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Steve Lawerance
Steve Lawerance

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I Built an OS Permits Calculator to Simplify Oversize Load Planning

#wordpress #opensource #php

Transporting oversized loads is complicated.
Between axle limits, permit requirements, state regulations, and route planning, carriers often waste hours calculating legal dimensions and checking compliance manually.

That’s why I built OS Permits Calculator — a tool designed to simplify oversize load calculations for trucking companies, dispatchers, and permit services.

What the Tool Does

The calculator helps users quickly estimate:

  1. Oversize permit requirements
  2. Axle spacing calculations
  3. Gross vehicle weight compliance
  4. State-specific limitations
  5. Route planning considerations

Instead of manually checking multiple charts and spreadsheets, users can calculate everything in one place.

Why I Built It

I noticed many trucking professionals still rely on:

  1. PDFs
  2. Excel sheets
  3. Manual calculations
  4. Phone calls to permit offices

The process is slow and error-prone.

I wanted to create something:

  1. Faster
  2. Easier to use
  3. Mobile friendly
  4. Accessible for small trucking businesses
  5. Tech Stack

The project was built using:

  1. Next.js
  2. React
  3. Tailwind CSS
  4. Node.js
  5. PHP

I focused heavily on:

  1. Fast page loads
  2. Clean UI/UX
  3. SEO optimization
  4. Mobile responsiveness
  5. Biggest Challenges

One of the hardest parts was handling:

  1. Different state permit rules
  2. Dynamic calculation logic
  3. User-friendly form validation

Another challenge was simplifying technical trucking data into an interface that feels intuitive.

Lessons Learned

Building this project taught me:

  1. Real-world tools solve better problems than demo apps
  2. UX matters more than complexity
  3. SEO can drive highly targeted traffic
  4. Niche tools have strong growth potential
  5. Future Plans

Next features I’m planning:

  1. Permit cost estimation
  2. Route restriction alerts
  3. Multi-state planning
  4. PDF export
  5. User accounts and saved calculations

Final Thoughts

Building niche SaaS tools for real industries is incredibly rewarding.

There are still many industries using outdated workflows, and simple software can make a huge difference.

If you’ve built tools for logistics, trucking, or transportation tech, I’d love to hear about your experience.

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