Harvest season is in full swing around the country, which means truckers are doing the best they can to get this year’s harvest hauled to storage and processing facilities.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation this week granting a temporary 30-day weight limit exemption for trucks operating on Iowa roads to support farmers and the transport of this year’s harvest.
The proclamation will be effective immediately. The 2023 Harvest Weight Proclamation specifically increases the weight allowable for shipment of corn, soybeans, hay, straw, and stover by 12.5 percent per axle (up to a maximum of 90,000 pounds) without the need for an oversize/overweight permit.
The 2023 proclamation again applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the federal interstate system. Trucks cannot exceed the truck’s regular maximum by more than 12.5 percent per axle and must obey the posted limits on all roads and bridges.
“On behalf of Iowa’s farmers, we extend our gratitude to Governor Reynolds for approval of this proclamation as it is a tremendous help for Iowa’s corn farmers,” said Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove. “With the extended weight, a 500-acre Iowa corn farmer would require 12 fewer truckloads, and a 1000-acre Iowa Corn farmer would require 25 fewer truckloads, which is both a time saver and a fuel saver.”
The proclamation directs the Iowa Department of Transportation to monitor the operation of the proclamation and assure the public’s safety by facilitating the movement of the trucks involved. Farmers who are transporting grain are also required to follow their vehicle safety standards on axle weights.
The exemption has been granted for 30 days, ending October 11, 2023.
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