Equipment Hauling Cost & Permit Calculator
Check a machine against federal width and weight limits and the common 13.5 ft height limit, see whether permits and escorts are likely, and estimate hauling by the mile.
Equipment Hauling Cost & Permit Calculator — ConcreteNear.com
| Loaded height | 12 ft |
| Gross vehicle weight | 70,000 lb |
| Escort vehicles (typical) | 0 |
| Drive time at 50 mph | 4.8 hr |
Cost estimate U.S. average prices
| Truck miles (loaded + empty) 240 mi × $2.34 × 1.25 | $702.00 |
| Load, secure & unload 2 hr × $106.69 × 1.25 | $266.73 |
| Estimated total | $968.72 |
- Escort, flag and travel-time rules differ by state — the hauler pulls permits and plans the route.
- Measure the machine in its transport position (bucket curled, boom down).
| Inputs | |
| Machine weight | 30,000 lb |
| Machine width | 8.5 ft |
| Machine height (as loaded) | 10 ft |
| Trailer | Lowboy (≈2 ft deck) |
| Truck + trailer empty weight | 40,000 lb |
| Loaded miles | 120 mi |
| Empty (deadhead) miles | 120 mi |
| States crossed | 1 |
| Load + unload + securement time | 2 hr |
Planning estimate only — confirm with your supplier or contractor.
Prices used — edit any price to match your local quote
| Item | Unit price | Basis & source |
|---|---|---|
| Truck operating cost per mile per mi | public source ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update — average marginal cost per mile, 2025 (2025 data, published Jul 2026) | |
| Truck operating cost per hr | public source ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update, Table 9 — average marginal cost per hour, 2025 (fuel, truck payments, repairs, insurance, tires, tolls, driver wages and benefits) (2025 data, published Jul 2026) — For-hire fleet cost before overhead and profit. Local dump and lowboy rates are usually higher; use the overhead % to adjust. | |
| Hauler overhead & profit per % | starting estimate Starting estimate added on top of the ATRI operating cost. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter the machine's weight, width and transport height.
- Pick the trailer type.
- Enter loaded and empty miles and states crossed.
- Read the permit check and cost.
Formulas
Loaded height = machine height + trailer deck heightGross weight = machine + truck and trailerOver 8.5 ft wide or 80,000 lb gross → permit (federal limits); over 13.5 ft high → permit in most states
Questions
How wide can a load be without a permit?
8.5 ft (102 in) on the National Network under federal rules (23 CFR 658.15).
What is the legal height limit?
There is no federal height limit; most states use 13.5 ft, some 14 ft or more. Check each state on your route.
When do I need a pilot car?
Each state sets its own escort rules by width, height and length. The calculator flags typical thresholds; your hauler confirms.
Sources & assumptions
Prices checked 2026-11-10. State pricing multiplies national figures by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (goods for materials, services for labor and services). RPPs compare general consumer price levels (U.S. = 100). They are not construction-specific; we use RPP Goods for materials and RPP Services: Other (excludes rents) for labor and services.
- Truck operating cost per mile — ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update — average marginal cost per mile, 2025 (2025 data, published Jul 2026)
- Truck operating cost — ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update, Table 9 — average marginal cost per hour, 2025 (fuel, truck payments, repairs, insurance, tires, tolls, driver wages and benefits) (2025 data, published Jul 2026). For-hire fleet cost before overhead and profit. Local dump and lowboy rates are usually higher; use the overhead % to adjust.
Starting estimates No public price series was found for: Oversize/overweight permit; Pilot/escort car; Hauler overhead & profit. These defaults are editable placeholders — replace them with a local quote.
Results are planning estimates, not quotes or engineering advice. Codes, specifications and your supplier's numbers govern.