Arkansas OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – all loads exceeding legal size or weight limits must have a permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 13'6"
- Length: 53' (single trailer); 65' (truck & trailer)
- Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW
Permitted Load Maximums (Typical Upper Limits)
- Width: Up to 20' with escorts
- Height: Up to 17' (route survey needed over 15'6")
- Length: 100'+ possible with review
- Weight: Over 180,000 lbs with analysis
Superloads require special routing and clearance from ArDOT.
Travel Hours
- Standard: Daylight only for most oversize loads
- No travel: Sundays or holidays
- Loads under 10' wide: May travel at night with permission
- Bad weather: No travel allowed
Escort Requirements (General Guidelines)
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 12' | 1 Escort (front or rear depending on road) |
| Width > 14' | 2 Escorts (front and rear) |
| Height > 15'6" | Route survey + high pole car |
| Length > 90' | 1 Rear Escort |
| Length > 100' | 2 Escorts |
Additional Notes
- Oversize signs, flags, and amber lights are required depending on the load
- Must follow ArDOT-approved routes where applicable
- Loads over 16' high or very heavy may require more time to process
Detailed Information
PERMITS: Permits valid for three days. Must have permit prior to entering state.
OPERATING TIME: Daylight only (sunrise to sunset for Arkansas), seven days a week. Continuous travel may be allowed if O/W only, not to exceed 108,000 pounds. Loads not exceeding 90' long (other dimensions legal) may have continuous travel.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: No oversize movement through the metropolitan Little Rock area between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., and on I-30 (M.M. 138-143), I-40 (M.M. 151-155), and all of I-630. No travel on major holidays (New Years, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas). If holiday falls on Monday or Friday, no weekend movement allowed.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS:
Width: 8'6" Height: 13' 6" Length: 53'6" trailer & load Overhang: 60' poles, pipes, machinery, steel beams or other objects of a structural nature do not require a permit for daylight travel for up to 90' overall length. Night travel requires a permit. Otherwise, up to 53'6" trailer/load is allowed without permit. (If long beams are on a stretch trailer and do not extend beyond the rear of the trailer, then a permit is required.)
Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 20,000 Tandem – 34,000 Tridem – 54,000
Steer Axle – Arkansas asks for manufacturer's front axle weight rating (up to maximum of 20,000 pounds), which you are not allowed to exceed.
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS:
Width: 16' (20' on some non-interstate routes) Height: 17' (Over 16' must obtain special approval, and not allowed on Interstates. Utilities personnel must accompany load over 17'.)
Note: Over 14' wide or over 15' high is looked at on a case-by-case basis to determine if route survey is required.
Length: No set limit Weight: Single – 20,000 Tandem – 46,000 Tridem – 60,000 Quad – 68,000
Loads exceeding these dimensions are classed as Super Loads.
ESCORTS: Width: On 2-lane Highways: Over 12' – 1 escort; over 14' – 2 escorts. On Interstate and Controlled Access Highways: over 14' – 1 escort; over 16' – 2 escorts. Police escorts for larger loads are looked at on a case-by-case basis. Height: Over 15' – 1 escort with height pole Length: Over 100' – 1 escort, over 130' – 2 escorts.
SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS: "Oversize Load” signs required on all loads exceeding legal width, height or length. Red flags 18" square are required on rear corners on all loads exceeding legal width, height or length. There are no sign or flag requirements for overweight only loads.