We know what you’re thinking. The most obvious answer to the question, “How do you read oversized load permits?” is either with your eyes or from left to right.
We’re laughing right alongside you right now. But the truth is, permits are complex.
For example, each state has different provisions that dictate when you can and can’t run freight. (Think holidays, rush hour, and nighttime.) But did you also know that you basically can’t haul oversized freight in Nebraska during college football season? Probably not. (And FYI, you can, but there are a lot of restrictions.)
If you’re hauling a load across several states — which you most likely will be — then there are a lot of little rules you’ll need to be mindful of.
That’s not even getting into how you need to follow exact routes. We mean exact. A missed turn, regardless of whether it’s a block or a mile off route, can result in penalties and sticky situations you don’t want to find yourself in.
So, by now, you probably understand why we felt the need to talk about how to read your permits. We gathered all the experts to tell it from every side: a permits coordinator, a specialized driver manager, and a driver who’s been in the game for over 20 years (about 10 of which he’s spent hauling blades).
Simply stated, they know what they’re talking about. AND, they’re going to get you up to speed too, so you can feel confident the next time you’re hauling permitted freight.
First thing’s first: Why do permits even matter?
For starters, permits give you permission to travel on designated roads. Without that permit (or with the wrong permit), you’re not legally allowed to travel on roads through a particular state, county, or city (and yes, permits get down into the nitty gritty like that).
Oversized load permits provide the specific date range for travel, the times of day travel is allowed, and when it is not allowed. They also specify what you need to do and have when hauling the permitted load.
Your freight can’t make it through some areas due to infrastructure, so your permit will tell you where you’re approved and legally allowed to travel.
Failing to follow oversized load permits (or not reading them at all) has the potential to cause all sorts of trouble. There’s a reason oversized/overweight freight is only allowed to travel on specific roads: Because it’s too large to travel on other roads — whether due to width, height, length, or weight.
Some of the issues that can occur include:
If you don’t closely read your permits, you may end up unintentionally breaking the permit rules. Special restrictions on each oversized/overweight (OSOW) permit dictate when you can and can’t run (and where). Additional provisions state by state dictate certain days of the year OSOW freight can’t move — like specific holidays and weekends.
Not only that, but if you’re involved in an accident while traversing a road you’re not legally allowed to travel on according to your permit, you’ll be at fault. It doesn’t matter if you did or didn’t cause the accident. The other involved driver may be intoxicated, without a permit, or otherwise breaking the law, and you’ll be at fault simply because you shouldn’t have been on that road in the first place.
If it sounds pretty intense, that’s because it is.
Getting caught violating your permit can result in hefty fines and violations that can add up quickly. If you’re repeatedly incurring fines and violations in a particular state, the state can decide to deny future permit requests.
If you drive for a carrier and numerous drivers get violations in a state, the state can decide to deny permits to the entire oversized fleet.
These permit denials typically aren’t indefinite. They may last for a month or more, but a month is a month. It’s an expensive and major inconvenience for everyone involved.
Because you won’t be able to move freight through that state, you may have to route around it, which takes extra time and money. Plus, you or the carrier you run with may have to decline loads in that state entirely.
As we’ve mentioned, every state has different rules to follow, but here’s a general outline of the sections you’ll see on oversized permits:
There’s not too much to understand about this section. It explains who ordered the permit, how much the permit costs, and how it’ll be paid. If you ordered the permit yourself, pay extra attention to this section for accuracy.
You’ll review this section to ensure information about your vehicle is accurate, including:
Review closely. If anything is incorrect — even something as simple as a transposed number — the permit isn’t valid for your vehicle. Highway patrol officers who catch this can fine you.
Call your dispatcher or permits department if you notice anything is wrong. You’ll want that fixed before you keep moving.
This section describes the load you’re hauling, so be sure you’re actually hauling what’s on the permit.
Believe us, we’ve seen shippers load the wrong equipment plenty of times. As a driver, you’re the final check. Make sure what’s loaded matches all your paperwork — bill of lading (BOL) included.
When you get loaded at a shipper, one of the first things you should do is to measure it and hop on a scale.
Permits can take a while to come through — especially depending on the state they’re ordered from — so your carrier’s permit department or whoever orders your permits may preorder the permits based on what the shipper stated the dimensions and weight should be.
These measurements may or may not be accurate, especially when you consider how the freight is loaded on your trailer. It might not be loaded dead center, so it’ll hang off your trailer more on one side than the other.
Measure your freight at all four corners and at the highest parts of the commodity. Not every commodity is going to be shaped like a perfect cube, and freight may be angled on your trailer. You’ll get some awkward-shaped equipment, and you need to measure it from the front, back, and sides of the trailer to ensure you’re measuring the furthest point it stretches.
Measure once, measure twice, measure again. Then update your carrier with the proper dimensions if they weren’t already correct on the permit. Your permit should be updated before you move.
