What You Should Know About Trucking Permit Services

Many people refer to the trucking industry as the backbone of American commerce. The transportation of goods supports all other industries operating in the nation. And while this industry can be very rewarding and lucrative, it is also filled with compliance challenges.

Permitting can be one aspect of this industry that could be more challenging to navigate. There is often a complex network of required permits for different materials in different states. Additionally, truckers transporting goods between the United States and Canada have more permit requirements.

Obtaining the proper permits can be incredibly complex and time-consuming, especially if you are new to the trucking industry. However, trucking permit services may be obtained to ease this regulatory burden. These companies connect you with an experienced professional who can simplify the process of obtaining all required trucking permits.

An overview of common trucking permits and their guidelines include the following:

Single-Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

Single-trip permits, often called dimensional permits or oversize or overweight permits, are required when the dimensions of a load are larger than average. This permit is required if:

The overall weight exceeds 80,000 lbs.
The overall height exceeds 13 feet, six inches (this rule varies as some states only require a permit when height exceeds 14 feet.
The overall length exceeds 65 feet (length and overhang requirements vary by state).
The overall width exceeds 8 feet, six inches.

City and County Single-Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

In addition to state permits, you may also require city and county oversize permits along the route you take and the termination location. Many local municipalities have become more familiar with oversize transportation and the associated liabilities. As a result, many of these local jurisdictions require local permits for cities and counties in the United States and Canada.

Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

Companies that transport the same routes may request a blanket permit for one year. Many states have unique guidelines and size and weight limitations for these permits. Some states offer 30, 60, or 90-day options. Eligibility for these permits depends on the cargo you are transporting.

Superload Permits

A superload permit may be necessary when a truck is transporting something where the dimensions exceed standard permit limitations. While the dimensions and weights vary from state to state, these permits are often required when something can’t be broken down and transported across multiple loads. In addition, superload permits are often needed for moving extremely heavy or large equipment, such as wind turbine blades or mobile homes.

Temporary Fuel or Trip Permits

A temporary ‘trip’ permit, also known as an International Registration Plan permit, issues a temporary vehicle registration for commercial vehicles not registered in a specific state or multiple states. Temporary fuel permits are required for commercial vehicles without a valid International Fuel Tax Agreement for their intended travel route.

The fuel tax agreement covers the United States and Canadian Provinces and ensures that the vehicles only pay taxes on the distance traveled in each state or province. Trip and fuel permits may also be required if the truck has three axles or two axles with a gross weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.

Working with trucking permitting services can bring many benefits for a trucking company, including:

Simplification

It can be easy to get lost in the complex regulatory landscape of trucking permitting. States and provinces change requirements. Each state and Canadian province has unique regulations, varying by size, weight, and axle limitations. And restrictions related to your haul can vary by the route you take.

Unfortunately, these restrictions and regulations vary widely across the states and provinces. Delegating the responsibility of permitting can simplify your tasks and ensure you navigate this complex regulatory environment correctly and without putting your business at risk for noncompliance.

Risk Management

Noncompliance is a considerable risk in the trucking industry. And the penalties can range from fines to suspension or revocation of permits. Some violations can effectively end your business, even if the failure to comply is unintentional. Trucking permit services can give you peace of mind knowing that you have the required permits to comply with all state and local laws. These services lower your risk of non-compliance and the corresponding risk of penalties.

Enhanced Operations

Failing to secure the required permits for a specific haul can result in noncompliance penalties and will also slow down your operations by delaying the load until the proper permits are obtained. In many instances, you may miss your deadline window for the job. Unfortunately, this can result in lost business if it negatively impacts your company’s reputation, not to mention the lost time you spend sorting all the permitting requirements.

Trucking permit services help you avoid the loss of time and business by positively contributing to your business’s reliability and compliance record. And helping your company stay reliable is one of the best ways to enhance your reputation and attract new clients.

Expert Guidance

Questions about permitting and your operations may arise at any time. Rather than spending hours - or even days - researching permitting requirements, you can consult with a service provider and feel confident in the guidance you receive. This guidance can often be provided in minutes, allowing you to get back to work in ways that contribute to increasing your bottom line or growing your company.

When it comes to the trucking industry, many regulations apply, including proper permitting for anywhere you transport. Unfortunately, permitting is complex and time-consuming. Working with a permit service provider can streamline and simplify this process to ensure your continued compliance with all applicable regulations.