Oversized Load Regulations

Don't forget to read your permits. there are some items that end up on flatbed trailers that have special provisions in several states. The one that got me was an load that was over 12 feet wide, looked light pieces of giant doors. I think there were 6 of them on the trailer and measured 13'5" tall and grossed me at 79,000 with legal axles and a split rear. WI to Laredo Texas. Everything went fine till we were in central TX and got pulled over. Trooper Yahl sez we didn't have narly nufff chains on dat dere steal. They had a law that said that kind of a load needed 105% chain coverage PLUS two chains X'd across the front. I rechecked our permits and sure as
xxxx there it was. Not one of us caught it. Found out later the girl who got the permits missed it and so did the dispatcher who handled all od loads for twenty years. Anyway I started apologizing like crazy and he started laughing; told us everybody misses that one and it ain't in no dam book he'd ever heard of seen of..It must of been my lucky day because he then proceeded to tell us to get rollin as soon as we had our extra extra chains on. Live, pull flat and keep on learning!

 

Redd I have one and saw it at Bosselman/Pilot in Grand Island, NE a while back. Also at stop in Newton , KS. They are around. Use it mainly for finding #### curfews=grrrrh.

 

Best advice I have ever heard. Got to read them EVERY TIME. We had route from Gainsville tx to ND that I had run about 6 times. Took off after just glancing at permits. Stopped at place I like to fuel and shower in Billings, OK. Take off and where we had always gotten off to bypass KS turnpike the exit was closed due to construction. No way to turn around a Volkswagon much less a 12' wide 83' long load. Oh well head a few miles up to KS weight station and get prepared to take Mr Stiffie. For the 1st time I have ever seen they were shut down. Up to 1st exit which is road we were to cross back over I-35 on any way. Got REAL lucky on that one. Now I read every word on every page after chaining and before moving off any yard.

 

Good idea. But if you are in N Mexico they will ream you. They are not terrible , but have warned me about a few things. 6 warning flags instead of 4. And one time it was raining cats and dogs. Left oversize banner on front bumper. everything else stowed. Entered on I 25. Was warned that I could be ticketed for having banner on without oversize load on board. No flasher or strobe on. But he had some BS reason that troopers might pull me over and waste their time checking a non permitted load. Ok what ever. CO is good as long as your paper is all in order. Can run at night which is great. WY wants you to call 1 hr out and them stop and pay at coop. They all have their own little quirks. Have never run east w/ over dimension. Sure it is fun.

 

East with od isnt too bad. Pennsylvania's permit dept sucks. I took a load last year and it said to take exit 5a (8th street bridge). We get off at that exit and low and behold the 8th Street bridge is gone!!! Had been for 3 months!!! We had to call the state and see what they had to say. They said " We didnt know that construction was still going on" WTF!!! Luckily they had a detour that we managed to get through. I wouldnt follow that pilot car book totally. We have copies of the provision sheets for each state to make sure that we follow the rules.

 

It's a different world for sure. But it is about the only stuff that still pays decent. sure not like last year, but we always get a min of $2.65 mile. And loads are usually only 18-27K. wind is what will kill us. If it's a headwind with 12' tanks might as well slow down to 60 or you're just burning fuel for nothing. But a good tail wind can really help. Have gotten over 7 with tailwind and as little as 41/2 with bad head wind.

 

Yeah but the back hauls usually suck. Doing good to break even on some of them. Hope it gets back to decent pay both ways. We only have one more load booked for this year. They are talking about shutting down till Jan. Then I may be sitting. Not going to ND or some other dead lanes with cheap freight.