In addition to other permits authorized to be issued for overweight loads, the Department of Transportation is authorized to issue annual special permits for vehicles transporting heavy equipment with a nondivisible load having a gross vehicle weight of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) pounds or less. The permit shall be issued for the pulling unit. The department may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and transference of the permit from one pulling unit to another. The fee for such permit shall be Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.00) and the permit shall expire one (1) year from the beginning movement date. Movements under such permit shall be made under such safety and equipment restrictions as the department may establish. The department shall specify the routes over which such movements may be conducted.