Oversize/Overweight Load Flags/Banners/Signs/Lights Requirements for California
Certain signs, flags, and lights may be mandated for safety purposes. Below is what’s expected of you during transport in California.
Signs Requirement Criteria:
- For vehicles exceeding a width of 8 feet 6 inches, length of 80 feet, or overhangs of 10 feet, installation of signs and flags is obligatory.
- Signs are also necessary for loads categorized as overweight.
Flag Guidelines:
Specific guidelines apply during nighttime travel.
- Amber marker lights must be affixed to the following:
- Front corners of the load,
- Leftmost portion with visibility from the front and sides.
- Red lights at the rear corners, visible from the rear and sides, are mandatory.
Night Travel Lighting Standards (Los Angeles County):
Additional specifications for nighttime travel in Los Angeles County.
- Amber lights are mandatory at all protrusions and five-foot intervals around the load.
- Red lights at the rear, positioned no higher than five feet from the ground, are required.
- If the rear overhang exceeds four feet, a minimum of two lights or a rear light bar is necessary.
- During daytime travel, a rear light bar becomes a compulsory safety feature if the load obstructs signals and brake lights.
Travel Time Restrictions for Overdimensional and Overweight Loads in California
- Travel is permitted 24/7 but must be requested during the order, except for loads exceeding a two-vehicle configuration or needing an escort.
- If weight surpasses the green loading limit or a detour is in place, travel is limited to half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
- Loads wider than 10 feet can only travel Monday through Friday.
- In Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Diego, transit hours are restricted to 7-9 am and 4-6 pm. Los Angeles prohibits oversized loads from 6-9 am and 3-6 pm.
- San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge restricts travel from 6:30-9 am and 3:30-6:30 pm. Overheight or over 11 feet wide loads need a highway patrol escort. Loads over 12 feet wide are restricted to 11 am -1 pm Monday through Friday.
- Holiday travel restrictions in California apply only to larger loads, which cannot travel on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Memorial Day
- Washington’s Birthday
- Independence Day
- Columbus Day
- Labor Day
- Confederate Memorial Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Jefferson Davis’ Birthday
- Christmas Day
- Veteran’s Day