Moving equipment of any size long distances is a difficult task involving careful planning. The equipment must be properly secured, the driver must be experienced, and the route must be carefully planned. However, moving normal sized equipment long distances is a relatively common endeavor. Thousands of trucks move normal sized equipment daily and there is a system in place to streamline the movement of normal sized equipment. Things become more complicated when one wishes to move oversized items.
In the United States, any load that is wider than 8 ft 6 in and taller than 13 ft 6 in will be considered so large that an oversized permit is necessary. Each state has different requirements, so it is important to check what qualifies as oversized in a state. For example, florida oversize permits may have different requirements than permits in Alabama. It is quite possible that a driver could begin a journey from Mobile, Alabama to Orlando, Florida without needing a permit in Alabama, but needing one in Florida. The driver and company could be exposing themselves to hefty fines by not complying with the permit laws in each state. The best way to avoid any unforeseen difficulties is to hire an attorney that has specific knowledge about the rules in each individual state before beginning the journey. An attorney can quickly advise where a permit may be necessary and where a permit will not be required. Having this knowledge ahead of time will save a lot of problems down the road.
Some states, such as Washington, allow companies to self-issue permits if they are engaged in shipping oversized materials on a regular basis. For example, a company that regularly produces and ships items such as manufactured homes will have a need to obtain oversized permits on a regular basis. This is because oversized loads by their very nature cannot be broken down into smaller loads. A manufactured home must be shipped entirely intact if it is to have any value, so companies that ship manufactured loads will require regular oversize permits. Such companies will benefit from states that allow them to self-issue permits after obtaining permission from the state. Dealing with any state agency can be a difficult and time-consuming task, so it is in a company’s best interest to consult an attorney and determine if it is a good idea to request the right to self-issue oversize permits. If an attorney believes that it would be in the company’s best interest, then the attorney can easily procure permission from the state.
Finally, a key component to oversized permits is that they will require a pilot truck to accompany the load. The pilot truck will warn other drivers that an oversized load is coming down the road. Furthermore, the pilot truck can warn the driver of the oversized load of any dangers that may be lurking down the road, so that the driver of the oversized load has ample opportunity to react. A pilot truck can be obtained for as little as twenty-five dollars and is an important component to this difficult process.