Oversize shipping guides / California / Heavy Equipment shipping
2 of 3 reference heavy equipment shipments below ride legal in California; the rest need a state permit: the state treats loads over 8.5 ft wide or 14 ft tall as oversize. LoadLoom prices the permits into the quote automatically and files them for the carrier.
California figures verified against California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) ยท 2026-09 ยท last reviewed September 2026
Price my heavy equipment shipment โLegal width 8.5 ft, legal height 14 ft.
| Shipment | Width | Height | Weight | In California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini excavator (3 to 4 ton)15 ft 6 in ร 5 ft 8 in ร 8 ft 2 in, 8,100 lbs, runs and drives | 5.7 ft | 8.2 ft | 8,100 lbs | Legal load |
| Skid steer11 ft ร 6 ft ร 6 ft 8 in, 7,500 lbs, runs and drives | 6.0 ft | 6.7 ft | 7,500 lbs | Legal load |
| 20-ton excavator31 ft ร 10 ft ร 10 ft, 48,000 lbs, overwidth, RGN with permits | 10.0 ft | 10.0 ft | 48,000 lbs | Permit |
Loaded height adds the trailer deck; the quote computes it from your dimensions and the trailer it assigns. This guide is provided free, for general information, so shippers can see how oversize and overweight moves work. It is not legal advice and not a permit determination. Limits, escort bands, fees, and seasonal restrictions change regularly; before relying on any figure, verify it with the jurisdiction's transportation department or permit office, or a licensed permit service. When you book with LoadLoom, our dispatch desk and your assigned carrier confirm the current rules for your exact load and route; that confirmation, not this page, governs your shipment.
Pilot-car requirements attach by route and dimension from Caltrans' published pilot-car maps; the permit lists the binding count for the roads you actually run.
Daylight travel is the working default for oversize loads; curfews apply in urban areas.
Holiday movement runs under Caltrans' special holiday travel conditions, which curtail the biggest dimensions around major holidays.
No seasonal regime on file for California; dispatch confirms at booking.
Permit needed above 80,000 lb gross; tandem axle limit 34,000 lb.
Past 15 ft wide, 17 ft high, or 135 ft long, or on hauling equipment outside the standard weight classification, California requires a VARIANCE permit: the individually engineered tier where route clearing, structure checks, and special conditions take over.
Caltrans Office of Commercial Vehicle Operations, Permits Issuance Branch (Sacramento) ยท CTPS (California Transportation Permit System) ยท (916) 322-1297
The carrier or its permit service files; the cost is in your quote.
Full California guide โOnly when it exceeds the state's envelope: 8.5 ft wide, 14 ft tall, 80,000 lb gross. 20-ton excavator on this page would; the quote decides from your real dimensions.
The carrier or its permit service; permits attach to the vehicle, not the shipper. The cost is in your quote and the paperwork rides in the cab.
California publishes seasonal weight restrictions when they apply; dispatch applies the current regime to your route and your delivery estimate already reflects it.
LoadLoom prices every lane from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Bernardino, Stockton to 154 North American metros; the lane pages linked below carry live reference prices.
