Heavy haul & oversize
Oversize and overweight freight isn't a special mode — it's freight with a permit requirement, an escort requirement, or both. Here's how Goliath Dispatch evaluates it, and where that evaluation stops.
Federal legal-limit baseline
Without a permit, the baseline most states apply is 8'6" wide, 13'6" tall, and 80,000 lb gross weight on a standard five-axle configuration, with trailer length commonly capped around 53'. Every state sets its own permit thresholds at or above that baseline, and several set tighter limits on specific roads, bridges or through certain cities.
What triggers a permit
Exceeding a state's legal width, height, length or weight limit — even by a few inches or a few hundred pounds — requires a permit for that state. Some states also require a permit for a load within legal dimensions if its axle weight distribution exceeds the bridge formula for that route.
What triggers an escort
Most states require a pilot car once width passes a state-specific threshold, commonly between 12' and 14'. Height that risks overhead obstructions, and length beyond roughly 100'–110' combined, typically add a rear or front escort requirement. Several states require a police escort above certain dimensions or on specific designated routes.
When a route survey is required
Height close to a bridge or wire clearance, or a route through a city with load-specific detours, calls for a physical route survey before the trip — not just a routing calculation. Goliath Dispatch flags when your load's height or width crosses the threshold where a survey is standard practice; performing the survey itself is a service your team or your escort provider carries out.
Why "the rule" isn't one rule
Permit thresholds, escort thresholds, travel curfews and required equipment — flags, lighting, oversize signage — vary by state, and sometimes by county or specific route. A load that's legal to move at 12' wide in one state may need an escort at that same width one state over.
What this evaluation is, and isn't
Goliath Dispatch's oversize evaluation is operational guidance: it flags when your load's dimensions and weight are likely to require a permit or an escort, based on the state and route you provide, so your team can plan before dispatch. It is not a legal determination, and it does not replace the permit itself. Obtaining the correct permits for a load, in every state it crosses, is the operator's responsibility. When the platform's evaluation and a state's actual permit requirement disagree, the state's requirement governs — always confirm with the issuing state or your permit service before the load moves.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the platform submit permit applications for me?
- No. The platform tracks permit status, expiration and escort confirmation. It does not submit permit applications on your behalf in this release.
- What if my load is borderline?
- Treat it as oversize. The cost of an unnecessary escort is always lower than the cost of a citation, an impound, or a bridge strike.
- Does "legal" at pickup mean legal for the whole route?
- No. Width, height and weight thresholds change at state lines, and a multi-state route needs permits evaluated for each state individually.
- Who is responsible if a permit is wrong or missing?
- The operator moving the load. Our evaluation is a planning tool, not a permit — see the disclaimer above.
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