Question 1

Do Georgia and South Carolina require pilot cars at the same width?

Accepted Answer

Georgia requires a pilot car from 12 ft 0 in wide; South Carolina waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Georgia only.

Question 2

Is the legal truck height the same in Georgia and South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Do I need a separate permit for each state between Georgia and South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from GDOT Office of Permits / Georgia Oversize-Overweight Permit Unit and one from SCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Office, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.

Question 4

Which travel hours apply in Georgia and South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Georgia: 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, unless the permit says otherwise. No permit movement into or through the I-285 perimeter unless picking up or delivering there, and permits are not valid 6-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Loads of legal dimensions under 125,000 lb may move continuously. No movement in fog, snow or ice; loads over 12 ft wide may not move when visibility is under 600 ft. South Carolina: Loads up to 12 ft wide: sunrise to sunset; over 12 to 15 ft wide: sunrise to sunset except near large urban areas 7-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. on school days (4:30-6 p.m. otherwise); over 15 to 16 ft wide: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (school days) or 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; overweight loads up to 130,000 lb may travel continuously on request. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Rule	Georgia	South Carolina
Legal width	8 ft 6 in	8 ft 6 in
Legal height	13 ft 6 in	13 ft 6 in
Legal length	GDOT permit page lists legal overall length of 100 ft including overhang (legal dimensions 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high).	Single motor vehicle 40 ft; tractor-semitrailer on Interstate and qualifying routes: semitrailer max 53 ft, no overall length limit; trailers in 3-unit combinations 28.5 ft each.
Gross weight	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs
First pilot car at	12 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Second pilot car at	14 ft 8 in	16 ft 0 in
Height pole at	15 ft 6 in	16 ft 0 in
Length escort at	75 ft 0 in	125 ft 0 in
Travel hours	30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, unless the permit says otherwise. No permit movement into or through the I-285 perimeter unless picking up or delivering there, and permits are not valid 6-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Loads of legal dimensions under 125,000 lb may move continuously. No movement in fog, snow or ice; loads over 12 ft wide may not move when visibility is under 600 ft.	Loads up to 12 ft wide: sunrise to sunset; over 12 to 15 ft wide: sunrise to sunset except near large urban areas 7-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. on school days (4:30-6 p.m. otherwise); over 15 to 16 ft wide: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (school days) or 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; overweight loads up to 130,000 lb may travel continuously on request.
Weekends	GDOT permit page says movement is Monday through Sunday (daylight window), houses Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. only; the page also contains a line 'Travel Days: Monday through Saturday', so verify weekend allowance on the issued permit.	Travel allowed Monday through Sunday under the hours above; Saturday and Sunday movement is prohibited east of I-95 on Myrtle Beach area routes from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Trip permit	$30.00	Fee not confirmed
Permit office	GDOT Office of Permits / Georgia Oversize-Overweight Permit Unit	SCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Office

Georgia vs South Carolina Oversize Load Rules

What changes at the Georgia and South Carolina border

Check one load against both states

Side by side

Go deeper

Georgia and South Carolina FAQs