Permit Types

Single Trip

May only be used once for movement during the times specified on permit; must include a description of the load; name of transporter; origin and destination, routes of travel and insurance provider information.

Standard Single - $30.00
  • Width & Height Limit of 16'
  • Weight Limit of 150,000 lbs.
    Please see attached document for a detailed explanation of the requirements. Click here.
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Superload Single - $125.00
  • Width & Height greater than 16'
  • Weight Limit 150,001 to 180,000 lbs.
    Note: May take up to three(3) days of approval.

Superload Plus - $500.00
  • Weight over 180,000 lbs.
  • Requires Bridge Analysis
    Note: May take up to three (3) weeks for approval.

Mega Load - $500.00
  • Weight 300,000 lbs and above
  • Requires outside Engineering
    Note: Please allow at least 30 business days for GDOT’s review and coordination of the move from the date that the submittal is received from the engineering firm before a permit can be issued. Please see attached document below for a detailed explanation of the requirements. Mega Load Requirements
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Annual Permits

All annual permits must have a load specific description that matches the type of load that is being transported. This means that heavy equipment permits are only issued for drivable equipment. Non-divisible load types such as pre-stress concrete, steel trusse, concrete beams etc. will be issued their own specific type of annual permit that matches the item shown on the permit.

Are good for one (1) year from date of purchase; are interchangeable within the same company, as long as the original is in the transport vehicle at the time of movement; may be used for any load type that is not divisible, and does not exceed any dimension. Required to maintain $1 Million dollars in Automobile liability, combined single limit insurance with the Georgia Department of Public Safety as the certificate holder and must be on file with said Department for the duration of the permit.

Standard Annual - $150.00
  • Width-12'0"
  • Height Limit-14'6"
  • Weight Limit-100,000 lbs.
  • Length Limit-100'0
    Note: Containerized freight allowed 100,000 pounds on 5 axles.

NHS Annual - $500.00
  • Width-14'0 " (allowed up to 14'8" from the base to a point 10'0" above the ground for upper portion of the load)
  • Height Limit-14'6"
  • Weight Limit-100,000 lbs.
  • Length Limit-100'0
    Note: Travel on NHS routes only - see map.

Annual Commercial Wrecker Emergency Tow Permit

Effective July 1, 2013, due to the passage of HB218, Georgia will offer a new emergency tow permit replacing the old permit. Upon renewal, the new permit will be issued. Permits will be issued for 135,000 lbs on 7 axles. Please see the legislation below for the new requirements.

  • Official Code of Georgia Annotated – Chapter 32-6-28
  • Duration and limits of permits.
  • Annual Commercial wrecker emergency tow permit. Pursuant to this code section, the commission may issue an annual permit for vehicles towing disable, damaged, abandoned or wrecked commercial vehicles, including combination vehicles, even though such wrecker or its load exceed the maximum limits specified in this article. An annual commercial wrecker emergency tow permit shall not authorize the operation of a vehicle:
  • Whose single axle weight exceeds 25,000 pounds
  • Whose load on one tandem axle exceeds 50,000 pounds and whose load on any secondary tandem axle exceeds 38,000 pounds; or
  • Whose total load exceeds 125 feet
Fees

Charges for the issuance of annual commercial wrecker emergency tow permits shall be $500.00 per permit.

Rules of the State Department of Transportation - Chapter 672-2-.01 Definitions.

(d) Emergency Towing: When a tractor/trailer combination becomes disabled, an authorized permitted wrecker may transport the disabled tractor/trailer to a repair facility or safe location to dismantle the tractor/trailer. If the closes location is a weigh station or rest area, transporters are authorized to leave dismantle the tractor/trailer, at that location, however, they must be moved within a twenty-four (24) hour period or be moved at the ownders expense. No state agency shall be responsible for any damages to tractor-trailer left on State property.

Special Permit Limits

Height - 18'0"

Length - No Set Limits

Width - 16'0" Weight - (Noted below)

Number of Axles Typical Weight Allowed
1 23,000 pounds
2 46,000 pounds
3 60,000 pounds
4 92,000 pounds
5 100,000 pounds
6 125,000 pounds
7 148,000 pounds
8 150,000 pounds

How to Obtain Permits

Georgia DOT has a new automated permitting and routing system – GAPROS. You may order via the web https://gapros.dot.ga.gov, toll free (844) 837.5500 or by fax at (575) 353.7732 View Tutorial

Divisible loads are not allowed under a permit. Dozer blades may be hauled with the dozer attached, or if disassembled, loaded for minimum width and up to 100,000 pounds gross weight only.

