Published by Chris Townsend
Planning a move in Alabama might sound as simple as loading a truck and heading for I-65, but state law says otherwise. Every mile of public roadway is governed by size, weight, and safety rules enforced by three separate bodies: the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC) for household-goods carriers, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for oversize/overweight permitting, and county tax officials for manufactured-home decals. Add federal USDOT requirements for interstate work—and maritime licensing for ocean shipments—and the checklist quickly outgrows a sticky note.
Three Movers serves as your paperwork concierge. We vet every carrier for an active APSC certificate, current insurance, and safe-driver record, then arrange any ALDOT oversize permits, certified pilot cars, and county move decals your shipment demands. The result? A fully legal, fully insured move that rolls through weigh stations and county lines without surprises. This guide walks you through every Alabama credential you—or your chosen moving carrier—must hold before the first box or backhoe hits the highway.
1 │ Intrastate Household-Goods Movers
1.1 Licensing Authority
Alabama requires any company that transports household goods between points within the state for pay to hold an APSC Household-Goods Certificate (Form 14H, $100 filing fee). Carriers print their APSC number on both doors of every power unit so roadside officers can confirm authority.
1.2 Application Snapshot
| Step | Carrier’s Responsibility | Brokerage Oversight |
|---|---|---|
| File Form 14H + $100 | Submit notarized application with service territory | Three Movers checks filing date & docket number |
| Publish public notice | Two consecutive weeks in a local newspaper | We track proof-of-publication dates |
| Post insurance | Form E (auto liability) & Form H (cargo) filed by insurer | Certificates stored in our compliance vault |
| Tariff submission | Hourly or mileage rates on APSC tariff form | Rates reviewed before quoting |
| Safety fitness | Provide USDOT safety rating (satisfactory or none) | Ratings monitored quarterly |
1.3 Key Insurance Minimums
- $300,000 auto-liability per occurrence
- $50,000 cargo liability per truckload
2 │ Oversize & Overweight (OS/OW) Transport
Legal “routine” limits in Alabama are 8 ft 6 in width, 13 ft 6 in height, 75 ft overall length, and 80,000 lb gross weight. Exceed any of these and your carrier must hold an ALDOT OS/OW permit.
2.1 Permit Menu
| Permit | Validity | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Trip | 5 calendar days | One excavator, steel beam, or tower section |
| Annual Envelope | 12 months, fixed to ≤12 ft wide & ≤120,000 lb | Contractors moving cranes statewide |
| Superload | Trip-specific, route & bridge review | >16 ft wide, >150 ft long, or >180,000 lb |
| Self-Propelled Crane | One year | Rough-terrain crane transfers |
| Modular Fleet | 6 or 12 months, up to 14 ft wide with route restrictions | Manufactured-home dealers |
Fees scale with gross weight and distance; superloads incur engineer-analysis surcharges.
2.2 Escort & Pilot-Car Thresholds
| Highway Type | Width Trigger | Escort Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Two-lane | 12–14 ft | One lead escort |
| Two-lane | >14 ft or >110 ft long | Lead + rear |
| Multi-lane | 12–15 ft | Rear escort |
| Multi-lane | >15 ft | Lead + rear |
| Height >16 ft | Any | Bucket-truck utility escort may be required |
Escort drivers must be at least 18, hold a valid license, complete an approved pilot-car course, and maintain continuous radio contact with the load.
2.3 Travel Restrictions
- Daylight only for most oversize loads; night travel allowed if width ≤10 ft with flashing amber lights.
- Holiday curfews on I-10, I-65, and U.S. Hwy 231 (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s).
- Weather holds: Alabama State Troopers may suspend OS/OW travel during hurricanes or tornadic events.
Three Movers files permit applications through ALDOT’s online portal, attaches axle-spacing diagrams, and schedules certified escorts so your convoy clears each checkpoint the first time.
3 │ Building & Structure Moves
Relocating a barn, brick façade, or historic cottage? Alabama treats this as a hybrid of household-goods carriage and superload hauling.
- APSC Certificate – Required because the cargo originated from a residence or building site.
- ALDOT Superload Permit – Mandatory if any dimension exceeds 16 ft width or 16 ft height.
- Route Survey – Carriers must document bridge clearances, overhead lines, and tree trimming plans.
- Utility Coordination – Utilities require ten business days to schedule line lifts. Charges are prepaid or bonded.
- County Bond – Some counties demand a $25k–$50k bond to cover pavement or sign damage.
Three Movers secures structure-moving specialists who bundle utility line-lift contracts and local law-enforcement escorts into one proposal.
4 │ Manufactured & Mobile Homes
Before a manufactured home can roll onto state highways, the owner—or their carrier—must purchase a Move Permit Decal from the county license commissioner. Requirements:
- Property-tax clearance or current registration receipt
- $10–$15 decal fee (varies by county)
- Decal affixed to the left-front window or frame and valid for 30 days
After the decal is in hand, the hauler still needs an ALDOT OS/OW permit if width exceeds 12 ft or height exceeds 13 ft 6 in.
