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TMS for heavy haul & oversize carriers (1–50 trucks)

Louisiana Oversize / Overweight Permit Requirements

Legal-without-permit dimension limits, escort and pilot car thresholds, height pole rules, daylight-only windows, and holiday restrictions for Louisiana oversize moves.

Verified 2026-06-06 · Source: wwwsp.dotd.la.gov
This page summarizes Louisiana DOT permit conditions for general reference. Always verify against the state permit office before dispatch — rules change, and individual permit conditions can be more restrictive.

Legal limits without a permit

In Louisiana, you can move a load without an OSOW permit up to these dimensions on the Interstate and designated highways. Anything over the limits requires a permit (and may require escorts — see below).

DimensionWithout a permitPermit required when
Width8′6″ (federal limit)Anything wider
Height13′6″Anything taller
Combo length75′0″Anything longer
Gross weight80,000 lbAnything heavier

Escort and pilot car thresholds

When permitted, the following escort or movement-restriction rules apply in Louisiana. Thresholds are conservative — your specific permit conditions may impose tighter limits depending on the route.

TriggerDimensionThresholdDetail
Police escort Length 125 ft Length over 125 ft: State Police escort required.
Rear pilot car Length 90 ft Length 90–125 ft: 1 rear escort on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
Police escort Width 18 ft Width over 18 ft: 2 State Police escorts required on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
Police escort Width 16'1" Width 16'1"–18': 1 State Trooper escort required on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
Height pole Height 15'10" Height over 15'10" off interstate: front escort with height pole required.
Front pilot car Width 12 ft Width 12 ft up to 16 ft: 1 front civilian escort on 2-lane highways; 1 rear civilian on 4+-lane.
Rear pilot car Width 12 ft Width 12 ft up to 16 ft: 1 rear civilian escort on 4+-lane highways; 1 front on 2-lane.
Daylight-only movement Width 12 ft Oversize loads must travel daylight hours only unless the permit specifically authorizes nighttime movement.
Weekend / holiday restriction Width 12 ft No travel New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Mardi Gras areas subject to additional restrictions.

Stop tracking these rules by hand.

OverSizeTMS encodes the per-state escort and dimension rules for every state plus DC. Enter the load dimensions and route, and the platform tells you which permits, escorts, and time windows apply automatically.

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Last updated 2026-06-06. Cross-checked against the state admin code.