Wide Load Permits - 2020 Trip from NJ to FL

[Bosn Mate]

Good Afternoon:

I am in the early stages of planning a trip to the Florida Keys February-March 2020. My experience with obtaining wide load permits is restricted to New Jersey only.

I started the process of obtaining on-line accounts with states I will need to tow through (Delaware; Maryland; Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; Georgia; Florida) and have been successful with a few. Others are more of a challenge.

Before I start making some phone calls, was wondering if I could speak to a fellow Tugnut who has experience with these states so if I have to call the state(s), I can do so in an informed manner. If so, appreciate a PM so I can get in contact with you.

Thanks much!

Mike

 

[rackline]

I'm interested in this too, so please post here instead of PMs! I imagine there are others who would like to learn more about this.
Thanks!
Chris

 

[Bosn Mate]

Chris:

Great suggestion!

I am going to make a document up and post for future reference once complete.

Mike

 

[Bruce Moore]

There have been many informative threads on this topic. Searching on "wide load permit" will surface most of them, including this one.

There are several very experienced members who have towed across states, regions, and much of the country. I'm not one of them but I'm sure they'll chime in.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

I’ve got some experience with “OS/OW” permits since we bought our R29S 1 1/2 years ago and can shed a little light on the subject. I’ve obtained, on my own, permits from approximately 15 US States, several many times and the Province of Ontario. What I’ve learned is that most states and Ontario you can apply for your permit on the individual state “Oversize/overweight” web page, but a couple were by fax and one was issued when you show up at the first weight station upon entering the state....may have been Wyoming. Each state requires the basic info, such as width, length, weight, serial numbers etc but others ask for insurance declaration pages and Ohio has to get a special form sent to them by your insurance company releasing them from any liability. Other states require measurements between your front and rear truck tires, then the truck rear tire and the trailer front tire, etc. With that said I found it very helpful to google each state I’m going to travel thru to find that states OS/OW page, learn as much as I can then call that states OS/OW department to ask additional questions. I found almost all states to be very helpful but you need to start early in the process as it does take some time to get up and over the learning curve arc.

Once you start to obtain your permits, print them out and put them each in a dedicated binder, along with a copy of your truck and boat insurance, state plate registration and a list of all your truck, trailer and boat specifications that you have used for your permits. By doing this you have all the info for future permits and when you go I to a weigh station you are organized....which the officials really do appreciate.


Jim

 

[rackline]

There have been many informative threads on this topic. Searching on "wide load permit" will surface most of them, including this one.

There are several very experienced members who have towed across states, regions, and much of the country. I'm not one of them but I'm sure they'll chime in.

Cheers,

Bruce

Thanks for sharing that post, Bruce! I thought I had read all the posts back to the beginning of time!

 

[Scrivma1]

In my research for acquiring a 31 CB, a friend from work who handles wide loads recommended "Permits on the Move" a Florida company that for a relative small fee sets up your wide load permits. He has used them for the last 20 years to move Ag equipment around the Midwest, and indicated they do nation wide, knowing the details well. Phone is 727-942-2006. Appears the protocol in complicated, and monies well spent, as he uses them rather than fight the trouble and is very satisfied.

 

[Irish Mist]

I have not trailered through Florida for a while but it used to be a year permit was not much more then two single passes.
The permit companies do make it simple but I just had issue giving them $30 to get me a $15 permit ( $45 total ) the first time I did it.
Always check how much a yearly pass is ( saves applying multiple times if you are traveling through that state more then once in a year ) also look for special rates for boats as some have a better rate for wide loads that are boats. This is usually states on or near the coasts with lots of boat moves. It does take a bit of planning but most times when applying on line the permits are issued the same day and often within minutes.

 

[Thorolson]

Recent experience:

I just pulled permits from Florida to New York. Here’s how it went…
Florida: Phone call. Cost: $10.
Georgia: They needed insurance declaration page emailed... Then I phoned in info. Cost: $31.
South Carolina: insisted I Fax in info.. I used a fax app on iPad... Cost:$30.
North Carolina: Very easy: 5 minute phone call. Cost: $12.
Virginia: Again, very easy... Cost: $20.
West Virginia: Online and then phone call... Cost: $20.
Pennsylvania: unable to pull w/o agent. They required some type of bonding, however, if I’d planned properly, I could have mailed in form... still working on it, but it appears the state fee is about $32 plus agent fee of 30 to 40.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Tom, thanks for the tip on the cell phone fax app. The State of Kentucky requires that there OS/OW permit application be faxed into them and of course they will only fax you back the actual permit. Not knowing about the fax app I’ve made 3 round trips to a place with a fax and I’ll still need one more round trip to finally get the actual permit. Having the cell phone app will be saving lots of time in the future.

Jim F

 

[Robjen]

Thanks for all the help. We are planning a trip from Kentucky to Pensacola Florida this summer. This will be very helpful information. I am a little concerned about the bridge clearance on two bridges on I65 south In Nashville. I have seen them posted at 14 ft 😱 . That might make me pucker a little when trailering the R29CB :shock: .

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Some states require you to give them your desired route and they’ll either approve it or amend it with an alternative. The alternative is given because of construction, to low of a clearance under one or more bridges, etc. Other states you get the permit and the rest is up to you, regarding research of bridge clearance, etc. Each state I’ve had to do research on bridge clearance I was able to find a chart of bridge clearance on the internet by Googling a states Dept of Transportation. Some are easier to research then others.

An example would be on my recently acquired Tennessee permit.....within the permit info it states that I-440 is closed from 1/1/19 to 8/31/19 for Oversize movements and to call 877-244-0065 or visit https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic to check on an alternative route.

Jim F