The Missouri Department of Transportation has begun providing free temporary overweight permits to highway carriers hauling critical supplies in support of the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The free overweight permit program runs from March 25 through April 30 and allows carriers up to 100,000 pounds gross combination weight.
The higher gross weights will be allowed on any Missouri highway-including interstates. The free overweight permits apply to transport of supplies and/or equipment needed in the direct effort to prevent, contain, mitigate and treat the effects of the COVID-19 virus. This includes shipments of livestock, poultry, feed, 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% 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.
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 www.modot.org/mcs.
Movement under this special permit is authorized 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The permit is effective March 25, 2020 through April 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm, Central Daylight Savings Time.