Overland Yacht Transport by Road is a complicated matter due to the different laws that exist within each State for Oversize Loads. When it comes to the rules that apply to oversize loads each individual State dictates the need for front and rear escorts and police escorts. Other common restrictions include the times of day and night and days of the week truckers are allowed to travel on State Highways and Interstates. Each State also has different restrictions for a variety of State and National Holidays that vary greatly.States issue Limited Permits for each individual trip that contain so many restrictions that many companies need a lawyer to legally decipher. To further compound the complexity; each State’s permits are written in varying formats; plus the requirements for even neighboring States can be contradictory as far as the restricts applied to each transport depending on height, width, length, and weight.
States issue Limited Permits for each individual trip that contain numerous detailed restrictions; so many limitations that many companies need a legal team to properly decipher some regulations. To further compound the complexity, each State’s permits are written in varying formats and often the requirements for even neighboring States can be contradictory depending on the height, width, length, and weight of a boat.
The cost of each permit varies greatly from State-to-State and even the effective time period for the permit also varies making logistical planning for Yacht Transport by Road very intricate to a company’s experience with every State. These laws and regulations are also constantly changing. For example; Florida just recently placed into effect that boats measuring over 14’6” must now have a route survey done prior to a permits issue. Prior to this change, the requirement was set as 16’. A route survey means that an escort car must drive the route alone with a high pole set 6” above the requested load’s height. This means that a boat hauler would need to first load the boat; then next take an exact measurement and before having a route survey done prior to obtaining a permit and starting his trip. Needless to say, this adds tremendous pressure to always plan ahead to hopefully avoid the extra cost of any downtime while route surveys are performed.
Detours are common to all oversize loads and can add 100’s of miles to any trip due to road construction or overpasses that limit the safe passage due to height, width, length, and weight. In most States interstate travel only requires one rear escort, but many detours take oversized boats onto 2-lane highways that require both front and rear escorts. These detours are especially troubling because they may be in the middle of a State and only last for 30 miles, but with the need for an extra escort companies must account for a full days escort services. This scenario can occur repeatedly over many States causing up to 25% more in miles traveled and greatly increase the overall cost of boat trucking.
Weekend and Holiday restrictions vary greatly from State-to-State and can also cause many lost days on the road. Thanksgiving, for instance, restricts oversize loads in some States for 4 plus days whereas in others on 1. In addition, some states allow Sunday travel while others don’t; Florida allows travel on Saturday and Sunday until 12 noon EST while neighboring Alabama allows Saturday travel from sunup to sundown, but no Sunday travel. Likewise, Alabama requires two escorts for front and rear for any boat over 12’ wide; even on interstates; whereas Florida only requires a single rear escort for boats up to 14’ wide.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to trucking complexities for oversize boats. California restricts the maximum distance from rear axle to kingpin as an example of some other infinitesimal restrictions that one must first navigate with each States DOT prior to cranking their truck and navigating the highways throughout US and Canada. Connecticut requires double State Trooper escort throughout the State; Cape Cod requires the same coming off of the Island; the list of complexities goes on-and-on and only an experienced transporter can navigate these laws to keep their trucks moving on a legal basis. The honest truth is that many if not most transporters run illegally to cut cost on each load. In doing so; by cutting corners; they VOID THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE putting your yacht at serious risk for damage without coverage.
Yacht Trucking is one of the few companies that transport boats by road throughout every State and Canada on a regular basis. We know the law and make sure that we abide by it to the letter which keeps your boat safe, legal and insured while being professionally loaded and driven to your destination. We are leaders the Boat Transport Industry and we set the standard for outstanding service that others follow.
For a frank and honest conversation about how to best transport your yacht legally and safely, please contact us today. We have the professional service you deserve.
