Texas OSOW Regulations (TxDOT)

Legal Dimensions (No Permit Required)

• Width: 8'6"
• Height: 14' (legal height)
• Length: Varies by vehicle type

Legal Weights (No Permit Required)

• Gross vehicle weight: 80,000 lbs maximum on Interstate system
• Weight limits based on federal bridge formula

Maximum Permitted Weights

Weight Formula

Maximum permit weight for axle or axle group based on:

• 650 pounds per inch of tire width, OR
• Specific axle/axle group weight limits
• Whichever is lesser applies

Super Heavy Loads

• Over 254,000 lbs gross weight: Super Heavy Load designation
• Over 200,000 lbs with less than 95' axle spacing: Super Heavy Load designation
• Approval time: Several weeks required

Permit Requirements

When Permit Required

• Any load exceeding legal size and weight limits set by TxDOT
• All oversize/overweight loads require Texas oversize permit

Required Bond

• $15,000 Over Axle/Over Gross Weight Bond required before applying for overweight permit
• Ensures compliance with state regulations

Escort Vehicle Requirements

When Escorts Are Required

Escort requirements for most loads and permit types:

Multiple Dimension Exceedances

If a load exceeds escort requirements in two dimensions, front and rear escorts are required.

Examples:

• Load 16-feet wide AND 112-feet long: One escort required for width + one escort required for length = Front and Rear escorts required
• Load 115-feet long AND 25-feet rear overhang: One escort required for overall length + one escort required for overhang = Front and Rear escorts required

Height Pole Specifications

• Made of non-conductive material
• Accurately measures overhead obstructions

Convoy Operations

Overlength loads may convoy and share escorts under the following conditions:

• 110 feet to 150 feet long: Convoy up to 4 loads with one front and one rear escort
• 150 feet, 1 inch to 180 feet long: Convoy 2 loads with one front and one rear escort

Escort Vehicle Specifications

IMPORTANT: The following requirements do not apply to Manufactured Housing and Portable Building permits. See MFD Housing & Portable Buildings section for special requirements.

Escort flag vehicles are required to be a single unit with:

• Gross vehicle weight: Not less than 1,000 lbs and not more than 10,000 lbs

Lighting Requirements

An escort flag vehicle must have ONE of the following:

• Two flashing amber lights, OR
• One rotating amber beacon of not less than 8 inches in diameter, OR
• Alternating/flashing blue and amber lights

Mounting and Visibility:

• Fixed to the roof of the escort flag vehicle
• Must be visible from all sides of the escort flag vehicle

Signs Required

Display location:

• On the roof of the vehicle, OR
• On the front and rear of the vehicle

Sign text:

• "OVERSIZE LOAD" or "WIDE LOAD"

Sign specifications:

• Color: Yellow background with black lettering
• Size: 5 to 7 feet in length, 12 to 18 inches in height
• Lettering size: 8 to 10 inches high with brush stroke at least 1.41 inches wide
• Visibility: Must be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle while escorting the permitted load

Important:

• The sign must NOT be used at any other time

Radio Communications

Required:

• Must maintain two-way communications with the permitted vehicle and other escort flag vehicles involved with the movement of the permitted vehicle

Height Pole

Required when:

• Any permitted vehicle exceeds 17 feet in height

Specifications:

• Must be equipped on front escort flag vehicle
• Made of nonconductive material (not metal as originally stated - nonconductive for safety)
• Used to accurately measure overhead obstructions

Law Enforcement Motorcycle Escorts

Permitted within incorporated city limits:

• Official law enforcement motorcycle may be used as primary escort flag vehicle
• Must be operated by:
  • Highway patrol officer
  • Sheriff
  • Duly authorized deputy
  • Municipal police officer

Communications:

• Escort motorcycle must maintain two-way radio communications with permitted vehicle and other escort vehicles

Escort Vehicle Operator Duties - Warning the Public

The escort flag vehicle operator MUST warn the traveling public when any of the following conditions exists:

1. Permitted vehicle must travel over the center line of a narrow bridge or roadway
2. Permitted vehicle makes any turning movement that will require the permitted vehicle to travel in the opposing traffic lanes
3. Permitted vehicle reduces speed to cross under a low overhead obstruction or over a bridge
4. Permitted vehicle creates an abnormal and unusual traffic flow pattern

Important Notes:

• Special requirements apply to escort flaggers that will direct or control the flow of traffic (see Escort Flagger Training Requirements below)
• MFD Housing & Portable Buildings permits have special escort requirements (see Manufactured Homes section)

Escort Flagger Training Requirements

What is an Escort Flagger?

• Anyone who directs or controls the flow of traffic as required by an oversize/overweight permit issued by Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV)

Training Requirements - IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

TRAINING REQUIRED:

• Escort flaggers who direct traffic: YES - Must successfully complete a training program in traffic direction
• Authority: Texas Transportation Code (House Bill 2620, effective September 1, 2019)
• Curriculum Requirements: Training program must meet the basic peace officer course curriculum requirements for traffic direction established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
• TCOLE Resources: Visit TCOLE website for information and resources regarding training for escort flaggers: https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/escort-flaggers-3-6-20.pdf

NO TRAINING REQUIRED:

• Escort vehicle operators who only drive: NO training required
• Flaggers who do NOT direct traffic: NO training required
• Key Point: If you only drive an escort vehicle and don't get out to direct traffic, no training needed

Proof of Training

Documentation Requirements:

