Georgia Oversize and Overweight Permits
GAPROS flat fees, superload tiers, escort certification, the I-285 perimeter rule and Mega Loads
Quick answer
What are the regulations for wide loads in Georgia?
Anything wider than 102 in (O.C.G.A. 32-6-23) needs a GDOT permit from GAPROS, run by Georgia DPS; a single trip is a flat $30 up to 16 ft wide. From 12 ft to 14 ft 8 in wide, two-lane roads need a front escort plus rear amber lights and four-lane roads a rear escort, and the load stops in fog, wind over 25 mph or visibility under 600 ft.
Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).
Checked October 2026; the issued permit controls
No other state in our oversize permits by state table uses Georgia's single-axle limit: 20,340 lb, an 18,000 lb base plus a 13% variance (O.C.G.A. 32-6-26(b)(2)). Its permits also carry two agency names: the Commissioner of Transportation is the statutory issuer under O.C.G.A. 32-6-28, while the Department of Public Safety's Motor Carrier Compliance Division runs the Oversize Permit Unit and takes the checks.
Georgia will not issue a permit until insurance is on file: for vehicles over 10,000 lb GVW, $300,000 bodily injury per person, $1,000,000 for multiple persons and $1,000,000 property damage (O.C.G.A. 32-6-28(a)(9); 672-2-.03(e)). On the Atlanta, Savannah and statewide moves we arrange for heavy haul trucking in Georgia, the carrier's certificate goes on file before we place the GAPROS order.
Legal limits in Georgia
Georgia's limits sit in O.C.G.A. 32-6-22 through 32-6-26. Besides the 20,340 lb single axle, it caps overall length at 100 ft off the Interstate and NHS routes, and county roads carry only 56,000 lb gross unless the truck is making a pickup or delivery (32-6-26(f)).
| Limit | Georgia | Federal baseline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | 8 ft 6 in (102 in) on the National Network | Excludes mirrors and accessories (32-6-23) |
| Height | 13 ft 6 in | No federal limit | 14 ft for auto carriers on Interstates (32-6-22) |
| Semitrailer length | 53 ft | States must allow at least 48 ft | Unless signs post a lower limit; 100 ft overall, overhang included, off Interstate and NHS routes; single-piece loads may use an extendable trailer up to 75 ft on Interstate and NHS routes |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb | 80,000 lb | Both systems; 4-axle vehicles 70,000 lb off the Interstate; a state bridge formula applies from 73,280 to 80,000 lb |
| Single axle | 20,340 lb | 20,000 lb | 18,000 lb plus a 13% variance (32-6-26(b)(2)) |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lb | 34,000 lb | Interstate; 40,680 lb off the Interstate, and on the Interstate under 73,280 lb gross for combinations 55 ft or shorter. GDOT's page also lists a 37,340 lb tandem not found in the statute |
Federal baseline: 23 CFR Part 658, eCFR as of 2026-10-14
When Georgia requires a permit and how to get one
Permits are ordered in GAPROS, the Georgia Permitting & Routing Optimization System. Routes must be requested for loads over 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 100 ft long or 100,000 lb, and single-trip permits are valid for up to 10 allowable travel days, not counting Sundays or legal holidays (672-2-.02(2)).
GDOT lists its special permit limits as 18 ft high, 16 ft wide and no set length, with typical weights by axle count of 23,000 lb on 1 axle, 46,000 on 2, 60,000 on 3, 92,000 on 4, 100,000 on 5, 125,000 on 6, 148,000 on 7 and 150,000 lb on 8. Those figures are Georgia's alone: a load that continues into Florida or Alabama is permitted again under each state's rules, as how oversize permits work explains.
Permit office
- Issuing office
- Georgia Department of Public Safety, Motor Carrier Compliance Division, Oversize Permit Unit (issuing for GDOT)
- Phone
- (844) 837-5500 for permits and customer service; (404) 635-8176 main office
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single trip: up to 16 ft wide, 16 ft high and 150,000 lb, including loads over 100 ft long | $30 |
| Superload: over 16 ft wide or high, or 150,001–180,000 lb | $125 |
| Superload Plus: over 180,000 lb | $500 |
| Mega Load: 300,000 lb and up (listed on GDOT's page) | $500 |
| Multitrip: 10 days, same configuration and route | $100 |
| Annual: up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, 100 ft long and 100,000 lb | $150 |
| Annual Plus: NHS routes, up to 14 ft wide | $500 |
| Six-month cotton or tobacco | $25 |
| Faxing | $1.00 per permit |
| Card processing (GDOT notes the processor has changed) | $7.00 |
Georgia's fees are flat, with no per-mile or ton-mile charge (O.C.G.A. 32-6-28(c)), and checks are payable to Georgia DPS. Escort and police costs come on top of the flat fee, and what a permitted move costs breaks down the rest.
