Before ORION went live in May 2025, the over-dimension permit process was labor intensive and time consuming. Permit analysts used paper maps and attachments for guidance on which routes were best depending on the weight, width, length and height of the load. They also used an electronic routing manual to verify vertical clearances, weight restrictions and temporary restrictions along each state highway.

Today, all that information has been programmed in the ORION system and is regularly updated. Commercial carriers with an active registration/tax account in Oregon can enter their vehicle information -- including weight, length, width and height -- and their start and end points. ORION analyzes all the information and provides the shortest, safest route. There are still certain load or route criteria that, when triggered, require additional review and approval from analysts and road authorities. However, that process has been greatly automated, sending emails to the road authorities, letting them know they have a permit to review in ORION.

“ORION has allowed our staff to shift their focus to the largest and more complex loads that require extensive coordination and careful safety review,” said Phelps. “This modernization project eliminated the need to fill seven currently vacant positions, which helped fill the budget gap left by a struggling State Highway Fund.”

Some benefits from the first year of ORION include:

• 45% of single-trip permits are now self-issued by customers on the spot.
• Call volume has decreased by nearly 50%.
• Customer wait times have been reduced by more than 80%.
• A significant decrease in paper-centric processes; permits are now stored and retrieved electronically.
• Automatic updates to TripCheck, giving carriers immediate access to current conditions and improving roadway safety. 

Because of a structural revenue issue caused by flattening gas taxes, inflation, and legal restrictions on available funding, ODOT has reduced spending by about $500 million since 2019 to stay within available funding. Some of these savings have come from efficiencies and process improvements like ORION. Other examples include increasing CCD and DMV self-services options, consolidating office spaces and shifting service center hours to reduce staffing during hours with lower call volumes.

Oregon also charges a mileage-based fee on commercial vehicles operating on Oregon public highways called the weight-mile tax. This system ensures heavy vehicles contribute fairly to the maintenance and repair of the roads they use, as heavier trucks naturally cause more wear and tear on infrastructure.

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View and download oversize load photos on our Flickr page.