Alaska OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – any load exceeding legal size or weight must have a permit from the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF), issued through its Statewide Maintenance & Operations Office of Weights & Restrictions.
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 13'6"
- Length: 75' (combination)
- Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW (standard axle limits apply)
Anything over a legal dimension or weight requires an oversize/overweight permit before the move. Superloads beyond routine permit limits require engineering review, route survey, and possible bridge analysis.
Travel Hours
- Overwidth loads: Loads over 14' wide are generally restricted to daylight movement on most state highways (17 AAC 25.015).
- Night travel: A night endorsement is rare for over-dimensional loads; confirm with the DOT&PF district office.
- Verify: Specific travel windows and any seasonal or route conditions are set on the issued permit.
Escort Requirements (General Guidelines)
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 14' | Front pilot car on state highways (route thresholds vary) |
| Width > 18' | Second (rear) pilot car – lead and chase both required |
| Height > 14'6" | Height-clearance pole on front pilot car |
Detailed Information
FRONT PILOT CAR: A front pilot car is required for loads over 14' wide on state highways. Specific route thresholds vary – confirm in permit conditions (17 AAC 25.015).
SECOND PILOT CAR: A second (rear) pilot car is required when width exceeds 18'. Lead and chase are both required; lower thresholds may apply on rural 2-lane (17 AAC 25.015).
HEIGHT POLE: A height-clearance pole is required on the front pilot car for loads taller than 14'6" (17 AAC 25.020).
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: Overwide loads are restricted to daylight movement on most state highways. A night endorsement is rare; confirm with the DOT&PF district office (17 AAC 25.015).
Additional Notes
- "Oversize Load" signs, red/orange flags, and amber warning lights are required on the load and escort vehicles per Alaska DOT&PF permit conditions.
- Lower escort thresholds may apply on rural 2-lane highways – confirm the specifics in the issued permit.
- Permit conditions issued by Alaska DOT&PF govern the specific move and may impose requirements beyond these general thresholds.
Source: Alaska DOT&PF — Oversize/Overweight Permits. Informational only — always verify against the live permit office before any move; permit conditions control.