Escort and pilot car rules in Georgia
Escort drivers in Georgia must hold Georgia certification or a reciprocal one (O.C.G.A. 32-6-28(a)(8), enforced since January 1, 2011). GDOT accepts Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Virginia and Washington certifications, and the Georgia program reciprocates with North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma and Washington.
| Load | Escort requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 75 ft and up to 100 ft long | Rear escort or amber light ((c)1(i)) |
| Over 100 ft and up to 125 ft long | Rear escort vehicle ((c)1(ii)) |
| Over 125 ft long | Front and rear escort vehicles ((c)1(iii)) |
| 15 ft 6 in high or more | Front escort with a height sensor, unless the hauler holds a trip approval ticket from NJUNS, the National Joint Utilities Notification Service ((c)2) |
| Over 12 ft and up to 14 ft 8 in wide | Two-lane road: front escort plus rear amber lights. Four-lane road: rear escort. Limited-access highway: rear amber lights only ((c)3(i)) |
| Over 14 ft 8 in and up to 16 ft wide | Two-lane highway: front and rear escorts. Four or more lanes, or limited-access: rear escort, plus a front escort on any route with bridges under 28 ft of lateral clearance ((c)3(ii); 672-2-.03(k)) |
| Over 16 ft wide, or a load the rule does not define | Decided case by case; GDOT may require a police escort with blue lights ((c)3(iii)) |
| Houses over 16 ft wide | Police escort front and rear; moves Monday–Saturday 9 AM–3 PM unless the permit says otherwise |
| Mega Load, 300,000 lb or more | At least two police escorts with blue lights at all times and at least 1 portable message sign under a Traffic Control and Movement Plan; GDOT expects moves between 10 AM and 3 PM |
| 4 or more vehicles queued behind the load | The load and escorts pull over to let traffic pass; two-way radios link the load, the escorts and, if required, GDOT's TMC and enforcement (672-2-.06(1)) |
Certification needs a certified 12-month driving record and an NSC-approved or equivalent defensive driving course, and applicants aged 18 to 20 without a Class A CDL need employer sponsorship. The escort vehicle is a car or pickup with a roof-mounted amber light, an OVERSIZED LOAD sign at least 1 ft by 6 ft with 8 in letters, and two-way communication.
Travel times, curfews and holidays
Georgia permits run in daylight, from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset Eastern time, unless the permit says otherwise (672-2-.03(c)).
- 24 hours: only for permitted loads up to 125,000 lb gross with no dimension over legal, and not in bad weather or on posted holidays (672-2-.03(c); 672-2-.01(b) says 'less than 125,000').
- Weather: nothing moves in fog, snow or ice, and loads over 12 ft wide also stop when visibility drops under 600 ft or ground wind exceeds 25 mph.
- Weekends: rule 672-2 does not define weekend travel, and GDOT's page lists both 'Monday through Sunday' and 'Monday through Saturday', so read the permit face.
- Holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, which in 2026 fall on Jan 1, May 25, Jul 4, Sep 7, Nov 26 and Dec 25.
- Other cities: GDOT may limit travel in other major cities through the permit or at a local jurisdiction's written request.
- Seasonal limits: Georgia's rule 672-2 and GDOT's oversize page set no frost law, so the weather limits above do that job.
What catches carriers in Georgia
Axle limits for off-road equipment
Off-road equipment with more than 25,000 lb on any axle will not be permitted. Equipment with axles of 20,340 to 25,000 lb is routed by the Permit Unit and limited to a 10-mile radius from its origin.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.02(3)
125% fines and mandatory offloading
Overweight on a permitted load is fined at 125% of the non-permit rate, anything more than 6,000 lb over must be offloaded, and sliding axles do not count as load shifting. A voided Superload Plus permit, such as one whose axle spacings come up shorter than permitted, turns into a citation at 125% on all weight over 150,000 lb.
GDOT Oversize Permits; 672-2-.01(l), 672-2-.03(l)
Exact junctions for big loads
Loads over 15 ft 11 in wide, 15 ft 5 in high, 125 ft long or 100,000 lb that begin or end in Georgia must give exact beginning and ending junctions.
GDOT Oversize Permits
Atlanta's I-285 perimeter and Georgia's heaviest loads
Inside I-285 and above 150,000 lb, Georgia's rules tighten in steps.
Inside I-285
No permit is valid into or through the area inside I-285 unless the vehicle is picking up or delivering there, with proof. Inside the perimeter, permits are not valid 7–9 AM or 3–6 PM Monday–Friday, and permitted vehicles may not park on Interstate or limited-access right-of-way while they wait for the window (672-2-.02(4)).
Two sets of rush hours
GDOT's Restricted Travel text says permits are not valid 6–9 AM and 4–6 PM Monday–Friday and does not tie those hours to the perimeter. We plan around both until the permit confirms which applies.
Superload and Superload Plus
A Superload is a non-divisible load over 16 ft wide or high, or 150,001–180,000 lb GVW, and axle weights and spacings are required once gross passes 150,000 lb. A Superload Plus, over 180,000 lb, needs a complete bridge analysis. GDOT approval takes up to 3 days for a Superload and up to 3 weeks for a Superload Plus (672-2-.01(k)-(l)).
