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How to Quote an Oversize or Overweight Load

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Quoting an oversize or overweight load comes down to four moves: enter the load and the route, read what each state wants for permits and escorts, price the truck and the oversize premium, then turn that into a quote you can hand a customer. These four short videos walk the whole thing, from a blank form to a branded PDF. Each one has a written rundown below it so you can skim without hitting play.

How do you quote an oversize or overweight load?

  1. Enter the load and the route.
  2. Read the per-state permit and escort results.
  3. Build the bid.
  4. Save it and send a branded quote.

Step 1: Enter the Load and Route

In this video

  • 0:12Equipment profiles: save and reuse common setups
  • 0:28Origins, destinations, and adding a waypoint or stop
  • 1:03Broker vs carrier toggle
  • 1:07Skip weight and length when the load is legal there
  • 1:24Splitting load weight from truck-and-trailer weight
  • 1:58The built-in axle calculator
  • 2:43Length, overhang, and kingpin-to-rear-axle
  • 2:51Why everything defaults to interstate

Step 2: Read the Per-State Permit and Escort Results

In this video

  • 0:24The detailed overweight fee popup
  • 1:18Bridge, tollway, and other add-on fees you can edit
  • 2:16Interstate vs non-interstate and the mileage slider
  • 3:26Road tiers per state
  • 4:12How road tier changes the escort count
  • 5:35Escort pricing: per-mile, retainers, hotels, miles per day
  • 6:34Escort smoothing: conservative vs full carry
  • 7:35Superload triggers and reading the notes

Step 3: Build the Bid

In this video

  • 0:17Set your base truck rate
  • 0:58Outer-route miles
  • 1:33OD premium and the OD premium logic
  • 2:54Trip overview and editable values
  • 4:10Custom line items
  • 4:27Save the calculation

Step 4: Save It and Send a Branded Quote

In this video

  • 0:13Saved calcs and team accounts
  • 0:25Upload your logo and disclaimer for branded PDFs
  • 0:54Internal PDF vs customer-facing quote
  • 1:34Pass-through items: surveys, superloads, police
  • 2:29The finished customer quote
  • 3:08The free plan: 3 calcs a month

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to use OSOWloads?

There is a free plan with three calculations a month and no credit card, plus paid plans for higher monthly volume. Every plan includes the full calculator.

Do you have to enter weight and length to get a quote?

No. If you leave weight or length off, the calculator assumes the load is legal in that dimension. That is the fast way to model a load that is only over width or height.

What is the difference between conservative and full-carry escorts?

Conservative bridges the gap, carrying an escort through a state that did not strictly need one because you need it in the next state. Full carry holds the escort until the last point you need it, which is usually more than reality requires.

Can you edit the permit and escort fees in a quote?

Yes. Every fee and value in the results and the bid builder is editable, so the final quote matches what you know the real cost to be.

What are pass-through items on an oversize load quote?

Pass-throughs are costs you bill through at actual rather than folding into a firm number, useful when surveys, superloads, or police escorts make an all-in quote hard to commit to.

Related tools and guides

Run your own load and see if the number agrees with what you would have built by hand.

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