Arkansas Oversize Permits

Legal size/weight limits, escort thresholds, travel restrictions, and permit office contact for Arkansas.

⚠ REFERENCE ONLY — NOT A PERMIT. VERIFY WITH THE STATE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL.

These figures are a reference summary of publicly published state rules, not a substitute for a state-issued permit and not legal advice. Rules change — always confirm current limits and requirements directly with the state permit office before you plan or run a move. Last verified: 2026-07-16. Oversize Ops is NOT responsible and CANNOT be held liable for decisions made from this reference. Official source ↗

Legal Maximum Dimensions (no permit required)

Width: 8.5ft (102in)
Height: 13.5ft (162in)
Max semitrailer length: 53.5ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

Ark. Code Ann. 27-35-207: no vehicle on Arkansas highways may exceed 13 ft 6 in (162 in) in height unless a greater height is authorized by special permit. Over 13 ft 6 in an escort vehicle carrying a clearance bar set 6 in above the permitted height must PRECEDE the load; over 17 ft the move must be accompanied by public-utilities personnel.

Official source for this height limit →

27 CAR 111-207: 53 ft 6 in — note the extra six inches, this is not a 53 ft state. No statutory overall limit while the trailer is 53 ft 6 in or under; the 60 ft overall figure applies ONLY once the trailer exceeds 53 ft 6 in.

Official source for these length limits →

Escort / Pilot Car Thresholds (see glossary for terms, certification requirements for the driver)

These escort figures are route-dependent — they can change with road classification, lane width, two-lane vs multilane, and time of day. Confirm with the permit office before dispatching.

Front escort required over: 12ft wide
Rear escort required over: 14ft wide
Both escorts required over: 14ft wide
Height escort required over: 15ft tall

Width (non-manufactured-home): on non-controlled-access / non-divided highways, over 12 ft (>144 in) to 14 ft requires ONE escort in FRONT; over 14 ft (>168 in) requires TWO escorts (one leading, one following). On controlled-access divided highways with 4+ lanes, over 14 ft requires ONE escort BEHIND at 200 ft. Height: over 15 ft (>180 in) requires one FRONT escort with a clearance/height pole set 6 in above permitted height; over 17 ft also requires signed agreements from overhead-utility owners. Length: a load 100 ft or more requires one escort; over 115 ft on highways with fewer than 4 lanes requires two escorts. Police escorts case-by-case (Permit Section or Arkansas Highway Police command-rank officer). Not tied to gross weight.

Travel Restrictions

Night travel: Generally restricted
Weekend travel: Generally allowed
Sunday travel: Generally allowed

Oversize movement is daylight-only, sunrise to sunset. No movement when visibility is under 500 ft or during inclement weather; movement may be restricted in winds/gusts over 20 knots (23 mph). Greater Little Rock rush-hour curfew: no oversize movement 7:00-9:00 a.m. or 4:00-6:00 p.m. Mon-Fri on Interstate 30 (mm 138-143), Interstate 40 (mm 151-155), and all of Interstate 630; not applicable Sat/Sun. Saturday/Sunday movement otherwise permitted for general oversize loads (manufactured homes separately barred on Sundays/holidays/night). Loads over 90 ft overall length may travel daylight-only and only on non-holiday days.

Holiday blackouts: No permit movement on: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Memorial Day, Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (Dec 25). Additionally, if one of these holidays is observed on a Monday or Friday, movement is also barred on the adjacent weekend.

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Superload Thresholds

Width over: 16.5ft
Height over: 15.5ft
Length over: 100ft
Weight over: 180,000 lbs

Arkansas defines a 'super load' as a load of extraordinary weight or dimension: gross weight of 180,000 lbs or more, OR width more than 16 ft 6 in (>198 in), OR overall length 100 ft or more, OR height 15 ft 6 in or more (>=186 in). ARDOT issues super-load permits at its discretion with special routing/clearance review (27 CAR 111-110).

Estimated Permit Cost Verify before relying

$17 base + $8–$16 per ton over limit, by mileage band

Source: Ark. Admin. Rules Title 27 Ch. 224 — verify current fee with the permit office before budgeting a move.

Permit fee only — does not include escort/pilot-car service costs (market-rate, arranged separately) or third-party permit-service fees. This is an estimate for planning purposes, not a quote.

Get a Permit

Online portal: https://ar.gotpermits.com/
Phone: 501-569-2381

Planning a move through Arkansas?

Enter your load's exact size to see whether it needs a permit or escort here, plan a truck-legal route, or find a transporter or escort.

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