2024 South Carolina Permits and Regulations

Contact (877) 792-5056 for Oversize Permits in South Carolina.

Oversize and overweight loads require shipping permits during transport in South Carolina. Therefore, contacting a company like Wide Load Shipping is always good to help you acquire the relevant shipping permits to avoid fines. You can read more about shipping permits, pilot cars, and superloads below.

Oversize Load Limits in South Carolina

Legal load sizes and weight limits in South Carolina:

• Length: 60 feet.
• Width: 8′ 6 feet.
• Height: 13′ 6 feet.
• Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW.
• Overhang: 3′ in the front and 6′ in the rear.

When Are Pilot Cars Required in South Carolina

A pilot car (escort vehicle) is required when:

• Length: Length is tricky in South Carolina. Call the DOT for the correct information. Leave your comments below for others, please.
• Width: From 12′ to 14′ in width will require 1 front pilot car (escort vehicle) on 2-lane roads. 14′ to 16′ in width will require 1 front and 1 rear pilot car (escort vehicle) on all roads in the state. If your shipment is over 16′ in width, you will be required to have 3 pilot cars (escort vehicles) 1 front, 1 rear, and 1 police escort in the rear.
• Height: It all depends on your routing. You could be required to have a pilot car (escort vehicle) with a height pole the entire trip if you are 13′ 7″  (seriously). Please share your expertise with others below.
• Weight: If you are approved for weight and maintain the minimum speed requirements, the South Carolina DOT permit office will probably not require you to have a pilot car (escort vehicle).
• Overhang: If you’re pulling a 48′ or a 53′ (just to clarify) extended trailer and you have less than 15′ of overhang, you can probably get away with flagging or amber lighting your shipment instead of a rear pilot car (escort vehicle). Anything over the 15′ mark and forget it; you will be required to have a pilot car (escort vehicle).

What’s the Cost of Trucking Permits In South Carolina?

Below are the costs of oversize and overweight permits in South Carolina. We’re the right professional to help you acquire permits for your load. Call us today at (877) 792-5056.

• Single trip permit: $30
• Overwidth permits of over 16 feet: $35
• Overwidth permits of over 18 feet: $40
• Overwidth permits of over 20 feet: $45
• Overwidth permits of over 22 feet: $50
• Annual multiple-trip permit: $100
• Annual house moving permit: $100
• Superload permits of over 130,000 pounds: $100
• Superload permits of over 200,000 pounds: $200
• Superload permits of over 300,000 pounds: $350
• Superload impact permits for loads over 130,000 pounds: $3 per 1000 pounds
• Non-refundable superload application fee: $100
• Road machinery permit administration fee: $10
• Prorating active annual permit administration fee: $10

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Cities in South Carolina;

Columbia, SC; Charleston, SC; North Charleston, SC; Mount Pleasant, SC; Rock Hill, SC; Greenville, SC; Summerville, SC; Sumter, SC; Goose Creek, SC; Hilton Head Island, SC; Spartanburg, SC; Florence, SC; Myrtle Beach, SC; Greer, SC; Aiken, SC; Anderson, SC; Hanahan, SC; Mauldin, SC; Conway, SC; North Augusta, SC; Taylors, SC; St. Andrews, SC; Simpsonville, SC; Lexington, SC; Wade Hampton, SC

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Counties in South Carolina;

Greenville County; Richland County; Charleston County; Horry County; Spartanburg County; Lexington County; York County; Berkeley County; Anderson County; Beaufort County; Aiken County; Dorchester County; Florence County; Pickens County; Sumter County; Lancaster County; Orangeburg County; Oconee County; Greenwood County; Laurens County; Kershaw County ; Darlington County; Georgetown County; Cherokee County; Chesterfield County; Colleton County; Newberry County; Chester County ; Clarendon County; Williamsburg County; Marion County ; Dillon County ; Jasper County; Union County; Marlboro County; Edgefield County

Oversize and Overweight Permit Limits in South Carolina

Here’s the maximum weight your load can be, even with a permit in South Carolina:

• Single Axle Weight Permits: 20,000 pounds
• Tandem axles Weight Permits: 40,000 pounds
• Tridem axles Weight Permits: 50,000 pounds
• Quadem axles Weight Permits: 70,000 pounds
• Five axle Weight Permits: 90,000 pounds
• Six axle Weight Permits: 110,000 pounds
• Seven axle Weight Permits: 130,000 pounds

Below are the maximum dimensions a load can be even with a permit in the state of South Carolina:

• Max Length With Permit: 125 feet
• Max Overhang With Permit: 3′ in the front and 15′ in the rear
• Maximum Width With Permit: 16 feet
• Maximum Height With Permit: 16 feet

NOTE: South Carolina DOT is pretty tough on shipments that exceed any of these weights/dimensions. So if you are a boat shipper, you’d better figure out a way to cut that fly-bridge off, sorry, and don’t shoot the messenger.

