some commodity hauls, such as forest products, poultry, cotton, feed, granite, solid waste and unhardened concrete, may run heavier on non-Interstate routes without a permit. Ask whether your cargo qualifies.
Axle weights
- The enforced 20,340 pound single axle limit includes a tire-pressure tolerance, and a lower limit of 18,080 pounds applies with high-pressure, solid rubber or cushion tires. Confirm which applies to your equipment.
- Sources disagree on the 40,680 pound tandem limit. GDOT lists it under Interstate rules for lighter vehicles, while the federal summary treats it as non-Interstate and limited to vehicles under 55 feet and 73,280 pounds. Confirm before relying on it.
- On state routes, the gross limit for two and three axles is the axle count times 20,340 pounds, and between 73,280 and 80,000 pounds a state bridge formula applies. Single unit trucks have a separate 37,340 pound limit on two or more axles within 216 inches.
- GDOT’s permit table gives typical allowed weights by axle count, from 23,000 pounds on one axle to 150,000 on eight, without saying whether they are group or whole-vehicle figures. Ask what your permit will actually allow.
- Lift axles may not count toward the Interstate gross limit. Confirm how the office treats them.
Pilot cars and superloads
- For loads over 16 feet wide, Georgia decides case by case and may require a police escort. The rule gives no count, so ask the Oversize Permit Unit what your permit will require.
- For lengths over 75 up to 100 feet, and some widths over 12 feet, the rule asks for a rear escort or amber lights. It is unclear whether amber lights alone are enough, so plan on a rear escort unless told otherwise.
- The rule requires a front escort with a height sensor at 15 feet 6 inches or more, while a state handbook says in excess of that and adds a 15 foot case in cities with signals. Follow the permit and confirm.
- The rule addresses only two-lane, four-lane and limited access roads, so three-lane and five-lane roads are unclear. Loads over 14 feet 8 inches wide also need a front escort on routes with bridges under 28 feet of lateral clearance.
- The Department can add front or rear escorts to any permit for public safety, and escort drivers must hold Georgia or reciprocal certification. Superload escorts are decided case by case.
- Georgia’s rule words the superload weight as exceeding 150,001 pounds, while GDOT’s permit page and the rule’s next sentence start it just above 150,000. The advice treats 150,001 pounds as a superload, so confirm with the Oversize Permit Unit for a load right at that line.
Permit fees
- Georgia’s fee amounts ($30, $125 and $500 by class) appear on GDOT’s permit page but not in the rule, and the page carries no date. Confirm the current fee with the permit office before quoting.
- Superload classes apply only to non-divisible loads, and divisible loads are not permitted. Wording on whether width, height and weight each trigger the higher class varies between GDOT’s page and the rule, so confirm how your load is classed.
- Mega Load permits (300,000 pounds and above) cost the same $500, but the cost of the outside engineering firm is not stated.
- Police escorts, route survey, bridge analysis beyond the $500 fee, annual permits and citation fines are not covered by the permit fee. Older notices mention small fax and card processing charges, so confirm any current service fee.
Wind
- Georgia’s rule sets a 25 mph ground wind limit for permitted loads over 12 feet wide. The rule doesn’t give an averaging period or say whether gusts count, so ask the permit office how it measures wind and which forecast or reading to use.
- The house and manufactured home rules set no separate wind limit, so the 25 mph limit reaches them only when the load is over 12 feet wide.
Where to apply
- Confirm with GDOT that GAPROS is still the online system that takes applications before you rely on a bookmarked link.
Questions about Georgia
- When do I need an oversize permit in Georgia?
- Without a permit, a load in Georgia can be up to 8 ft 6 in wide on designated truck routes, 13 ft 6 in high on designated truck routes and 80,000 lb gross (70,000 lb gross with 4 axles on roads other than interstates), with the conditions in the legal limits table. Loads past these figures generally need a permit from the state; see the legal limits table for the exceptions and for length, which depends on the vehicle.
- How much does a Georgia oversize permit cost?
- On the fee schedule we checked, a single trip permit starts at $30. Larger or heavier loads pay more; the largest single fee on the schedule is $500. The estimator on this page adds up the fees for your load.
- When do you need a pilot car in Georgia?
- A pilot car is required for loads over 12 ft wide on two-lane roads and four-lane roads other than interstates, or over 100 ft long, and a height pole car for loads 15 ft 6 in or more high; the start differs on some routes or with some loads, with the conditions in the pilot car table. How many cars, and whether they lead or follow, depends on the road; the pilot car table lists each rule.
- What is a superload in Georgia?
- Georgia treats a load as a superload when it is over 16 ft wide, over 16 ft high or 150,001 lb or more gross. The conditions in the axle and fee tables name other superload triggers. The superloads list on this page gives each threshold with its source.
- When can oversize loads travel in Georgia?
- At night: Movement only from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset unless the permit says otherwise. Permits up to 125,000 lb gross with no dimension over legal may move continuously except in bad weather and on listed holidays. On weekends: GDOT sources conflict. The oversize permit page says movement Monday through Sunday in daylight; a GDOT training workbook says no permitted travel on Sundays unless the permit says otherwise. House moves: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The permit face governs. This applies to permitted loads. Rush hour and city curfews also apply; they are listed on this page.
- Can oversize loads move on holidays in Georgia?
- No travel on the holiday itself: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Other state holidays allow travel. The latest posted schedule is 2024, so 2026 dates follow the same pattern: Thanksgiving Thu Nov 26, Christmas Fri Dec 25, New Year Fri Jan 1 (2027). Permits up to 125,000 lb at legal dimensions run continuously except weather and listed holidays.
Sources
- GDOT, Oversize Permits and RegulationsGDOT, Oversize Permits and Regulations pageGeorgia Department of Transportation. Read .
- FHWA, Compilation of Existing State Truck Size and Weight Limit Laws, Appendix A (Georgia)FHWA, Compilation of State Truck Size and Weight Limit Laws, Exhibit 18U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Read .
- Georgia Department of Transportation Rule 672-2-.06, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Certification. Escorts of Permitted Vehicles or Loads (Chapter 672-2, Permits for Vehicles or Loads of Excess Weight or Dimension)Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.06(3); see also 672-2-.03(k)Georgia Department of Transportation (rule text published by the Georgia Secretary of State). Read .
- Pilot/Escort Escort Vehicle Operator Handbook (cover dated October 2018), Chapter 1, ’OS/OW Loads Requiring an Escort’Georgia Department of Public Safety, Pilot/Escort Escort Vehicle Operator Handbook, October 2018, Chapter 1 Program BasicsGeorgia Department of Public Safety (hosted on the Georgia DOT Partner Smart permits site). Read .
- Georgia Rules and Regulations, Rule 672-2-.01 Definitions (Department of Transportation, Permits for Vehicles or Loads of Excess Weight or Dimension)Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.01(k) and (l)Georgia Department of Transportation (rule); published by the Georgia Secretary of State. Read .
- Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Chapter 672-2, Permits for Vehicles or Loads of Excess Weight or DimensionGa. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.03(c)Georgia Department of Transportation, Oversize Permit Unit (rule); published by the Georgia Secretary of State. Read .
Found something wrong or out of date? Report an error to hello@thirteensix.com.
This page is a dated summary in our own words, not legal advice. The permit the state issues governs your move, and states change their rules; check with Georgia before you travel.
Bordering states
- Crossing into Alabama? See Alabama rules
- Crossing into Florida? See Florida rules
- Crossing into North Carolina? See North Carolina rules
- South Carolina, coming soon
- Crossing into Tennessee? See Tennessee rules
More guides: all states and the rules library.
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