Background

Millions of commercial vehicles use state highways and Interstates as a means to move commodities throughout the United States. Most of these vehicles operate within certain size and weight configurations that are defined by each state; however, there are many times when loads must be moved that exceed these standard configurations. These movements require permission in the form of a specialized permit.

PermitCS was designed to allow a state to efficiently process and issue oversize and overweight permit applications in order to promote safety and to help manage the Federal and state highway infrastructure. The permit application workflow ensures that proper attention is given to each application with regards to:

• Safety – evaluating the ability for the load to be moved safely on the highway system without causing harm to the driver or others.
• Infrastructure Preservation – evaluating the ability for the load to be moved without damaging highways, bridges, or other obstructions such as utility poles or wires.

PermitCS enables states to efficiently process permit applications and fees before issuing permits that are safe for travel.

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Benefits

• Improves Agency Efficiency – PermitCS is a web-based application that allows states to process more permits without adding staff. Customers are provided a straightforward and intuitive approach to enter information about their permit requests, and each state has a customized interface adapted to its unique laws and regulations. PermitCS incorporates a configurable standard routing network using route segments that can be defined by each state. This technology easily allows for the incorporation of restriction data that can be used to change segment and route parameters during DOT roadway projects. The same philosophy allows state engineering staff to set parameters to guide the workflow and depth-of-bridge load rating analysis for each application as well as allowing permit staff to set screening parameters that provide the ability to auto-approve permit applications.
• Improves Consistency – By providing intuitive and heuristic approaches to organizing workflow, PermitCS ensures that consistent business process guidelines are used. Each permit application is screened by PermitCS using a comprehensive “rules engine” that incorporates state-specific business rules and data: the same permit submitted on different days will receive the same analysis each and every time. This approach translates into accurate and consistent expectations for the carrier community. PermitCS improves consistency internally through permit management, record-keeping, and reporting within agencies using state-of-the-art technologies.
• Reduces Total Cycle Time for Carriers – PermitCS is available to carriers on a 24/7 basis. When combined with business rules for expedited workflow, many carriers can be on the road in less than three minutes. Our focus on providing an excellent environment for customers as well as agency staff consistently reduces total cycle time regardless of whether a carrier purchases permits themselves or uses a permit service company. PermitCS automates delivery of credentials and supporting documentation via a simple user interface and uses PDF format and e-mail delivery, supporting a variety of on-line payment methods, including credit cards, toll-tag interfaces, and escrow accounts.

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PermitCS application entry screen.

Case Studies

• Tennessee DOT – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) was the earliest adopter of PermitCS. Our original system processed more than 1.2 million permits in its first 10 years of operation. Cambridge Systematics recently upgraded this system in Tennessee to a web-based application that directs permit services and
  carriers to submit permit applications via web interface. High-volume customers and customers with advanced
  order-management systems have the option to use XML to submit batches of applications without rekeying.
• Indiana DOR – Cambridge Systematics incorporated the web-based, workflow-oriented PermitCS system into the Indiana Department of Revenue’s (DOR) existing “one-stop-shop” system for commercial vehicle credentials. PermitCS was customized to guide the customer through a series of questions about each requested trip to ensure that customers made the proper selections from the State’s myriad of permit options. With more than 500 predefined “envelope routes” available to customers, the system allows a substantial percentage of customer applications to be automatically and immediately approved. The system supports all major payment types and customers can be on the road minutes after logging into the system.
• New York State Thruway Authority – The New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) operates a mix of tolled and untolled freeways throughout the State. The workflow characteristics and customer accessibility of PermitCS make it a logical choice for NYSTA’s permit office. Using our original architecture for PermitCS since 2001, NYSTA enjoys a dramatically reduced cycle time for permits with substantial agency savings. E-ZPass® and credit card payment options provide instant access for more than 600 customers, including motor carriers, permit service companies, and other government agencies.

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Cambridge Systematics – Leaders in Commercial Technology

Cambridge Systematics has been providing commercial vehicle operations (CVO) products and management and technical support services to states, regions, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) since 1983. We are nationally recognized as a leader in streamlining CVO administrative and enforcement activities and for developing and integrating computer systems to support CVO activities. Our CVO services include needs assessment, business strategy and planning, process reengineering, information management for CVO administration and enforcement activities, Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN), and program and project evaluation.

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PermitCS Technical Specification

PermitCS is a web-based application and is designed for Microsoft Internet Explorer. Cambridge Systematics will deliver PermitCS for installation on the client’s site. Consulting services will be required to personalize PermitCS for the agency-specific permit application and approval process. The purchasing agency and Cambridge Systematics can arrange for continued technical support or hosting, depending on the agency’s needs.

Architecture

PermitCS is a three-tier, Java web application consisting of a presentation layer, an application layer, and a database layer. PermitCS uses:

• Oracle DB for its information repository;
• Oracle Application Server for its application layer; and
• Microsoft IIS for the presentation layer (optional).

The application was designed and tested for Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7.x, Netscape 5.x, and Mozilla’s Firefox 3.x.

Tools and Technologies

PermitCS was designed and developed using the following tools and technologies:

• Java 1.5.
• Struts 2.
• Hibernate 3.
• Windows Server 2003 with IIS.
• Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0.
• Oracle Application Server 10.1.0.3.
• A “Send Mail Transfer Protocol” (SMTP) compliant e-mail server. This is used to notify customers of their permit application status.
• Session cookies (no permanent cookies are used).
• HTML/DHTML.
• Cascading Style Sheets.

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Additional Information

Brad Wright, Vice President, (617) 354-0167, bwright@camsys.com

Rick Schulte, Senior Associate, (859) 363-7151, rschulte@camsys.com

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