Oversize Load Route Planning Checklist
Use this checklist to take an oversize move from first inquiry to dispatch-ready plan. It walks the planning sequence in order — define the load, select the corridor, verify the constraints, secure the paperwork, and confirm readiness — so nothing is discovered for the first time on move day. Print it, or save it as a PDF.
RoadScope TeamUpdated August 14, 2026
1. Define the Load
- Travel dimensions verified on the actual trailer: height, width, length, overhangs
- Gross weight and axle load distribution calculated for the real configuration
- Trailer articulation and swept path behavior understood for turning analysis
- Operational limits set: maximum grade, minimum clearance margin, speed restrictions
2. Select the Corridor
- Candidate corridors identified from road class, bridge networks, and OS/OW route designations
- Known eliminators checked first: posted bridges under gross weight, published low clearances
- Jurisdictions crossed listed with their permit lead times
- At least one alternative corridor kept alive until the primary is field-verified
3. Verify the Constraints
- Route survey completed against this specific load envelope (see the Heavy Haul Route Survey Checklist)
- Every clearance cross-checked against load height plus safety margin
- Turning geometry confirmed at critical intersections for the actual combination
- Grades reviewed against braking and traction limits
- Candidate routes compared on the same criteria before committing
4. Permits, Escorts & Coordination
- Permit applications filed per jurisdiction with the surveyed route referenced
- Escort / pilot car requirements confirmed for each jurisdiction and arranged
- Utility or authority coordination booked where lifts or crossings are required
- Travel windows confirmed: time-of-day, day-of-week, seasonal restrictions
5. Pre-Departure Readiness
- Driver briefing prepared in route order with photos and required actions
- Weather along the route checked against operational thresholds for the planned timeline
- Client deliverables issued and versioned; current revision marked official
- Crew walkthrough completed; contacts and contingency plan distributed
Route planning fails in the gaps between steps — the corridor chosen before the load was defined, the permit filed before the survey came back. RoadScope keeps the sequence connected: load envelope, surveyed constraints, route comparison, permit auto-fill, driver briefing, and client delivery all work from one project record.