North Carolina OS/OD Overview
Permit Required
Yes – any load exceeding legal size or weight must have a permit from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Over-dimensional permits are issued through NCDOT's online permitting system before the move.
Legal Limits (Without Permit)
- Width: 8'6"
- Height: 13'6"
- Length: 75' (combo); 53' trailer allowed
- 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
- Standard: Oversize loads are restricted to sunrise–sunset travel for general commodities.
- Holidays: Overwidth, overheight, or overlength loads over 112,000 lbs are prohibited from noon to noon on Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas weekends.
- Night travel: Generally not permitted for over-dimensional loads; verify lighting and route conditions on the issued permit.
Escort Requirements
| Dimension | Escort Requirement |
|---|---|
| Width > 12' (up to 14') | 1 front escort; on 4-lane roads the escort follows the load |
| Width > 14' | 1 front + 1 rear escort |
| Width > 16' | Law enforcement escort required |
| Height > 14'5" | 1 front escort with height pole required |
| Height > 16'6" | Law enforcement escort required |
| Length > 110' (up to 150') | 1 rear escort |
| Length > 150' | 1 front + 1 rear escort |
| GVW > 149,999 lbs | 1 front escort |
Detailed Information
ESCORTS: A law enforcement escort is required for widths over 16' or heights over 16'6". For width over 14', one front and one rear escort are required; for width over 12' (up to 14'), one front escort is required, and on 4-lane roads the escort follows the load. For length over 150', one front and one rear escort are required; for length over 110' (up to 150'), one rear escort is required.
HEIGHT POLE: A front escort with a height pole is required when the load exceeds 14'5" in height.
WEIGHT: A front escort is required when gross vehicle weight exceeds 149,999 lbs.
ESCORT CERTIFICATION: For loads over 12' wide, North Carolina Community College System escort certification is required. NC accepts reciprocal FL, GA, OK, and WA certificates.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: Oversize loads are restricted to sunrise–sunset travel for general commodities. Overwidth, overheight, or overlength loads over 112,000 lbs are prohibited from noon to noon on Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas weekends.
Additional Notes
- "Oversize Load" signs, red/orange flags, and amber warning lights are required on the load and escort vehicles per NCDOT permit conditions.
- Escorts for loads over 12' wide must hold NC Community College System certification; reciprocal FL/GA/OK/WA certificates are accepted.
- Permit conditions issued by NCDOT govern the specific move and may impose requirements beyond these general thresholds.
Source: North Carolina DOT — Over-Dimensional Permits. Informational only — always verify against the live NCDOT permit office before any move; permit conditions control.
