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Heavy haul trucking, pilot cars and permits.

Locate heavy haul, oversize equipment shipping companies, pilot cars and ordering trucking permits in Alaska:

Legal load limits.

Length:  53’ Trailer Length
Width:  8’6”
Height: 14’
Weight: Depending on route 80,000 lbs GVW.
Overhang: 3’ in the front, 4’ in the rear.

Alaska requires any shipment over the weight of 80,000 pounds to have a special trip permit.

Routine trucking permits.

Trucking oversize and overweight permit limits:

Length: Shipping varies due to routing and season.
Width: Shipping rules vary depending on route and seaason.
Height: Over 14′ and once again everything varies depending on routing and season.
Weight: Single; 30,000 lbs, tandem; 56,000 lbs, tridem; 70,000 lbs, quadem 80,000 lbs, gross weight; 150,000 lbs. Depends on the route you wish to travel, distance and the bridges you intend on crossing.
Overhang:  20′ is a safe number but once again everything up here is seasonal as roads are closed or combined with weight frost laws may be in effect and limit you.  For the most part there is no such thing as a “routing” shipment in Alaska.

Notes:  When between the months of October 1 and March 31 for 1, 2 & 3 drive axle groups on truck tractors intending to travel the Dalton, Elliott or Steese highways between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay you can shift your legal axle weights to make them legal. The following weights on these routes apply: single; 22,000 lbs with 8′ 1″ minimum spacing between axles, tandem; 42,000 lbs, tridem; 48,000 lbs maximum.

When a pilot car is required.

Pilot car (escort vehicle) requirements:

Length: if overall length exceeds 85′ you are required to have 1 pilot car (escort). If overall length exceeds 100′ you are required to have 1 front and 1 read pilot car (escort).

Width: If 10′ to 12′ wide you will be required to have 1 pilot car (escort vehicle). If width exceeds 12′ and up to 14′ you are required to have 1 front and 1 rear pilot car (escort vehicle). From 14′ to 18′ in width you will be required to have 3 pilot cars. 2 front on 4 lane and 2 rear on 2 lane roads with the additional at either end. 18′ up to 22′ in width will require 4 pilot cars (escorts); 2 in front and 2 on the rear. If over 22′ in width you will be required to “close and roll” (closing the road as you move) requiring you to have 5 pilot cars as well as a minimum of 1 police escort.

Weight: You may be required to have a pilot car/cars if you are not able to maintain the minimum speed limit and on some designated bridge crossings depending on your weight class.

Overhang: If overhang is greater than 20′ you will be required to have 1 pilot car vehicle. If over 35′ you will be required to have 1 front and 1 rear pilot car.

Required shipment markings & flags.

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

For loads that are over 8′ 6″ in width you will be required to have a “OVERSIZE LOAD” banner on the front or your truck and on the rear of your truck or load, whichever is most practical. Flags must be a minimum length of 16″ and be safety orange or red in color.

Pilot car certifications & requirements.

Pilot car (escort vehicle) certifications & requirements:

A pilot car must be manufactured  as a passenger vehicle (car, truck, van, etc.) with a manufacturers weight of less than 10,000 lbs. All pilot car drivers must be wearing a safety colored vest, jacket or shirt. All pilot cars must be equipped with a rotating, strobe or flashing amber light visible from 360 degrees from a distance of no less than 500′. Vehicle must have a regulations sized hand help SLOW – STOP sign, safety colored flags of no less than 18″ in either direction, 8 road safety flares, 3 reflective road triangles, a 2-way communication device capable of transmitting at least 10 miles and a type A, B and C fire extinguisher.

Travel times and restrictions.

Travel times and restrictions:

Approved permits are valid for 3-5 days unless otherwise stated. Travel times are from Monday through Saturday at noon during daylight hours – the one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset rule applies. However, vehicles not exceeding 85′ in length, 16’in width or 16′ in height can travel Monday through Sunday during daylight hours only. Travel is NOT permitted on the following holiday weekends: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Areas of high traffic densities are restricted from 7:00-8 AM and 4:30-6:00 PM in certain areas (refer to your permit for documentation). Movement is NOT permitted on Kalifornsky Beach Rd, Kenai Spur highway or the Sterling highway from 6:45-9:00 AM and 2:15-4:30 PM during the school months for shipments in excess of 14′ in width. Ketchikan has restricted movement from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM and from 12 noon – 1 PM and from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.  Glenn and Parks Highways to Palmer and Wasilla between the hours of 6:00-8:00 AM and from 11:30-1:00 PM and from 4:30 until 6:00 PM if over 14′ in width.

