Join us today and over the next few months as we cover what it takes to move freight throughout the Southeastern states of the USA. We’re going to highlight freight corridors through each one, different laws, permits, regulations, escort requirements, legal limits of freight dimensions, penalties and important updates in each state that effect the movement of freight.

Kicking off our new mini-series is Alabama, we’re starting with Alabama as it’s actually the birthplace of one of our two founders, Michele Wilson and it’s a really interesting freight hub. It’s important to understand that moving freight in Alabama has its’ opportunities, but also its’ challenges, due to its mix of highways, port and heavy industries presence in Alabama, it’s naturally become a hub for oversize and overweight shipments. Which means that carriers have to navigate some complex shipments while abiding by very specific state laws. So let’s take a look at what it actually takes to move freight in Alabama, so you can move freight through this state legally, safely and with no surprises.

Key Industries In Alabama 🏭

What do you picture when you think of Alabama? Perhaps farmland, college football, or the gorgeous Gulf coast beaches. Those are all great answers, but often overlooked is how much of a freight powerhouse Alabama really is. It’s home to a diverse economy, with strong sectors in aerospace, manufacturing, automotive, construction, health care, steel production and mineral extraction. Making it the home to a lot of specialized, oversized and heavy haul freight movement.

Moving Freight In Alabama 🛣

The infrastructure across Alabama is designed to accommodate the movement of large freight. There are five major interstates that criss cross through Alabama that form a core network across the state, these are: I-10, I-20, I-59, I-65 and the I-85. There’s another couple of smaller interstates that connect cities too, such as: I-22, I-459 and the I-565. Let’s take a look at the areas these interstates cover:

• I-10 – This interstate connects the Gulf coast, passing through Mobile.
• I-20 – A major East to West route that passes directly through Birmingham.
• I-59 – This interstate runs from the North to the South and crosses the I-20 in Birmingham and connects to other states.
• I-65 – Another one that runs North to South linking Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham and Huntsville, while also connecting to the I-10.
• I-85 – This one is a short interstate that connects to the I-65 in Montgomery.
• I-22 – The I-22 connects to the I-65 and heads towards Memphis.
• I-459 – This one bypasses around the Birmingham area.
• I-565 – This interstate connects Huntsville to the I-65.

But Alabama is not only known for it’s great interstate connectivity, another contributing factor to the popularity of this state for moving freight is its’ port.

Port Of Mobile 🚢

The port of Mobile is the only deep water seaport in Alabama, established in 1928, meaning it’s almost coming up to it’s 100th year birthday! It’s located along the Mobile River and empties into the Mobile Bay, it has public deepwater terminals with access to 1500 miles of inland and intracoastal waterways serving the Gulf of Mexico, the Ohio and Tennessee river valleys and the Great Lakes. The main boasting points of the Port of Mobile are 18 cargo handling facilities, direct access to 45 ft deep water, nine railroads, connectivity via air, and trucking links making it a strong link in your supply chain. It is set up with modern equipment and can handle almost any kind of cargo, whether it’s containerised freight, steel, automobiles, forest products, aggregates, coal, etc.

Now, like every state there are rules everyone must abide when moving their freight, especially when it comes to oversize and overweight goods. Here are the legal limits of Alabama:

Weight Limits 🏋️

Truck weight limits are in place to not only preserve the integrity of Alabama’s roads and infrastructures, but for an even more important reason, and that is, to make our roads safer. Overloaded trucks become much harder to control, so by applying weight limits Alabama are aiming to reduce the frequency and severity of truck related RTAs. So let’s take a look at Alabama trucking weight limits, they’re based off axel type with limits set for single, tandem and tridem axels and are in place to ensure the weight is distributed evenly across trucks.

Single Axel Weight Limit 🚚

In Alabama a single axel vehicle can have a maximum allowable weight of 20,000lbs. This applies to interstate and non-interstate highways in Alabama.

Tandem Axel Weight Limit 🚚

Tandem axels allow for heavier weight, because of the extra wheels allowing weight distribution to reduce impact on road surfaces. Now, one thing that’s different to the single axel limit is that a tandem axel has different weight allowances on different road types. So, here it is broken down, an Interstate highway has a limit for a tandem axel of 34,000lbs whereas, a non-Interstate highway in Alabama has a limit set at 36,000lbs.

Tridem Axel Weight Limit 🚚

Again, because of the extra axel (three consecutive axels on this one) it means they can accommodate an even heavier weight limit of 42,000lbs. The distribution of the weight across the truck bed, means shippers can move their heavy freight while protecting our roads and structural integrity.

Gross Vehicle Weight 🚛

The gross vehicle weight refers to the combined total weight of a truck with its’ freight. Once again, Interstate highways have a lower limit of 80,000lbs whereas, if you’re moving freight using a 6 axel vehicle along a non-Interstate highway you’re allowed up to 124,000lbs weight limit and 8 axel up to a huge 168,000lbs. But remember a “super load” gross weight is anything exceeding a whopping 250,000lbs and a special super load permit is required in the instances of moving freight of this size.

Dimension Limitations 📏

Dimension restrictions are in place to maximise safety on our roads. The legal dimensions when transporting freight in Alabama without extra permits are as follows:

Width – 8′ 6″

Height – 13′ 6″

Length – 57′

Overhang – 5 feet from front and 5 feet from rear

Additional Considerations

Special permits for overweight vehicles 📑

Alabama truck weight regulations also take into consideration the need for transporting specialized freight including overweight and over dimensional. Permits can be obtained to transport oversized and heavy freight that is non-divisible, meaning they cannot be broken up into more, smaller loads and exceed the above weight and dimensions.

