House Moving Not A Simple Process

I saw a truck moving a house on Eraste Landry today, and it made me wonder if it was a simple process...

Of course, only someone with a simple mind would have that thought, so I did some research and was amazed at how much "red tape" had to be cut to get a house (or mobile home, or oilfield equipment, or any over-sized load) moved.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has a website that provides an overview of all of the regulations for moving any over-sized load.  Width, height, weight, distance, location, permits, axle distribution, railroad crossings, power lines, escorts, curfews, red lights... the list of items goes on and on.

I know someone who moves mobile homes for a living. I asked him what the biggest headache was when it comes to moving a large load, his reply was, "motorists who disregard the escort vehicle and the load itself."  He has been cut off, cussed at, had objects thrown at him, and has had to call the police on a motorist who was threatening him.  One motorist was trying to pass him on the shoulder and crashed into his truck!

Having never moved a wide load myself, I had no idea that the people who do this for a living have to go through so much, not just with the regulations, but with impatient/frustrated people.

Did you know that most wide loads have a limit of 55 miles per house (or the posted speed, whichever is less)?  It was recently raised from 45 miles per hour maximum, even on the interstate!  Also, curfews require that all wide loads can't get on the road until 30 minutes after sunrise and must be off of the road 30 minutes prior to sunset.

It's not an easy job, so my hat is off to the wide load movers!!  The next time you see an escort vehicle (flashing yellow lights, usually with a company logo on the truck and a 16 feet wide, 80 feet long object on the vehicle behind it), take heed, give way, and allow those guys to get through.  They want to get to where they are going just as bad as you do, but you all need to do it safely!