Frost and thaw laws.

Frost and thaw laws:

Frost and thaw laws are in effect usually from March 1 until mid June on major routes, southern central and the interior. There are so many roads that have different regulations on thaw laws and frost laws. You absolutely will want to call the Alaska State DOT office at the number below for more information. Example: A particular highway may have a set of regulations until you reach a certain mile post, then after that has a whole different set of regulations. There are hundreds of them similar.

Alaska DOT & information.

Alaska state DOT trucking permit contact information:

Division of Measurement Standards Phones:  907-365-1200 or below within Alaska.
Commercial Vehicle Customer Service Center: 800-478-7636
Huffman Business Park
11900 Industrial Way
Anchorage, AK  99515

Phone help line: 907-365-1200
Toll free within Alaska: 800-478-7636
Fax: 907-365-1204
Permit office hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
PACIFIC STANDARD TIME

Alaska state DOT website with all kinds of permit info, forms, manuals, etc here. Alaska heavy-haul and oversize trucking laws.
Road closures and highway conditions here.
Alaska road closure information.

Cities in Alaska: Adak, Akhiok, Akiachak, Akiak, Akutan, Alakanuk, Alatna, Alcan Border, Aleknagik, Aleneva, Allakaket, Alpine, Ambler, Anaktuvuk Pass, Anchorage municipality, Anchor Point, Anderson, Angoon, Aniak, Anvik, Arctic Village, Atka, Atmautluak, Atqasuk, Attu Station, Barrow, Bear Creek, Beaver, Beluga, Bethel, Bettles, Big Delta, Big Lake, Birch Creek, Brevig Mission, Buckland, Buffalo Soapstone, Butte, Cantwell, Central, Chalkyitsik, Chase, Chefornak, Chenega, Chevak, Chickaloon, Chicken, Chignik, Chignik Lagoon, Chignik Lake, Chiniak, Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Chuathbaluk, Circle, Clam Gulch, Clark’s Point, Coffman Cove, Cohoe, Cold Bay, Coldfoot, College, Cooper Landing, Copper Center, Copperville, Cordova, Covenant Life, Craig, Crooked Creek, Crown Point, Cube Cove, Deering, Delta Junction, Deltana, Diamond Ridge, Dillingham, Diomede, Dot Lake, Dot Lake Village, Dry Creek, Eagle, Eagle Village, Edna Bay, Eek, Egegik, Eielson AFB, Ekwok, Elfin Cove, Elim, Emmonak, Ester, Evansville, Excursion Inlet, Fairbanks, False Pass, Farm Loop, Ferry, Fishhook, Flat, Fort Greely, Fort Yukon, Four Mile Road, Fox, Fox River, Fritz Creek, Funny River, Gakona, Galena, Gambell, Game Creek, Gateway, Glacier View, Glennallen, Golovin, Goodnews Bay, Grayling, Gulkana, Gustavus, Haines, Halibut Cove, Happy Valley, Harding-Birch Lakes, Healy, Healy Lake, Hobart Bay, Hollis, Holy Cross, Homer, Hoonah, Hooper Bay, Hope, Houston, Hughes, Huslia, Hydaburg, Hyder, Igiugig, Iliamna, Ivanof Bay, Juneau city and borough, Kachemak, Kake, Kaktovik, Kalifornsky, Kaltag, Karluk, Kasaan, Kasigluk, Kasilof, Kenai, Kenny Lake, Ketchikan, Kiana, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk, Kivalina, Klawock, Klukwan, Knik-Fairview, Knik River, Kobuk, Kodiak, Kodiak Station, Kokhanok, Koliganek, Kongiganak, Kotlik, Kotzebue, Koyuk, Koyukuk, Kupreanof, Kwethluk, Kwigillingok, Lake Louise, Lake Minchumina, Lakes, Larsen Bay, Lazy Mountain, Levelock, Lime Village, Livengood, Lowell Point, Lower Kalskag, Lutak, McCarthy, McGrath, McKinley Park, Manley Hot Springs, Manokotak, Marshall, Meadow Lakes, Mekoryuk, Mendeltna, Mentasta Lake, Metlakatla, Meyers Chuck, Miller Landing, Minto, Moose Creek, Moose Pass, Mosquito Lake, Mountain Village, Mud Bay, Naknek, Nanwalek, Napakiak, Napaskiak, Naukati Bay, Nelchina, Nelson Lagoon, Nenana, New Allakaket, Newhalen, New Stuyahok, Newtok, Nightmute, Nikiski, Nikolaevsk, Nikolai, Nikolski, Ninilchik, Noatak, Nome, Nondalton, Noorvik, North Pole, Northway, Northway Junction, Northway Village, Nuiqsut, Nulato, Nunapitchuk, Old Harbor, Oscarville, Ouzinkie, Palmer, Paxson, Pedro Bay, Pelican, Perryville, Petersburg, Petersville, Pilot Point, Pilot Station, Pitkas Point, Platinum, Pleasant Valley, Point Baker, Point Hope, Point Lay, Point MacKenzie, Pope-Vannoy Landing, Portage Creek, Port Alexander, Port Alsworth, Port Clarence, Port Graham, Port Heiden, Port Lions, Port Protection, Primrose, Prudhoe Bay, Quinhagak, Rampart, Red Devil, Red Dog Mine, Ridgeway, Ruby, Russian Mission, St. George, St. Mary’s, St. Michael, St. Paul, Salamatof, Salcha, Sand Point, Savoonga, Saxman, Scammon Bay, Selawik, Seldovia, Seldovia Village, Seward, Shageluk, Shaktoolik, Sheldon Point (Nunam Iqua), Shishmaref, Shungnak, Silver Springs, Sitka city and borough, Skagway, Skwentna, Slana, Sleetmute, Soldotna, South Naknek, Stebbins, Sterling, Stevens Village, Stony River, Sunrise, Susitna, Sutton-Alpine, Takotna, Talkeetna, Tanacross, Tanaina, Tanana, Tatitlek, Tazlina, Teller, Tenakee Springs, Tetlin, Thoms Place, Thorne Bay, Togiak, Tok, Toksook Bay, Tolsona, Tonsina, Trapper Creek, Tuluksak, Tuntutuliak, Tununak, Twin Hills, Two Rivers, Tyonek, Ugashik, Unalakleet, Unalaska, Upper Kalskag, Valdez, Venetie, Wainwright, Wales, Wasilla, Whale Pass, White Mountain, Whitestone Logging Camp, Whittier, Willow, Willow Creek, Wiseman, Womens Bay, Wrangell, Y, Yakutat.