• Escort flagger must maintain proof of program completion (certificate)
• Must provide proof to law enforcement when requested
• Electronic proof acceptable

Out-of-State Certifications

ACCEPTED:

• Escort flagger certification from another state that requires certification
• Pilot/Escort Vehicle certification from another state that requires certification
• No need to retake training if you hold valid certification from qualifying state

Approved Training Programs

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) approved training providers:

1. American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA)

   • Flagger Training Courses - Classroom Training
   • https://www.atssa.com/Training/Flagger-Training-Courses/Classroom-Training

2. Evergreen Safety Council

   • Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator Certification
   • https://www.esc.org

3. National Safety Council (NSC)

   • Work Zone Safety - Flagger Novice
   • https://www.nsc.org/safety-training/workplace/work-zone-safety/flagger-novice

4. Pit Row Services

   • Pilot Car Certification Class
   • https://www.pitrow.services

5. RSA Network

   • Pilot/Escort Certification Course
   • https://rsanetwork.com

6. Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

   • HWS110: Flaggers in Work Zones
   • https://teex.org/Pages/Class.aspx?course=HWS110&courseTitle=Flaggers+in+Work+Zones

7. University of Texas at Arlington / Texas Local Technical Assistance Program (UTA/LTAP)

   • https://web-ded.uta.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&Course=ttshom#3
   • http://www.txltap.org/training.cfm

Note: Any training accepted by another state for escort flagger or pilot/escort vehicle operator will also be acceptable in Texas.

Transport Vehicle Requirements

Signs

• On escort vehicles only (not required on transport vehicle in Texas)
• See escort vehicle sign specifications above

Lights - Loads Extending Beyond Vehicle

For loads extending to the rear more than 4 feet beyond the bed or body of the vehicle:

Required on the extreme end of the load:

1. Two red lamps

   • Visible at a distance of at least 500 feet from the rear

2. Two red reflectors

   • Indicate the maximum width
   • Visible at nighttime at all distances from 100 to 600 feet from the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps

3. Two red lamps (side-mounted)

   • One on each side
   • Indicate the maximum overhang
   • Visible at a distance of at least 500 feet from the side

General Lighting Requirements:

• For buses, trucks, truck-tractors, trailers, or semitrailers, see Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 547, Subchapter E

Convoy Lighting

Each permitted load in a convoy must have:

• Rotating amber beacon OR amber pulsating light
• Minimum 8 inches in diameter
• Mounted at the top, rear of the load

Flags

12-inch red flags required when:

• Load extends beyond the vehicle's sides, OR
• Load extends more than 4 feet beyond the vehicle's rear

Flag Placement:

• Mark the extremities of the load
• For vehicles with loads extending more than 4 feet beyond the bed or body: Place flags where a lamp is required (see Lights section above)

Manufactured Housing and Portable Buildings

Special escort requirements apply when moved under permit types specific to these load types.

Escort Requirements

Number of required escorts and escort placement:

Load exceeding 16 feet wide, but not exceeding 18 feet wide:

• One escort required
• Two-lane highway: Escort must be in the front of the load
• Highway with four or more lanes: Escort must be in the rear

Load exceeding 18 feet wide:

• Two escorts required: One in the front AND one in the rear

Convoy Operations for Manufactured Homes

Two manufactured homes or two sections of a multi-section manufactured home may be moved in a convoy and share the required escorts if:

• The distance between the two units does not exceed 1,000 feet

Lights

Manufactured House Lighting (Over 12 Feet Wide)

Rear lighting - ONE of the following options:

Option 1 - Roof-mounted beacon:

• One rotating amber beacon not less than 8 inches in diameter
• Mounted somewhere on the roof at the rear of the manufactured house

Option 2 - Corner-mounted lights:

• Two 5-inch flashing amber lights
• Mounted approximately 6 feet from ground level
• Positioned at the rear corners of the manufactured house

Towing Vehicle Lighting

Required:

• One rotating amber beacon not less than 8 inches in diameter
• Mounted on the top of the cab
• Must be operational and luminous during any permitted move over the highway

Escort Vehicle Lighting

Required (visible from front and rear of vehicle):

• Two lights flashing simultaneously, OR
• One rotating amber beacon

Flags

Escort vehicle must have:

• 16-inch red flag mounted on each of the four corners of the vehicle

Signs

Escort vehicle must have:

• Signs mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle
• Yellow background with black letters
• Letters at least 8 inches high
• Text: "WIDE LOAD"

Operating Times

Standard Hours

• 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
• Includes Saturday and Sunday

Night Travel Exceptions

Interstate system only:

• Loads not exceeding 10' wide
• Legal height (14')
• Not exceeding 100' long with legal front and rear overhang
• Continuous movement allowed

Overweight Only Permits

• Continuous movement allowed (24/7)

City/County Restrictions

• Specific curfew times listed on individual permits
• Varies by municipality

Contact Information

• Website: https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits
• State: Texas
• Agency: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• Enforcement: Texas Department of Public Safety

Regulatory References

• Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
• Texas Department of Transportation
• Texas Department of Public Safety - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
• 43 Tex. Admin. Code § 219.11 (General Oversize/Overweight Permit Requirements)
• https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits
• https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/commercial-vehicle-enforcement/permits-over-size-or-overweight-vehicles
• https://jjkellercompliancenetwork.com/regsense/oversize-and-overweight-movements-texas

Last Updated: 2025-11-11