Iowa Simplifies Permits for Emergencies
On February 15th, Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a new statute that Iowa lawmakers hope will cut through time-consuming regulations easier in the case of an emergency and will benefit truckers working to provide substantial relief through oversized loads.
Details
The process for getting an overweight permit in Iowa is usually arduous, but Iowa wants to create an express lane for single-use permits that fleets can use during emergencies to help revitalize economic development.
When arguing in favor of the vote, House Rep. Shannon Latham said, “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 snow storms.”
“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.”
The timing of this law change occurs in a period where the United States as a whole is experiencing tumultuous weather storms. Iowa is taking a proactive approach in making sure that truckers can help provide relief when and where necessary.
Conclusion
With the Hawkeye State working to expedite the process of providing relief during emergencies, it raises the question as to whether or not other states will follow suit. No state is immune from disasters: whether it be floods, cold snaps, heatwaves, tornadoes, or in the case of Hawaii, volcanic eruptions, there will always be a need for relief supplies to be delivered somewhere.
It seems that there is never an end to the scenarios that truckers will find themselves in servicing those impacted or displaced by natural disasters. Only time will tell what will come next down the line, but now truckers in Iowa can be better prepared to deliver more goods when something does happen. In advocating for this bill, Senator Dan Zumbach stated, “The people of Iowa are extraordinary people, and when we’re in extraordinary situations we need extraordinary legislation to help us work through it. This bill will allow us to fix problems in those situations.” Perhaps the same could be said for all truckers driving a big rig.
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