OS/OW Software Glossary: The Permit Terms Every Tool Uses
Published by JaloPermit. Product comparisons use linked public documentation; they are not independent rankings or hands-on vendor benchmarks.
Shop for OS/OW software and every vendor uses the same vocabulary: single-trip, annual, superload, escort, curfew. Knowing what those words mean, and which tool each one belongs to, makes demos faster and purchases safer.
This glossary is general, not legal advice. Thresholds and rules vary by state and by permit, so confirm with the issuing office.
This guide is published by JaloPermit, a reading aid for already-issued OS/OW permit PDFs, not a filing service. If you are comparing products, start with 8 questions to ask about oversize overweight vehicle permit software and oversize permit software: reading vs routing.
The glossary
- OS/OW
- Oversize/overweight. A load or vehicle beyond legal dimension or weight limits that needs a permit.
- Single-trip permit
- A permit for one move over a specified route and time window.
- Annual (or blanket) permit
- A permit covering repeated moves within set limits for a period, often with its own route or road restrictions.
- Superload
- A load large or heavy enough that a state applies extra review, such as route surveys or bridge analysis. Thresholds vary by state.
- Escort / pilot car
- A vehicle that accompanies the load. The permit may specify how many, where they start and stop, and front or rear position.
- Curfew / travel window
- Hours or days the load may not move, such as rush hour, nights, weekends or holidays.
- Route authority
- The document that sets the legal route. For most oversize moves, that is the issued permit, not a planning tool.
- Vertical clearance
- The height available under a bridge or structure. Supplementary data is often incomplete, so a missing alert is not proof of clearance.
- Permit book
- A collection of a truck's standing documents. A digital permit book stores them electronically for the fleet.
Which tool handles which term
| Term | Where it is usually handled |
|---|---|
| Single-trip, annual, superload | Ordering and filing: state portals or permit services |
| Permit book | Fleet storage, such as a digital permit book. See digital permit book vs a permit card. |
| Route authority, clearance | Set by the issued permit; routing tools plan candidates. See routing software vs your permit route. |
| Escorts, curfews, travel windows | Printed on the issued permit; a reading aid helps you review them |
Where JaloPermit fits
Once a permit is issued, drop the PDF into the permit decoder on the JaloPermit homepage. It builds a route card that can surface escorts, curfews, weigh stations, truck stops and low-bridge alerts for review. Compare the card with the original PDF, including any dashed or unresolved sections, before you rely on it. The issued permit always wins. For escort detail, see pilot car escort requirements explained.
Guests get three free decodes a day with no account and no card. Logged-in users get 10 free decodes a day. After those free decodes, each one is $3.50. There is no subscription.
FAQs
What does OS/OW mean? OS/OW stands for oversize/overweight. It describes a vehicle or load that exceeds legal size or weight limits and needs a permit from each state it travels through.
What is OS/OW software? It is any software that handles part of the OS/OW permit process: ordering or filing permits, storing them for a fleet, planning or following routes, or reading the issued permit PDF. Most tools do one or two of those jobs.
Does JaloPermit file OS/OW permits? No. JaloPermit is a reading aid for already-issued oversize or overweight permit PDFs. It does not order, file or issue permits, and the issued permit remains the route authority.
What does JaloPermit cost? Guests get three free decodes a day with no account and no card. Logged-in users get 10 free decodes a day. After those free decodes, each one is $3.50. There is no subscription.
Are these definitions the same in every state? No. Thresholds, permit types and escort rules vary by state and by permit. Use this glossary to understand the vocabulary, then follow what the issuing state and your issued permit actually say.