If the load being transported is heavier than legally allowed, what must a driver obtain?

When a load being transported exceeds the legal weight limits established by regulations, the driver must obtain a special permit. This process is necessary because heavy loads can pose significant safety risks on the road, including increased wear and tear on infrastructure and potential hazards to other drivers. A special permit is issued by the appropriate authorities to allow the transport of such overweight loads legally and may come with specific conditions or routes that must be followed to ensure safety.

The other options, while they may seem relevant in different contexts, do not address the need to comply with legal weight restrictions effectively. A new vehicle would not solve the problem of an overweight load, additional insurance, while beneficial in some situations, does not grant permission to transport heavy loads legally, and a safety inspection is unrelated to the need for a special permit for overweight cargo. Thus, obtaining a special permit is the correct and necessary step for compliance with transportation regulations.