Additional information:

Heavy haul and oversize trucking permit limitations.

Maximum weights; on a single axle with dual tires 30,000 pounds. With tandem axles 56,000 pounds, with tridem axles 70,000 pounds, with quadem axles 80,000 pounds. Gross maximum is 150,000 pounds. All of this depends entirely on the route you choose to travel as well as distance and any bridges that you intend to cross. It also depends upon the length, height and width of the shipment. Between the months of October 1st and March 31st for one, two and three drive axle groupings on trucks and truck tractors traveling the Elliott, Steese and Dalton highways between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay you can shift legal axle weights in the following weights on these routes in applicable: single axles 22,000 pounds (with 8’1″ minimum axle spacing). Tandem axles 42,000 pounds, tridem axles 48,000 pounds. The maximum height allowed is 15’3″. Shipments over 14 feet wide or 150 feet long or 16’6″ in height must supply to the permitting department the exact route they wish to travel.

Heavy haul and oversize truck signs and flags.

A standard oversize load sign is required on the front of the tractor and the rear of the shipment if it exceeds 8’6″ and width. The sign must be yellow and have a minimum of 48 inches in width with black letters that are 10 inches tall and 2 inches wide. Acceptable signs when specified shall read “oversize”, “oversize load” or “wide load” for over width vehicles and/or shipments “oversize”, “oversize load” or “long load” for over length vehicles must be affixed to the rear of shipment when overall load exceeds 60 feet in length. Vehicles and loads with rear overhang exceeding 10 feet are subject to the following: must have “oversize” or “oversize load” signs and a amber high intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating or strobe type beacon which must be visible for a minimum of 500 feet from the end of the shipment. You must have either an extended light-bar or a rear pilot car or escort vehicle. All flags must be a minimum of 16” square and must be red. Flags are required to be on vehicles with loads wider than 10 feet and if overhang exceeds the legal limits in any direction.