Mega Loads
At 300,000 lb or more, GDOT's September 2016 Mega Load letter applies, and GDOT's policy is to exhaust rail and waterway options first. The carrier hires a GDOT-prequalified bridge consultant and notifies GDOT within 3 business days, submits at least 6 weeks (30 business days) before the move, and analyzes structures with an HS20 operating rating under 50 tons. Pre- and post-move bridge inspections (the post report within 3 days), a culvert profile re-survey 14 days after the move, a $500,000 GDOT performance bond form and, over 500,000 lb, insurance bonding complete the list.
Crossing into a neighboring state
- South into Florida: the FDOT permit has to be issued before the truck crosses the line, and loads wider than 12 ft or longer than 85 ft sit out weekday rush hours in Duval and six other counties, as our Florida oversize permits page lays out.
Georgia oversize permit questions
What does an overweight permit cost in Georgia?
Georgia charges flat fees with no mileage: $30 for a single trip up to 150,000 lb (and up to 16 ft wide and high), $125 for a Superload from 150,001 to 180,000 lb, and $500 for a Superload Plus over 180,000 lb. GDOT's page also lists $500 for Mega Loads of 300,000 lb and up. Annual permits are $150, Annual Plus $500 and a 10-day multitrip $100.
Do Georgia escort drivers need certification?
Yes, since January 1, 2011, escort drivers must hold Georgia certification or a reciprocal certification (O.C.G.A. 32-6-28(a)(8)). The application needs a certified 12-month driving record and an NSC-approved or equivalent defensive driving course, and drivers aged 18 to 20 without a Class A CDL need employer sponsorship. Certifications from Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Virginia and Washington are accepted.
What is the Georgia oversize permit login?
Georgia permits are ordered in GAPROS, the Georgia Permitting & Routing Optimization System, at gaprospermits.com. The Department of Public Safety's Oversize Permit Unit takes calls at (844) 837-5500 for permits and customer service, Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and its main office is (404) 635-8176. Checks are payable to Georgia DPS.
Does Georgia have an annual oversize permit?
It has two. The $150 Annual permit covers loads up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high, 100 ft long and 100,000 lb, and the $500 Annual Plus covers wider loads on NHS routes, up to 14 ft wide. For a repeat move on one route, a Multitrip permit costs $100 and runs 10 days with the same configuration, and cotton and tobacco haulers can buy a six-month permit for $25.
At what height does Georgia require a height sensor?
At 15 ft 6 in high or more, a front escort with a height sensor is required (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.06(3)(c)2). The exception is a hauler holding a valid trip approval ticket from NJUNS, the National Joint Utilities Notification Service. Separately, routes must be requested for loads over 13 ft 6 in high, and loads over 15 ft 5 in that begin or end in Georgia give exact junctions.
How long does GDOT take to approve a superload?
GDOT lists up to 3 days for a Superload (over 16 ft wide or high, or 150,001 to 180,000 lb) and up to 3 weeks for a Superload Plus (over 180,000 lb), which needs a complete bridge analysis. Mega Loads of 300,000 lb or more take longer, because the carrier's bridge consultant submits at least 30 business days before the move.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked in October 2026 against the sources below. Rules and rates change; we confirm current requirements on every move.
- eCFR 23 CFR Part 658: Truck Size and Weight (federal baseline)
- GDOT Oversize Permits
- GDOT oversize fees, escorts, restricted travel and legal limits
- GAPROS login page
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.01 Definitions
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.02 General Restrictions (I-285)
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.03 Conditions (travel times, weather, insurance)
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.06 Pilot/Escort Certification and Escorts
- O.C.G.A. 32-6-22 Height (Justia copy)
- O.C.G.A. 32-6-23 Width (Justia copy)
- O.C.G.A. 32-6-24 Length (Justia copy)
- O.C.G.A. 32-6-26 Weight (Justia copy)
- O.C.G.A. 32-6-28 Permits and fees (Justia copy)
- GDOT Mega Load requirements letter (Sept 2016)
- GA DPS Escort Vehicle Operator Certification application
Pricing a Georgia oversize move?
A delivery inside I-285, or a load over 150,000 lb, changes the permit. With the weight, size and addresses in hand, we order the GAPROS permit, line up certified escorts and book the carrier.
- FMCSA-licensed property broker, MC# 1178470
- Permits, escorts and route surveys arranged for each move
- Carriers checked for authority, insurance and safety record
- Commercial shippers, dealers, contractors and auction buyers
Prefer to talk? Call (631) 683-8275.
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Keep reading
- Florida Oversize PermitsFDOT limits, fees, escort qualification and holiday travel rules.
- Heavy Haul in GeorgiaBrunswick and Savannah pickups to Atlanta, with the I-285 delivery window and the flat $30 permit.
- Oversize PermitsLegal limits, permit fees, escort triggers and travel rules by state, from official sources.
- Legal Load LimitsLegal width, height, length and axle weights by state, plus night, weekend and 2026 holiday travel rules.
- Pilot Car RequirementsWhen each state requires escorts: width, length, height and overhang triggers, certification and police escorts.
- Frost LawsSpring thaw weight restrictions by state, with Michigan's 25% and 35% axle cuts, 2026 dates and how to check posted roads before a heavy move.