Louisiana

Louisiana Oversize Permits & Escorts Information

Do you need oversize load permits in the state of Louisiana? Find out the maximum width and weight allowed on Louisiana highways, the legal operating times, the oversize load signage rules, and when Louisiana requires pilot cars. The following data is for informational purposes only. We are not a permit service, do not arrange permits for carriers, and do not answer permit and escort requirement questions.

Oversize Load Limits

Maximum load sizes before a permit is required:

• Length: 65′
• Width: 8’6″
• Height: 13’6″
• Weight: 80,000 lbs gross
• Overhang: 4′ in the front; 8′ off the rear

Permits

Louisiana oversize permits are valid for one to three days. Overweight permits valid for four days. Permits are required prior to entering the state. For more information, visit the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Legal Operating Times

• Sunrise to sunset, including Saturday and Sunday
• No travel on major holidays and on Mardi Gras in certain areas.
• Overweight only and under 65′ allowed continuous travel.
• Permit loads may not cross any Mississippi River bridge in the New Orleans area, or be within two miles of such bridge, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Loads over 12′ wide may not travel on the Interstate highway system through Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Loads over 14′ wide (except for fiberglass swimming pools, tanks, boats, and mobile homes) may not travel on Interstate highways in Louisiana.

Pilot Cars & Escort Vehicles

Escort vehicle or pilot car required for heavy-haul or oversize loads if:

• The length is over 90′. (One rear required.)
• The length is over 125′. (State police escort required.)
• The width is over 12′. (One front required.)
• The width is over 16′. (State police escort required on two- or multi-lane highways.)
• The height is over 15’10” or more. (A height pole or escort may be required.)

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Requirements

Pilot car and escort vehicles shall be registered in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes or Reciprocal Agreement. Closed vans, buses, campers, motor homes, and motor driven cycles are not acceptable escort vehicles. Two “OVERSIZE LOAD” signs (7″ long x 18″ tall) with a yellow background and black lettering 10″ high and 1.5″ thick must be available but are not required to be mounted on the escort vehicle. An approved 360-degree, amber emergency warning lamp (either bar, strobe, revolving, and stationary) is required. Dome-type lamps must have a lens of at least 9″ in diameter and 4″ in height. Two red or orange fluorescent flags, 18″x18″, must be mounted atop the vehicle, in line with the warning lamps, at a 45-degree angle) and extend more than 6″ to either side of vehicle. All pilot cars and escort vehicles must be equipped with a 2-way radio, identification (name and address or phone number and city of company or owner of vehicle) on each front door, two rear-view mirrors, four 15-minute burning flares, two red or orange fluorescent hand-held flags, four 18″x18″ red or orange fluorescent flags, and onc 10 lb BC dry or equivalent fire extinguisher.

Oversize Load Sign Requirements

“OVERSIZE LOAD” signs are required for all loads over 10′ wide, over 75′ long, or exceeding the legal overhang. Flags are required on all over width loads. They must be placed on all four corners of the load and at any protrusions. Over-length loads and loads with a rear overhang exceeding 4′ must be flagged. No sign is required. There are sign or flag requirements for over-height only loads.

The data on this page is for informational purposes only, and we do not guarantee its accuracy.