SC&RA Meets Top Advocacy Objective with Iowa’s New Overweight Permit Law for Emergencies
(February 22,2023) - Iowa has a new law on its books allowing state and local officials to exempt overweight permits from load limits so truckers can move heavier loads in emergencies. In 2022, SC&RA identified this issue as one of its top 5 advocacy objectives for the year, working directly with Iowa officials and members to support the bill. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Feb. 15 signed into law a Senate bill (SF 153) enabling single-trip permits for vehicles of excessive size and weight during special or emergency situations to transport heavier loads when helping with economic development. House Rep. Shannon Latham (R) testified Feb. 9, “This change would give the Iowa DOT and local agencies the flexibility to issue permits for special or emergency situations such as flooding, tornadoes and severe snowstorms.”. She noted that state department of transportation officials, prior to issuing permits, would work with county engineers to map out the best routes being proposed to ensure safety and that thoroughfares could handle greater loads. “This bill would add gross weight, axle weight and dolly axle distance to the items that the permit-issuing authority can exempt when issuing overweight permits for special or emergency situations.”
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