---
title: Arkansas Oversize & Overweight Permits (OS/OW) | ARDOT Superload | Alpine Truck Service
description: Expedited Arkansas ARDOT oversize permits, Little Rock curfews, and Mississippi River bridge clearances across I-40 and I-30. Call (918) 607-6547.
image: https://www.alpinetruckservice.com/alpine-third-party-charges.webp
---

# Arkansas Oversize, Overweight & Superload Permitting Services

Comprehensive commercial trucking permits and heavy haul compliance across Arkansas.

## Agency & Permitting Authority
- **Agency**: Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)
- **Portal**: ARDOT Commercial Vehicle Permitting System
- **Regulatory Advisory**: State DOT regulations and permit processing queues are determined by individual state transportation authorities and vary by agency workload. Carriers should verify active route advisories and state requirements prior to movement.

## Legal vs. Routine Permitted Dimensions
- **Legal Width**: 8' 6" | **Max Routine**: 16' 0"
- **Legal Height**: 13' 6" | **Max Routine**: 15' 6"
- **Legal Length**: 53' Semi-Trailer / 65' Overall | **Max Routine**: 120' 0"
- **Legal Gross Weight**: 80,000 lbs | **Max Routine**: 140,000 lbs
- **Axle Limits**: Single: 20,000 lbs, Tandem: 34,000 lbs, Tridem: 42,000 lbs

## Permitting Scope & Services in Arkansas
- **Routine Oversize (OS) Cab-Cards**: Single-trip authorizations for dimensions exceeding 8' 6" width or 13' 6" height.
- **Overweight (OW) Axle Permits**: Overload cab-cards for heavy machinery and configurations exceeding 80,000 lbs GVW.
- **Multi-Axle Superload Permits**: Specialized filings exceeding Over 180,000, including State DOT and certified partner bridge reviews, route surveys, and police escorts.
- **Annual & Blanket Fleet Permits**: Continuous-operation annual highway authorizations for construction fleets.
- **Temporary Trip & Fuel Permits**: 72-hour IRP vehicle registration and IFTA fuel tax credentials.
- **County, City & Toll Road Clearances**: Municipal authorizations and turnpike clearances.

## Superload Permitting & State Review Protocol
- **Weight Trigger**: Over 180,000 lbs GVW or exceeding Bridge Formula limits
- **Width Trigger**: Over 16' 0" wide
- **Height Trigger**: Over 16' 0" high
- **Length Trigger**: Over 120' 0" overall length
- **State & Partner Bridge Review**: Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) electronic systems and certified structural engineering partners evaluate axle load distribution across bridge structures upon submission.
- **Route Surveys & Clearances**: Required for extreme heights/widths to verify overhead physical clearances.
- **Utility & Escorts**: Coordinated wire lifts with power utilities and State Police / Highway Patrol escorts.

## Pilot Cars & Escort Vehicle Requirements
- **Front Escort**: Required over 12' 0" wide on two-lane highways
- **Rear Escort**: Required over 14' 0" wide on multi-lane highways or length exceeding 100' 0"
- **Height Pole**: Required for loads exceeding 15' 0" in height (lead vehicle with calibrated pole)
- **Police Escort**: Required over 16' 0" wide, 16' 0" high, or when crossing restricted Mississippi River bridges

## Metro Curfews & Travel Restrictions
- **Curfew Zones**:
  - Little Rock Metro (I-30, I-40, I-430, I-630): 7:00–9:00 AM & 4:00–6:00 PM M-F
  - West Memphis / Memphis Bridge Corridors (I-40, I-55) during peak commuter hours
- **Travel Rules**: Daylight travel only for loads exceeding legal width or height. Continuous travel authorized for routine overweight-only loads with proper marker lights.

## Key Freight Corridors
- I-40 (Cross-Country Logistics Arterial)
- I-30 (Dallas to Little Rock)
- I-55 (Delta North-South Freight)
- I-49 (Northwest Arkansas Industrial)
- US-67 / Future I-57

## Frequently Asked Questions
### How long does Arkansas ARDOT take to process an oversize permit?
Routine permits are typically processed by ARDOT within 2–4 business hours. Alpine verifies axle weights and route clearances upon intake to expedite issuance.

### What are Arkansas pilot car requirements for wide loads?
Arkansas mandates 1 escort vehicle for loads over 12' wide on 2-lane roads, and 2 escorts for loads exceeding 14' wide.

### Are oversize loads allowed across the I-40 and I-55 Memphis bridges?
Yes, but loads exceeding 14' wide or 100' long require advance ARDOT clearance and coordination with Tennessee TDOT.

### What is Arkansas's superload weight threshold?
Shipments over 180,000 lbs gross vehicle weight are classified as superloads, requiring bridge stress evaluations.

## Contact & Direct Dispatch
- **Direct Phone**: (918) 607-6547 (CALL: [918-607-6547](tel:9186076547))
- **Email**: [permits@alpinetruck.com](mailto:permits@alpinetruck.com)
- **Online Intake**: [alpinetruckservice.com/permits/arkansas](https://www.alpinetruckservice.com/permits/arkansas)