Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions
South Carolina adheres to strict regulations regarding travel restrictions. As such, travel permits are only valid for and must be used within seven days. Normally, travel is not permitted on Sundays unless otherwise specified. Additionally, oversized loads should only be on the road between 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after sunset.
However, travel on Saturdays can only take place between 9 am and 3 pm. Furthermore, per South Carolina Department of Transportation regulations, there can be no travel on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Therefore, you should complete all travel the day before and the day after major holidays before noon.
Signs, Flags, and Lights Requirements
For most oversized shipments, you will need any required equipment, including signs, flags, and lights to increase the vehicle’s visibility.
Signs
Large shipments, with or without overhang, over 12 feet wide require large “oversize load” signs at the front and rear of the vehicle. These signs should be made of large, legible letters in black (at least 1 and ½ inches thick). These letters should sit on top of a bright yellow background, and the signs should be at a height no less than 12 feet.
Flags
For loads over 12 feet wide, four flags are required. They should be placed in each corner of the shipment and colored orange or red.
Lights
For loads between 12 feet and 14 feet wide, a single amber-colored strobe light is required at the vehicle’s rear. However, if the load is larger than 14 feet, there must be a rotating amber light on each corner of the shipment.
Obtaining a permit
After checking the local and state regulations of the intended route, a permit is a simple click, call, or fax away.
For more information on obtaining a permit, call the South Carolina Department of Transportation at 803-737-6769 or send a fax to 803-737-2199 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. You may also submit permit requests on the South Carolina Department of Transportation website at
https://www.scdot.org/default.aspx.
