What is heavy haul, wide load and oversize load?
In Oklahoma the legal (which means no permit required) maximum load width is 8’6”, the legal maximum load height is 13’ 6”, the legal overall (includes any front/rear overhang) semitrailer maximum length is 53’ (59’6” on designated highways) and the legal weight is 80,000 lbs. GVW (gross vehicle weight).
When is an OS/OW permit needed?
The maximum dimensions and weights stated before are to be used as warning that permits may be required when your load on the lowboy or standard trailer exceeds any of these weight and dimension maximums. Oklahoma has numerous oversize and overweight loads due to the oil and gas industry, especially in the three high production counties of: Carter, Ellis and Stephens. Great Western Transportation knows the permit requirements for Oklahoma, all US states and Canadian provinces, so one call to Great Western Transportation will immediately answer your freight questions. Numerous heavy machinery and oversize materials are being hauled to and through Oklahoma daily.
So let’s look at some heavy haul, oversize and overweight freight cases related to the oil industry.
1-Your non-divisible top drive assembly weighs 60,400 lbs, so in this case your load will be overweight! Why the top drive assembly only weighs 60,400 lbs you may ask. However, the additional weight of the tractor trailer of 31,000 lbs to 37,000 lbs, must be added to the total weight. This means on the low end the GVW will be 91,400 lbs and on the high end will be 97,400 lbs.
There is also a second issue that has to be addressed with this load. This is the fact that common flatbed trailers are rated to transport up to approximately 48,000 lbs. This means a specialized type of trailer will be needed to transport this load. This is where the term heavy haul is introduced. This type of specialized trailer in trucking industry speak is called a heavy haul trailer. These are trailers that can transport loads above the 48,000 pound mark. Common weight hauling capacity of these trailers is 40,000 to 120,000 pounds. A permit will be required for the top drive assembly load, because it’s overweight.
2-Your non-divisible crane arm is 10’ wide and 38’ long! The crane arm is considered an over width load when on a trailer, since the maximum legal width of a load is 8’ 6”. If the crane arm weighs 39,000 lbs it can be transported by a standard flatbed trailer, as the average maximum trailer weight capacity is 48,000 lbs. This is not a heavy haul load, since no special flatbed trailer is required but it will require a permit, because the crane arm is oversize.
3-Your non-divisible drilling rig is 12’ 6” high at its highest dimension. At first you may think that’s OK, because maximum height is 13’ 6”, but it is oversize! This is because the trailer is generally 1.5 feet to 2 feet from the road at the trailer bed level, this is where the drilling rig will be placed, thus it is 14’ or 14’ 6” off the ground in terms of height. Therefore this load is oversize.
Lets clarify what non-divisible means in Oklahoma, according to the OK DPS (Department of Public Safety).
(A) A non-divisible load means any load or vehicle exceeding applicable length or weight limits which, if separated into smaller loads or vehicles, would:
(i) Compromise the intended use of the vehicle, i.e., make it unable to perform the function for which it was intended;
(ii) Destroy the value of the load or vehicle, i.e., make it unusable for its intended purpose; or
(iii) Require more than eight (8) work hours to dismantle using appropriate equipment. The
applicant for a non-divisible load permit has the burden of proof as to the number of work hours
required to dismantle the load
So in our cases the above loads could not have been broken down or split up to reduce the overall dimensions or weight. In all cases, the top drive assembly, the crane arm and the drilling rig cannot be broken down into smaller pieces.
To be eligible for an oversize or overweight permit, the main criterion is that the load be non-divisible, that is, that it cannot be reduced down and transported on a legal tractor trailer.
Oklahoma Permits
Oversize and over width permits are required for freight that is over the dimensional maximums in terms of width, height and length when loaded on a trailer. Overweight permits are required for loads that put the gross vehicle weight over the maximum weight limit. The process of getting a OK DPS Special Movement Application is fairly complex and out of the scope of this article. However some of the basic dimension and weight questions the State of Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Size and Weight Permit Division will ask are:
- Width of Item
- Height
- Length of Trailer and Load
- Overall Length
- Weight Per Axle
- Gross Weight
- Registered Weight
Oklahoma Oversize Signs
All trucking companies in Oklahoma involved in hauling oversize and overweight shipments must have amber colored strobe or flashing lights on top of the tractor trailer. Plus signs or banners on escort pilot car stating:
OVERSIZE LOAD
To summarize a heavy haul load is one that requires a special type of trailer that can support the weight of the load, and it will most likely due to the dimensions require an oversize permit and an overweight permit if GVW is over 80,000 lbs.
For all your heavy haul, oversize or wide load shipping needs in: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Lawton, Edmond, Moore, Midwest City, Enid and Stillwater. Plus, heavy haul trucking for all the Woodford (also called the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province, or “SCOOP”) and the Mississippian Lime oil field locations. Contact Great Western Transportation today!
