The transportation industry is vast and the freight moved within it can vary greatly in size, weight and dimension. As a result, most permit companies have areas of strength they stick to, offering services for loads of some sizes but not for others.

For example, offering permits and escorts for a “super load” moving through California might be out of a permit company’s domain if it only has experience permitting freight up to a certain dimension in California. These are insights you should seek when choosing a permit company.

In most instances, permit companies won’t come right out and state where they’re inexperienced. You probably won’t find this on their websites. Instead, make sure to ask questions of your permitting provider before offering them your business.

Introduce them to your cargo’s dimension/size and anticipated route and ask about their comfort level in securing the proper permits. Have they done anything similar before? Would they recommend an alternative route for money-saving purposes? What travel restrictions will impact your journey?

The way a permit company answers questions like these should give you insight as to whether permitting your shipment is a run-of-the-mill request or something more challenging.

Processes Shipping OSOW freight is a process full of complex rules and regulations to follow. These rules and regulations often change from one state, county and city to the next. Without doing this every day, it’s practically impossible to fully understand which laws exist in every location.

This is why it’s so valuable to work with a permit company that knows what they’re doing and has existing relationships with the permit offices in the locations you’re looking to move through. That said, not every permit company has experience moving cargo everywhere.

As such, make sure that the permit company you utilize has permitted freight — with a similar size and route — before. You’ll also want to verify they understand the OSOW regulations in every state and municipality along your route. Most of this information can be found on a permit company’s website in the form of state-by-state law breakdowns. However, it may be worth jumping on a call or sending an email inquiring about their experience permitting cargo through your route’s major locations.

The OSOW permitting industry, although relatively niche, is an important segment of global commerce. As a result, permit companies have the opportunity to join transportation industry associations to bolster their knowledge of key topics, network with the best in the business and refine their industry standing.

As you’re searching for a permitting company to work with, this is something to keep in mind. Look for a company that’s involved in industry groups like the Specialized Carriers of their commitment to providing industry-leading service.

Additionally, as you research permit providers, pay attention to the review previous customers have left. This should extend beyond the testimonials listed on their website; consider looking at their Google reviews as well.

Keep Your OSOW Freight Move Rolling Along!

Should you decide to try out any of the companies listed here, you probably won’t be disappointed; they’ve all done great work for companies like yours in the past.

That said, there are plenty of other options out there so don’t hesitate to do your own research. At the end of the day, your OSOW freight shipment’s journey hinges on your ability to acquire permits in a timely manner — find a great company by keeping their history, experience, user reviews, areas of strength and industry association involvement in mind.