Do Alabama and Florida require pilot cars at the same width?

Both states require the first pilot car at 12 ft 0 in wide.

Is the legal truck height the same in Alabama and Florida?

Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.

Do I need a separate permit for each state between Alabama and Florida?

Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from ALDOT Maintenance Bureau - Vehicle Enforcement (OS/OW Permit Office) and one from FDOT State Maintenance Office Permits (Overweight/Overdimensional Permits), each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.

Which travel hours apply in Alabama and Florida?

Alabama: Daylight hours only; no night movement for permitted vehicles (ALDOT Rule 450-3-1-.04). Florida: Daytime hours only for loads over 10 ft wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 80 ft long; loads up to 10 ft wide and up to 80 ft long may move all days and hours. No travel when visibility is under 1,000 ft. Congested areas barred during peak traffic hours unless the permit authorizes (14 ft and under 16 ft wide, over 85 ft long). Nighttime moves need FDOT approval and law enforcement escorts. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Alabama vs Florida Oversize Load Rules

What changes for an oversize load between Alabama and Florida: legal height, pilot car triggers, height poles and travel hours.

I-10, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the Alabama and Florida border

Legal height: Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.
First pilot car: Both states require the first pilot car at 12 ft 0 in wide.
Height pole: Florida requires a height-pole escort from 14 ft 6 in; Alabama from 15 ft 6 in.

Check one load against both states

Load width (ft)

Load height (ft)

Alabama

Oversize permit required
No width escort

Florida

Oversize permit required
No width escort

11 ft 0 in wide, 14 ft 0 in tall. Length is not checked here.

Side by side

Alabama and Florida oversize load rules compared
Rule	Alabama	Florida
Legal width	8 ft 6 in	8 ft 6 in
Legal height	13 ft 6 in	13 ft 6 in
Legal length	Single vehicle 40 ft; semitrailer in tractor-semitrailer 57 ft; each unit of doubles 28.5 ft; max 5 ft overhang front/rear (Code of Ala. 32-9-20).	Single unit 40 ft; tractor with semitrailer over 48 ft requires a permit when kingpin distance exceeds 41 ft; truck with trailer 68 ft; front overhang 3 ft (FHP enforcement summary).
Gross weight	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs
First pilot car at	12 ft 0 in	12 ft 0 in
Second pilot car at	14 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Height pole at	15 ft 6 in	14 ft 6 in
Length escort at	90 ft 0 in	95 ft 0 in
Travel hours	Daylight hours only; no night movement for permitted vehicles (ALDOT Rule 450-3-1-.04).	Daytime hours only for loads over 10 ft wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 80 ft long; loads up to 10 ft wide and up to 80 ft long may move all days and hours. No travel when visibility is under 1,000 ft. Congested areas barred during peak traffic hours unless the permit authorizes (14 ft and under 16 ft wide, over 85 ft long). Nighttime moves need FDOT approval and law enforcement escorts.
Weekends	No permitted travel on Sundays; Saturdays allowed in daylight.	Rule 14-26.012(5)(e): unless otherwise noted on the permit, movements are prohibited on weekends and holidays. However, per-dimension rules allow all-days movement for loads up to 10 ft wide, up to 14 ft 6 in high and up to 80 ft long, so weekend movement depends on the permit.
Trip permit	$20.00	$30.00
Permit office	800-499-2782 (ALDOT Maintenance Bureau - Vehicle Enforcement (OS/OW Permit Office))	(850) 410-5777 (FDOT State Maintenance Office Permits (Overweight/Overdimensional Permits))

Go deeper

Pilot car detail: Alabama, Florida
Full guides: Alabama, Florida
Running through both without local plates? Estimate the trip permit cost
Moving over a holiday? Check holiday restrictions

Alabama and Florida FAQs

Do Alabama and Florida require pilot cars at the same width?: Both states require the first pilot car at 12 ft 0 in wide.
Is the legal truck height the same in Alabama and Florida?: Both states use the same legal height, 13 ft 6 in.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between Alabama and Florida?: Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from ALDOT Maintenance Bureau - Vehicle Enforcement (OS/OW Permit Office) and one from FDOT State Maintenance Office Permits (Overweight/Overdimensional Permits), each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in Alabama and Florida?: Alabama: Daylight hours only; no night movement for permitted vehicles (ALDOT Rule 450-3-1-.04). Florida: Daytime hours only for loads over 10 ft wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 80 ft long; loads up to 10 ft wide and up to 80 ft long may move all days and hours. No travel when visibility is under 1,000 ft. Congested areas barred during peak traffic hours unless the permit authorizes (14 ft and under 16 ft wide, over 85 ft long). Nighttime moves need FDOT approval and law enforcement escorts. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Compiled from each state's published permit rules, reviewed October 2026. Not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.