Pilot car and escort vehicle requirements.

If the width of the shipment is over 10’6″ and up to 12 feet one pilot car or escort vehicle is required. For lengths over 85 feet and up to 100 feet one pilot car is required. If overhang is greater than 10 feet but less than 20 feet one pilot car or escort vehicle may be used. It is possible to use an extended lightbar and place of a rear pilot car. Heavy haul or overweight shipments with special bridge conditions are required to have two pilot cars if the width is 12 feet up to 14 feet to pilot cars or escort vehicles are required if the length is greater than 100 feet to escort vehicles or pilot cars are required. If the overhang exceeds 20 feet unless the rear is greater than 35 feet or the front greater than 60 feet one pilot car is required. For widths over 14 feet three pilot car vehicles or escort’s are required: two in the front and one in the rear. If you have overhang from the rear that is greater than 35 feet to pilot cars are required and for widths up to 18 feet but not more than 22 feet 4 pilot cars or escort vehicles are required. If road closures exist and you are an excess of 22 feet wide then you will be required to have 5 escorts or pilot cars. You may be permitted to use an extended light-bar when up to 20 feet of rear overhang and lieu of a rear pilot car.

Pilot car and escort vehicle requirements.

Pilot cars and escort vehicles may be passenger trucks and cars as long is they are under 10,000 pounds in total weight. Pilot cars and escort vehicles must carry commercial vehicle insurance. Pilot cars and escort vehicles will not carry any passengers. Pilot cars and escort vehicles will not act as a steer man or a tiller man for any load. Oversize load signs and beacons: all escort vehicles and pilot cars are required to be equipped with the appropriate signage. Depending upon the shipment you are working with this might be oversize, wide load or long load and the sign must be roof mounted with a high intensity rotating flashing oscillating or strobe type amber beacon light which must be visible from a minimum of 500 feet in any direction. When a pilot car or in escort vehicle is required to lead any oversize load the appropriate sign must be faced towards the front of the pilot car or escort vehicle when the pilot car or escort is chasing a load the appropriate sign must be faced towards the rear of the vehicle. Pilot car companies and escort vehicle drivers shall carry the following items and equipment at all times when escorting heavy haul and oversize loads: a 24 inch stop slow paddle sign, three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles, 15 pound rated B and C fire extinguisher, a reflector rise orange vest shirt or jacket, a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, a red cone and be equipped with a red hand flag.

Flag men or flag persons.

The state of Alaska does not require a pilot car or escort vehicle operator to have certification to perform flagging functions flaggers and or pilot car or escort vehicles operators shall complete the state approved flagging test as well is any necessary training prior to working in the capacity of a flagger. There is a fee for the online class. Flag persons shall not be less than 18 years of age and must be capable of carrying out flagging responsibilities in accordance with the Alaska state traffic manual regulations flaggers must be wearing high visibility or florescent orange jackets and vest as well as equipped with a slow stop paddle and a red hand flag these items must be utilized by the pilot car company or escort vehicle operator in the event that it becomes necessary. If required pilot car and escort vehicle operators will need to pull over and Park in order to stop or control Highway traffic. At no time shall the slow stop paddle or red flags be displayed out of the window of a moving vehicle.

Travel time for heavy haul and oversize loads.

Heavy haul permits and oversize trucking permits are valid for 3 to 5 days unless otherwise specified. Travel is permitted from Monday through Saturday at noon during daylight hours. One half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. However, vehicles that are not exceeding 10’6″ wide or 16 feet tall or 85 feet and linked total may travel Monday through Saturday during daylight hours. Oversize vehicles are allowed to operate during hours of darkness under special lighting and taping requirements. Travel is permitted on the following holiday weekends memorial day for for July and Labor Day. Urban areas do restrict travel during peak hours be sure to refer to your permit for specific travel times especially in urban areas.

Spring weight and frost laws.

Weight restrictions and frost laws usually occur on all major routes in South, Central as well as interior Alaska. Typical months are from March 1^st until the 1st July.

Alaska DOT