Insurance - Customers must provide state, policy number and company name when ordering a trip permit. Certificate of coverage must be on file with Department. Proof of insurance is required showing a minimum coverage for bodily injury of $1 million for multiple persons as a result of any one occurrence; and for property damage a minimum of $1 million.

Permit information that customers are required to have contains tractor and trailer information (including length, width, height and gross and axle weights), origin and destination, routes to be traveled, effective dates and where permit is to be faxed and insurance provide information.

Requirements, Restrictions and Fines

Georgia Escort Requirements

Length For any permitted load whose length exceeds 75' but is less than or equal to 100' a rear escort/amber light is required.
Length For any permitted load whose length exceeds 100' but is less than or equal to 125' a vehicle rear escort is required.
Length For any permitted load whose length is greater than 125' a vehicle front and vehicle rear escort is required.
Height For any permitted load whose height is 15' 6" or greater a vehicle front escort with a height sensor is required.
Width For any permitted load whose width exceeds 12' but is less than or equal to 14'8" a vehicle front escort and a rear escort/amber light is required for travel on a 2 lane roadway. A vehicle rear escort is required for the same permitted load to travel on a 4-lane highway. For travel on a Limited Access Highway/Interstate System a rear escort/amber light is required.
Width For permitted loads whose width exceeds 16' or for loads not defined above, the department shall determine escort requirements on a case by case basis.
Houses Houses will require a police front escort and a police rear escort.
Sign Requirements

Signs are required on all escorts and vehicle transporting loads requiring a permit. Sign must have black letters on a yellow or orange background. Letters must be at least eight inches high and four inches wide.

The sign must be at least six feet wide by one foot tall, and read "OVERSIZE LOAD". One sign must be displayed on the front of the towing vehicle and one sign on the rear of the trailer as well as, the front escort and the rear escort vehicles when required. Additionally, all mobile homes must have a sign which contains the name and telephone number of the mover and must be legible from a distance of 50 feet. "Oversize load" signs must be removed when load/vehicle is legal.

Flag Requirements

Red flags, 18 inches square must be displayed on all four corners of the load and all extremities.

Restricted Travel

No permitted load will be allowed to travel into or through the area bounded by I-285 (Atlanta bypass), unless the vehicle is making a pickup or delivery within the area. The driver must be prepared to show proof of such pickup of delivery. In addition, a permit issued for the movement of a vehicle or load is not valid between the hours of 6 a.m. through 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. through 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking on the interstate and limited access highway rights-of-way will not be allowed for permitted vehicles waiting for authorization.

Movement of a permitted vehicle or load will take place only on Monday through Sunday, thirty (30) minutes after sunrise to thirty (30) minutes before sunset, unless otherwise shown on the permit.

Houses may only be moved Monday through Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm unless otherwise noted on the permit.

No permitted vehicle or load will be moved during foggy weather, snow or icy conditions or during the following legal holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Travel not allowed on routes with bridges of less than 28 feet lateral clearance.

Travel Days: Monday through Saturday.

Violations and Fines

Misdemeanor Violations, uniform traffic citations, vary from county to county.

Overweight Fines (Governed by the Dept. of Public Safety)

Zero to 1,000 pounds overweight is 0.8 cents per pound:

  • Plus 1.5 cents per pound next 2,000 pounds overweight
  • Plus three cents per pound next 2,000 pounds overweight
  • Plus four cents per pound next 3,000 pounds overweight
  • Plus five cents per pound for all excess weight over 8,000 pounds
  • Overweight fines are assessed based on allowable weights. Overweight vehicles may be fined for either gross, tandem or axle weight violations, whichever produces the larger fine. If overweight on a permitted load, the fine is assessed at 125 percent of the rate imposed for operating without a permit. Operator may shift a load by hand to avoid an overweight axle violation. All excess weight over 6,000 pounds must be off loaded. Sliding axles change configuration of vehicle and are not considered shifting of load.