States have different rules on the standards of load capacity that a truck should carry. These regulations help reduce accidents, protect roads from damage and avoid traffic on specific routes. Violating these rules by moving bulky goods beyond the set regulations results in legal consequences, including fines and revocation of your commercial license. However, states make exceptions for transporting bulky goods such as heavy-duty machinery whose weight exceeds set regulatory standards. But to legally transport these items, you must get an oversize/overweight permit to move those goods.

This piece explains oversize permits and the reasons to use a permit service company to process them. 

Oversize/Overweight Permit

An oversize or overweight permit is a license from the state or county transport department allowing you to transport goods that exceed the set load capacity and dimensional restrictions for vehicles in that region. Mandatory fees to get the permit will depend on the dimensions and weight of the loads, the distance covered, and the frequency in which you'll be transporting the oversize goods. For instance, you'll only pay for a single trip permit if it's a one-time shipment. In contrast, permits including multiple trips may cost more overall, but be more cost-effective in the long run. On the other hand, permit service companies help transportation businesses process oversize permits. 

Permit Applications

There are several types of oversize permits available at different governmental levels for transporting oversized goods, e.g., state, county, and township-level permits. Obtaining them on your own is time-consuming and can be confusing. States have different rules regarding overweight licenses, and it's difficult and frustrating to go through them and ensure compliance. A slight mistake in the application process can create further delays.

Using a permit service company helps speed up the process, as they'll have knowledge and experience working with the requirements of multiple states and won't make mistakes in the application process. They also work with transport departments across various regions and can arrange for prior consultations to prevent unnecessary delays.

Route Planning

Besides getting the necessary transportation permits, you should also be familiar with routes you intend to use to avoid logistical issues or accidents. For instance, the nature of oversized goods may make it impossible to move your truck through some underground roads or bridges. Running into an unexpected area you can't go through results in delays and traffic snarl-ups, inconveniencing you and the other road users. A permit service company can help you determine the routes you need to follow and where to make detours if access is a problem. That helps avoid delays and troubles with law enforcement due to wrong routing. 

Take Away 

If you are looking to transport oversize goods across various states, consult a reliable permit service provider to quickly access all types of overweight permits you require and help with route planning.