KANSAS CITY, Mo — In an effort to further aid the states' COVID-19 emergency response, the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation have extended permits to allow trucks to haul heavier weights on interstates and highways.
MoDOT said the change will allow haulers to transport up to 100,000 pounds on any state-owned highway and interstate.
According to MoDOT, here are some of the guidelines:
- "A copy of the special permit and a bill of lading must be in the possession of the operator of the overweight vehicle during its operation and shall be produced for inspection upon request to any Missouri law enforcement official and/or any MoDOT employee. Motor carriers can find this document at online."
- "The load must carry supplies and/or equipment in the direct effort to prevent, contain, mitigate and treat the effects of the COVID-19 virus. This includes shipments of livestock, poultry, feed, fertilizer and fuels. Any fuels being transported can be hauled at 100,000 pounds or up to the manufacturer’s specifications of the tank type being operated, whichever results in the lower weight."
- "Undertaking movement is evidence that both the owner and operator of the equipment agree to abide by the conditions of the special permit and all other non-exempted requirements for overweight loads."
- "Carriers may haul up to 100,000 pounds gross weight on semi-trailer configurations with five or more axles. The axles must meet the minimum distance requirement stated in the special permit. Carriers using trucks or semi-trailers with fewer axles are allowed to haul up to an additional 10 percent heavier than licensed weight."
- "Carriers and vehicle operators must obey all structure postings and size and weight restrictions."
- "Violation of any of the conditions of the special permit will void the permit and subject the owner and operator to penalty."
On the Kansas side, KDOT is allowing an additional 10 percent of the registered gross vehicle weight on interstates and Kansas highways, but no more than 90,000 pounds.
The change only applies to those who are carrying supplies that are direct support of the COVID-19 relief and restoration efforts.
"We've had a lot of requests to allow heavier moves to be able to run on the interstate to be able to move supplies because of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dominique Shannon, a Bridge Evaluation Engineer with KDOT.
Shannon emphasized the importance of allowing larger hauls,
"There's been a shortage of supplies in a lot of stores and this will allow companies to be able to carry more supplies than they typically would," Shannon said.
Drivers and companies can visit KDOTor MODOT for more information on how to get a permit and read the guidelines.