Superload permits 📑

A superload permit is necessary for freight that is exceptionally large, or heavy and requires special planning and approval by the ALDOT (Alabama Department Of Transportation).

Single trip permits 📑

If travelling through Alabama with oversized freight, with a vehicle not registered there, carriers must obtain a single-trip permit before entering the state. These can be ordered on the Alabama state website and vary in costs, depending on the freight being moved and last for only five consecutive days.

Annual permits 📑

For carriers that move regular shipments of the same contents an annual permit can be secured for the smooth movement through the state of Alabama, the contents can consist of cargo like: manufactured housing, construction equipment, timber, etc.

Escorts and routing 🚨

Loads considered over weight and over dimensional require the use of escort vehicles and your route may need to be pre-approved by the ALDOT, this is to check bridge clearances, construction zones, low infrastructure, etc. Escort vehicles are also required when:

• 1 escort vehicle when the freight is >12′ wide or >85′ long
• 2 escort vehicles when the freight is >14′ wide
• Police escorts may be required along certain state routes for super loads
• Lights, signs and flags are needed for oversized loads

Know When You Can Legally Travel Through Alabama With An Oversize Or Overweight Load ⏰🗓

You and your freight partner could obtain every permit needed and follow the regulations set out by ALDOT, however, there are still stipulations set for times of travel with your oversize load. Your carrier must abide by these rules to ensure your freight does not get held up by law enforcement officers for illegal travel. Here’s when your oversize freight can and can’t travel through Alabama:

• 30 minutes before sunrise and up to 30 minutes after sunset oversize loads can move on roads.
• Can travel on a Saturday, but not on a Sunday.
• Long freight can only move between 9am-3pm Monday – Friday.
• No travel at all on state holidays like: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Enforcement Of Permits & Penalties 📄

In the state of Alabama, oversize freight needs special permits if it exceeds 8’6″ wide, 13’6″ high, 57′ long and/or 80,000 lbs. A permit to drive one of these oversize vehicles is conditional on the fact that you must obtain insurance that covers $300,000 split limit coverage or $1,000,000 combined single limit cover as a minimum. Without this, a permit will not be given. So what happens if a carrier moves these types of freight without the correct permits and cover?

When operating without a proper permit, a carrier is directly violating state laws which if caught, can lead to significant penalties and fines. Another implication that has more of an impact on you as the shipper is if the vehicle moving your load is impounded for not meeting permit requirements, not only will the vehicle be impounded but also the cargo. Let’s not forget the impact of not having correct permits and the legal liability side of things. If a carrier moving oversize freight does not have the right permits and damages any infrastructure, roads or bridges, etc. and your freight is subsequently damaged too, insurance might be void due to the freight not being authorized for movement.

Correct Permits But Violating Permit Terms 📑

On the other hand, what if a carrier has the correct permits, but violates the permits terms? Travelling on routes at times they’re not permitted to, taking wrong, unauthorized routes, missing escorts, etc. are all examples of violating terms. Not abiding by rules set out can also land the carrier with penalties, and suspension from ALDOT permitting sytem. This can be detrimental to you the shipper also, if you ship oversize loads frequently with this carrier, they’re not going to be able to apply for further permits, meaning they cannot fulfil your shipping needs at that time and you would need to seek alternative solutions.

Weather & Seasonal Impacts ⛈

It’s important to remember that the Gulf coast region of the USA, is prone to dramatic weather conditions including: hurricanes, and tropical storms, which year on year have been known to affect Alabama and the Port of Mobile and can cause highway closures. These weather conditions usually sweep deeper into the state and cause knock on effects to domestic freight carriers, it disrupts traffic on major corridors like the I-65 and I-10 and causes ripple effects across other Southeastern states. This is unavoidable, but just be aware if shipping through Alabama during Hurricane season, that you may be effected in some way by weather conditions.

Why Is It Important To Understand What It Takes To Move Freight In Alabama? 🤔

As Alabama borders 4 other Southeastern states, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida, while also having direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, much of the freight passing through is a part of multi-state movement. For example freight moving from Mississippi to Georgia or cargo arriving through the Port of Mobile headed toward the Midwest, will almost certainly pass through Alabama. Creating an importance for carriers and shippers alike to thoroughly understand the rules, regulations and laws that are enforced in Alabama, and making it essential to understand the state’s unique weight limits, permit requirements, and travel restrictions. This state plays a vital role in connecting national and international supply chains and the infrastructure is built in such a way that it allows oversize machinery and critical parts to reach production lines and final destinations on time.

Get the laws, permits and regulations wrong? Well, you and your carrier can end up with costly delayed freight, fines, impounded cargo and suspension from gaining permits which can holt operations. But if you get the movement of freight in Alabama right, then you can keep your freight moving smoothly.

We’re based in Atlanta, GA, but have agencies across the US, with our amazing network of people, we are able to serve the Southeastern states with ease and fulfil your oversize, overweight, emergency, critical, and project freight with any custom requirements you might have. So, if you want to work with a reliable partner who treats every shipment like it’s the crown jewels then get in touch, we’d love to heard from you! Use the link below to contact us or speak instantly to one of our expert members of the team by contacting us directly on: Phone: 888-SHIP-911.

 

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