SC&RA Targeting Federal Funding for Automated Permits

- SC&RA’s Vice President of Transportation, Steven Todd, gave the OS/OW trucking perspective at last week’s AASHTO meeting which included several organizations such as ATA, CVSA, OOIDA and FHWA. Todd reported one of SC&RA’s transportation advocacy targets is federal funding for automated permits, as an extension of its UPT2021 initiative. While most states now have very efficient permit systems, significant challenges exist with those states that do not. As COVID-19 impacts the industry, SC&RA’s past participation in the FHWA Emergency Route Working Group highlights important reasons for automation. This Group made four recommendations on special permits for emergency response: 1. Incentivize states to modernize their permit systems; 2. Work with AASHTO and others to create emergency permits in their automated systems; 3. Identify new potential funding systems to create and maintain automated permit systems; and 4. Work with AASHTO and other states to continue work on harmonization and standardization of OS/OW regulations. FHWA also produced a report on best practices in state OS/OW permitting systems that concluded state automated permit systems dramatically reduces permit times, increases accuracy, improves infrastructure safety, and reduces headcounts. In a recent conference call with AASHTO and FHWA, Todd reported that through this and other initiatives, the industry is offering actionable steps for a solution. For more information on the AASHTO/FHWA meeting, the FHWA Working Group, or UPT2021, contact Todd.

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