Superload Information in South Carolina

We have the following information available on superloads:

As far as length goes, you can get some play as long as your routine keeps you away from historic areas. Width is the same thing with traffic density and population considered. Height is big trouble with the South Carolina DOT. You must always have a pilot car with you if you are over 16′ in height. Count on a complete route survey for shipments over the 16′ in height, and remember that they won’t let you travel ANY route where the clearance is less than the required 6″ overage in height. If you’re 18′ in height, the obstruction on the proposed route needs to be a minimum of 18′ 6″ in height, or you’re going to have delays in getting your permit. Weight is a severe issue if you want to cross over ANY bridges, so if your shipment is over 130,000 lbs in overall gross weight, get ready for bridge studies and time delays. Our suggestion: examine routing alternatives. Overhang is a rare issue, but you will have trouble when it comes up, and you want to overhang over 15′. That is the case anytime you want to exceed the basic rule, which is more than 1/3 of the overall shipment length; you just don’t do it as it’s too dangerous, and the South Carolina DOT knows it.

Permitted Oversize Load Travel Times and Restrictions in South Carolina

The one-half hour after sunrise and one-half hour before sunset rule applies. Travel is permitted Monday through Saturday, with no travel permitted on Sundays. It’s possible to approve Sunday travel, but the basic rule is “no travel on Sundays.” Your travel permit will be stated if you are allowed to travel on a Sunday.  You may not travel on the following holidays:

• New Year’s day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Memorial Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

You may not travel past noon on the day before the holiday and until after noon on the day after the holiday. In high-traffic areas, you are not allowed to travel from 7 AM -9 Am and 3 PM – 6 PM if you are over 14′ in width. If you’re 16′ in width or over, on Saturdays, you are only permitted to travel between 9 AM and 3 PM, with no travel before or after permitted in any locations.

Pilot Car Certifications in South Carolina

Pilot car (escort vehicle) certifications & requirements:

The South Carolina DOT is pretty relaxed on pilot cars. You must have the proper banner/sign stating “OVERSIZE LOAD” or “WIDE LOAD” displayed prominently on the top of the vehicle, in front of lead vehicles, or rear of chase vehicles. You must have a flashing or strobing amber light on the top of the vehicle that is visible from 360 degrees from a distance of no less than 500′. You must have a CB radio or 2-way communication device and communicate with all drivers working on your shipment. You are required to have your headlights turned on while working.

NOTE: It is only our professional opinion that pilot cars also have a minimum of the additional items but not required:  2 – 5 pound fire extinguishers type A, B, and C, a paddle sign with the word “STOP” on one side and “SLOW” on the other with dimensions of no less than 18″ in diameter with a minimum of 6″ letters. A red safety-colored flag with a handle no less than 18″ square, 3 reflective emergency road triangles or 18″ traffic cones, 8 burning road flares, 2 OVERSIZE LOAD banners (yellow with black lettering), and a safety colored (red, orange, yellow or lime green) vest, jacket or shirt (used while directing traffic).

Oversize Load Signs in South Carolina

Truck, trailer, and shipment required signs, banners, and flags:

Amber lights: You must have 1 rotating or strobing rear amber light on any vehicle shipping a load over 12 inches. Flags in safety-colored orange or red with a minimum length in any direction of 12″ must be mounted on the 4 outermost corners of the entire shipment. Banner signs stating “OVERSIZE LOAD” or “WIDE LOAD” must be placed on the rear and front of the overall shipment. Banner signs must have a letter height of no less than 12′ and a letter thickness of no less than 1 1/2″. Banner signs must have a yellow background with black lettering.

MORE USEFUL RESOURCES 

South Carolina Road Closures