We have been apart of a 2 year transportation research study to help detail and illustrate the challenges faced when permitting oversize and overweight loads across the United States. This project started in 2013 and the findings have recently been published by The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) on the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) website. NCHRP conducts research in problem areas that affect highway planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance in the United States.  The report covers Multi-State, Multimodal, Oversize/Overweight Transportation challenges and complexities in multi-state corridors.

It's important that we continue to spread the word and make positive changes towards industry growth.

Click Here to View the Report in Full: Multi-State, Multimodal, Oversize/Overweight Transportation

Specialized transportation is 100% of our business at Perkins STC, so any improvements to cost, effort, or process would positively impact solutions for carriers, states, and customers on multiple levels. The process in the report addresses four primary components: contracting, application for permits, scheduling, and mobilization. On average, for an oversize or overweight long-distance corridor load, these four components alone make up for 40% of the pre-planning processes. There are still hours that go into engineering, field surveys, equipment prep, assembly, and load securement. We are dedicated to developing the best, most cost-effective and safest transportation solution there is. The varying state OS/OW restrictions and requirements make this extremely complicated and more difficult than necessary, in our opinion.

As part of the project, CPCS Transcom created a website with the interactive maps that would allow the user to select and display information on OSOW regulations and permitting requirements across the United States. These maps illustrate how drastic some of the varying rules and regulations are across the country.

http://www.osowfreight.com/ (Use Select a Map option at the top right to view)

We were honored to participate and provide our expertise and understanding. We encourage carriers and state authorities to review the information and work towards solutions based on a wider scope to ease pressures and streamline systems.

Ron Donahoo, Shelley Latham, and Ray Morgan

If you have any suggestions, concerns, or information that may help in conjunction with these discussions, please email us at info@perkinsstc.com. We are happy to introduce all constructive recommendations to the committees dedicated to drive the progress and innovation in the transportation industry.

Perkins STC
http://www.PerkinsSTC.com
1800 Riverview Drive, Northfield, MN 55057
877-PERKINS