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The Daily Bale
Natasha Post, Author
TractorTransport.com
Because heavy farm equipment transport features awkward dimensions and colossal sizes, they’re considered oversized and overweight loads. Furthermore, they’re hauled using specialized trailers, requiring the need to obtain a transport permit. Continue reading to understand when you need a permit, the types of permits, and the application process.
When Do You Need a Heavy Haul Permit for Your Farm Equipment?
One of the critical tasks when dealing with heavy haul permits is to make an informed decision on whether or not you require the documents. Every state sets its own DOT rules regulating heavy trucking companies, and you’ll need a permit if your load exceeds the standard legal height, width, and length limits.
You’ll need a permit if your piece of farm equipment transport measures an excess of 13′ 6″ in height, 8′ 6″ (width), and 48′ in length. The maximum standard legal weight is 80,000 pounds, and anything above that is considered an overweight load, hence the need for a permit. Some of the equipment measures up to 14 ft. in height and almost 10 ft. wide, and that can potentially disrupt the normal traffic flow and activities along the route. A permit indicates your authority to move such an enormous load on public roads.
DOT heavy haul permits also come with restrictions and limitations. For instance, you must outfit the trailer with an “OVERSIZED” or “OVERWEIGHT” sign on the truck’s and pilot car’s bumpers. Furthermore, the pulling cab must always have a flashing light and low-beam headlights to alert oncoming traffic of the heavy equipment under shipment.
Types of Heavy Farm Equipment Hauling Permits
You can apply for a range of heavy-trucking permits, depending on the consignment and type of load.
Single Trip Oversized Permits
You need a single trip oversize permit when hauling a load that exceeds the standard legal load limits. That’s if it exceeds 80,000 pounds, 8′ 6″ (width), 13′ 6″ (height), and 65′ (overall trailer length). However, it’s essential to confirm the overall length limit with your state’s DOT as the limit varies from state to state.
Your chosen heavy hauler must obtain the permit and other necessary documents to accompany the load. These including:
- Utility Clearance Approvals
- Construction Notification Approvals
- Vehicle Drawings
- Shipper’s Letters
- Engineering Survey Referrals
- Route Surveys
- Pilot Car Inspection-Pass
Single-Trip Oversized City and County Permits
If your consignment starts and ends within an urban location and travels on local city roads or within a county, you’ll have to retrieve a single trip overweight city/county permit. Local jurisdictions typically reinforce these laws because they understand the liabilities and legal aspects surrounding the heavy hauling industry.
Superload Permits
Sometimes farm equipment can exceed the standard load limits detailed in a permit, and that’s when the cargo is referred to as a superload. While you can detach or disassemble parts of an oversized load, you can’t divide parts of a superload, and it’s usually transported as one massive piece of machinery.
Heavy Haul Permit Applications | Farm Equipment Transport
Whether you want to hire a heavy-hauling company or you manage one yourself, you’ll require a transport permit, and it’s critical to understand the application process, transmission, and charges. According to the law, you need to apply for a heavy haul permit at least two days before the shipping date.
When applying for the transport documents, you’ll need to provide details about the dimensions of your oversized cargo. The DOT will want to know what the cargo’s height, width, and height measure. Another must-have detail is the farm equipment’s maximum weight because that enables traffic officials to assess the weight distribution based on weight-per-axle.
It’s worth noting that your application will undergo various stages of assessments, investigations, and analysis. That extends the waiting time, and if you applied at the last minute, it might hurt your shipping plans and possibly lead to client dissatisfaction. Therefore, apply for a permit at least one or two months in advance to ensure every permit and travel paper is ready on the movement date.