5 │ Local & Municipal Permissions
State permits do not guarantee access to city streets. Examples:
- Birmingham requires 24-hour notice for loads over 14 ft high downtown; police escort billed hourly.
- Mobile bans oversize moves on Mardi Gras parade days.
- Montgomery County imposes spring weight restrictions on certain rural roads; temporary detours may be mandatory.
Three Movers maintains a permit calendar for every Alabama municipality and bundles local fees into one invoice.
6 │ Interstate Moves (USDOT / FMCSA)
Crossing state lines adds federal oversight:
- USDOT Number + MC Authority for household goods
- Minimum auto-liability insurance: $750,000 (often $1 million for preferred carriers)
- $5,000/$10,000 surety bond (cargo)
- Required customer booklet, Your Rights & Responsibilities When You Move
- Binding or non-binding written estimate, bill of lading, and claims process explained in writing
Our brokerage portal blocks any carrier whose FMCSA authority, insurance, or safety rating lapses before pickup.
7 │ International & Coastal Shipments
Moving belongings to or from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or overseas requires:
- Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) or Freight Forwarder License from the Federal Maritime Commission
- Marine cargo insurance covering the declared value door-to-door
- Customs paperwork: ACE electronic manifest (exports), ISF filing (imports), and ISPM-15 compliance for wood packaging
Three Movers partners exclusively with FMC-licensed forwarders and tracks every customs milestone to prevent port storage charges while moving goods internationally.
8 │ Insurance & Financial Responsibility
| Scenario | Minimum Coverage |
|---|---|
| Intrastate HHG (APSC) | $300k auto liability / $50k cargo |
| Building mover superload | $1 M auto liability / $100k cargo + umbrella may be requested |
| Standard OS/OW | Liability scaled to GVW (commonly $1 M) |
| Superload >180,000 lb | ALDOT may demand $2–$5 M umbrella |
| Interstate HHG | $750k–$1 M liability / $5k–$10k cargo bond |
| International ocean | Marine policy for full replacement value |
Three Movers receives certificates directly from insurers and stores them in an encrypted compliance vault—clients never chase paperwork.
9 │ Compliance & Recordkeeping Basics
- Permit copies—Drivers carry paper or digital permits; law enforcement can void a trip if documents are missing.
- Daily vehicle inspections—Required for any truck over 10,001 lb in interstate commerce or any oversize intrastate haul.
- Accident reporting—Any crash causing $2,000+ damage or injury must be reported to APSC within 30 days.
- Tariff updates—HHG carriers must re-file if rates change more than 10 percent in a calendar year.
10 │ Frequent Pitfalls & How We Prevent Them
| Pitfall | Three Movers Solution |
|---|---|
| Permit filed after truck dispatched | Dispatch unlocks only when permits are approved |
| Escort cars uncertified | Pilot-car certificates verified before assignment |
| County decal forgotten for mobile home | Automated checklist triggers county fee payment |
| Route crosses restricted bridge | Routing software flags low-clearance structures |
| Insurance lapses mid-trip | Real-time monitoring of insurer cancellation notices |
11 │ Permit Checklist (Print & Keep)
- □ APSC Household-Goods Certificate (intrastate)
- □ Tariff on file and posted when quoting customers
- □ Insurance Forms E & H current
- □ ALDOT OS/OW Permit (single, annual, or superload)
- □ Certified pilot cars booked per escort table
- □ Building-mover route survey + utility line-lift contracts (if applicable)
- □ County move-decal for manufactured homes
- □ Municipal oversize permits (Birmingham, Mobile, etc.)
- □ USDOT/MC Authority for interstate legs
- □ FMC OTI License + marine insurance for ocean shipment
12 │ Why Book Through Three Movers?
- Total Compliance Oversight – We pre-screen carriers for every Alabama, federal, and international credential.
- Permit Concierge – From ALDOT superload reviews to county decals, we handle the paperwork end-to-end.
- Transparent Pricing – Permit and escort fees are itemized in your moving quote; no surprise surcharges on delivery day.
- Real-Time Updates – Our dashboard alerts you the moment permits clear, pilot cars check in, and trucks depart.
- Stress-Free Service – You focus on your new home or job; we focus on the legal fine print that keeps your move moving.
Ready for a smooth, fully compliant Alabama relocation? Contact Three Movers at (888) 202-0036—our permit specialists will craft a turnkey timeline within one business day.
📚 Key Sources
- APSC Motor-Carrier Applications & Forms; Intrastate authority, Form 14H requirements, insurance filings
- APSC Motor-Carrier Section FAQs—APSC numbers, broker licensing
- ALDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Rules & Regs, legal dimensions, single-trip/annual/superload definitions
- Alabama escort/pilot-car age, training, and equipment requirements
- Alabama Administrative Code 810-4-2-.09—manufactured-home move-permit fee & tax-clearance rule
- Alabama Department of Revenue FAQ—displaying a manufactured-home decal
(*All regulations verified as current on June 2025.)