This is crucial. If the measurements are off, you may be routed on roads you shouldn’t be traveling on.
This section of your permit will state where you’re entering the state and where you’re leaving the state. This should align with the route listed later in the permit.
Remember: You’ll need a separate permit for each state you’re traveling through.
You have to pay close attention to this section. Take notes or make mental reminders if you need to. In this section of the permit, you’ll see details about:
Some states have a long list of special restrictions, and they don’t all fit on the permit. In that case, you have to visit their website for further information. Again, review this information closely and take notes if you need to.
You’ll utilize these notes when you’re making your trip plan.
Here’s the section where you’ll really want to take notes: your route. Some states are putting a QR code on their permits. You can scan them and access your route.
This section gives you step-by-step directions for every road you need to be on and for how many miles. It’s black or white; there are no gray areas. You follow these directions to a T.
During this stage of the process, your atlas will become your best friend. Try to locate each road on the map. If you can’t find the road, sometimes routing backward can help. Go to your final destination and trace your route from the end to the beginning.
Drivers stay on route in a few different ways. Some review the route on their permit and then plot their route with a dropped pin for each road they have to be on. Then they use their GPS to navigate to each of those pins one by one.
Some drivers write each direction on their windshield with dry-erase markers and erase as they go.
See which method works best for you and run with it.
By no means should you ever just punch your destination into a GPS and hope for the best. It’ll take you there on the quickest route it deems reasonable and is in no way verified or approved by the state. Understanding and following the permitted route is crucial.
It takes a lot to succeed as a driver hauling OSOW freight. You have to take a lot of precautions and run differently than if you were just hauling general freight.
It certainly isn’t for everyone.
That being said, if you want to find success, here are some of our best tips for how to succeed when you’re running on permits:
This is the number one way to succeed when you’re running permitted freight. You can only run during short windows, and you can’t always run every day of the week. Without a trip plan in place, you’ll end up violating your permit — plain and simple.
When you have your permit, read it closely to determine when you can and can’t run. Then, make your trip plan accordingly. Align the permitted travel times with your available hours of service to plan your stopping options and locations along the permitted route.
As you trip plan, remember the following:
Write down the directions and plug each point into your GPS (if that’s what works for you). Determine how far you can travel in a day and when you’re going to get started.
Read your permit thoroughly and don’t leave anything up to interpretation. If something is wrong, call. If you’re confused about the route and can’t find the correct road, call.
No matter if you’re doing the same load all the time, it doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a change. You may have to take a different route due to road construction or some other issue.
Don’t be complacent. If you do question something, highlight it and note it. Ask your dispatcher the question and reach out to get it covered. If they aren’t available, try the after-hours line at your carrier. Don’t travel until you have the answers you need.
If your carrier isn’t available to answer questions, or you don’t have a carrier to turn to, the proper authorities can help you. Talk to the highway patrol to help you out of sticky situations. They’re there to help. The key is to ask for help before you end up in a bad situation.
For example, if you aren’t sure about one of the provisions on your permit, ask before you start traveling, rather than getting stuck on a road and then calling for help.
As the driver, you’re in charge. You may have pilot cars with you helping you out, but you’re in charge of that load. If the pilot car in front of you turns onto a road you know you’re not permitted to be on, do not follow them.
Turn where you need to turn. Pull over and safely stop right away, contact the pilot car, and notify your dispatcher. The pilot car being off-route is a lot easier to navigate than if you end up off route.
For starters, they can turn around easily to remedy the situation, and they aren’t oversized or overweight. If they turn on a road that’s not on your permit, they don’t have to worry about getting stuck like you would.
Speeding is illegal, so trying to speed is completely out of the question. Additionally, when hauling an oversized load, many states mandate that you travel at speeds lower than the posted speed limit.
With OSOW freight, you have to take it low and slow. You’ll get there when you get there. It’s a good day if you can run 400 miles in a day on permits.
Between lowered speeds and smaller windows of permitted travel time, meeting tight deadlines is never a guarantee.
Deadlines can be moved. Safety and running legally always take priority over deadlines. Of course, you don’t want to be negligent and fail to meet your deadlines, but if they’re impossible to reach, they can be changed.
Look, we get it — oversized load permits aren’t exactly light reading. They’re packed with rules, restrictions, and critical details that can impact your route, timeline, and safety.
But the bottom line is this: Reading and understanding your permit is non-negotiable if you want to stay legal, stay safe, and keep hauling.
It’s not just paperwork — it’s your roadmap, your safety net, and your get-out-of-trouble-free card only if you follow it to the letter. So slow down, read it twice, ask questions, and never assume. Trust your gut, take your time, and don’t be afraid to hit the brakes (literally and figuratively).
Because in the world of oversized freight, the permit isn’t just part of the job — it is the job.
Let’s get rolling — the right way.