Vehicle size and weight requirements are suspended for operators of commercial vehicles to travel in and through the Lone Star State to provide disaster assistance in Texas.
The requirements were first lifted March 18 when a disaster declaration was issued and amended in July due to the drought.
“Farmers and ranchers are hauling hay, feed, water and other resources. With the requirements lifted, more product can be added to each trip, which helps save on fuel and time,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said.
The oversize and overweight permitting requirements under Transportation Code Chapters 621 through 623, as well as Title 43, Chapter 219 of the Texas Administrative Code, are for all divisible and non-divisible vehicles and loads.
Examples of disaster assistance include, but are not limited to, vehicles engaged in the transportation of relief workers, food, hay, water, clothing, equipment, medical supplies, materials, fuel, shelter and other supplies to the disaster areas, as well as vehicles used to restore utilities and to remove debris from the disaster areas listed in the disaster declaration.
“The drought across Texas has become more severe, forcing ranchers to find feed and hay outside their area,” Tomascik said. “These conditions have become very difficult to endure, so we want farmers and ranchers to know every way they can reduce expenses and hopefully prevent as much herd reduction as possible.”
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles requires that operators of commercial vehicles keep a copy of the notice (available here) and a copy of the governor’s disaster declaration (available here).
The suspension remains in effect until terminated by the governor or until the disaster declaration expires.
More details on the disaster declaration for vehicle size and weight requirements are available from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles at txdmv.gov.
Perhaps helpful in the short-term, but I hope bridge and road engineers were consulted so that bridges and roads don’t collapse or sustain extensive damage due to overload! Lives could be at stake, and the damage to existing roads and bridges could significantly reduce the design and service life. Texas licensed engineers are obligated to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the general public, and Texans should be told whether licensed engineers advised the state prior to implementing this waiver.
The engineers and lawyers are the only ones who actually profit from the over regulatory society we put up with. Those bridges and roads were built by men who weren’t afraid of work and sweat. Our grandparents built roads, bridges, buildings and cities in a tenth of the time we do now with a tenth of the resources and tools we have now. Imagine what men could have done with an air conditioner on a tractor during the industrial revolution. Or battery operated nailer and drills and saws. The interstate system was built faster than it takes to get a permit passed for new construction. The trucks have gotten safer and more advanced, for some strange reason we haven’t gained any fuel mileage yet speed limits are restricted and weights are not increased. How would you like being in a career where people who have 0 real world experience have the ability to restrict the income you make, only to be taxed by the government authority beyond reasonable. Stop sending billions to Biden’s Ukraine war and keep our $ here to improve our economy and better our country. Worry about our border before we Worry with Russia’s. There is a balance, 30 years ago trucks were getting the same fuel mileage, running faster with more miles a shift and running the same weights we are now, in 2022 we run 62 mph, get blamed for every traffic issue, get taxed each time we get fuel, stay away from home more, paid less, all because some engineers or politicians or environmental specialist need their college debt paid for. Increase the speed or increase the weight or increase the hours or increase the pay. If pay is always the answer just move minimum wage to $100.00 an hour and pay off everyone’s debts. Pay isn’t the answer, good workmanship and God honoring behavior is. A man should be paid fairly for his work based on the need of their good or service, not their immature decisions and abilities to manage money.
👍🤦♂️hit it on the head kent 👊
Very well put. Common working man sense is what this country needs instead a world of padded safe rooms with litter boxes so you can cry in when you have to get off your lazy butt and do something for yourself . Regulations now days are to protect people’s feelings. Grow up America this country was built with God and hard work. Take them away and it falls apart. Look around. You can lie to everyone else but you can’t look in the mirror and lie to yourself. If you want free you lose freedom. If you want freedom it isn’t free. Not just in war but in LIFE also. God bless this country even though we as a nation have turned our back on you.
I agree with Kent 100%. Where is the fair in it for truck drivers. Everyone cares only about their products getting hauled but not about the truck drivers. Truck drivers are used and abused everyday. Something has got to give because without the drivers there would be no transportation industry in this country. I believe our nation would be at a severe hault. People don’t get what they want without truck drivers hauling. Pay them more becuase this is what they deserve for taking care of YOU!!!!!
A lot to unpack there. The heavier a vehicle is, the more damage it sustains and will need to be repaired sooner. That’s why weight limits exist. Yes, it is cheaper to the farmer, but we will eventually pay the bill. As to your question as to why mileage efficiency hasnt improved. It’s a combination of factors, but mainly horsepower and technology limits. Modern vehicles are more efficient but they use the extra efficiency to get more horsepower instead of miles per gallon. Also, internal combustion engines have a theoritical limit that we’ve almost reached and they are not going to excuse much more of them. You ask what could have been accomplished with modern tools if used 50 years ago, same thing as today. Instead of having 5 guys nailing something manually, now you just need one with an electric nailer. I could go on with the rest of your post but it would take too long.
Good to see something that actually benefits the farmers
I agree with Mr. Foster, it is already seen on some of the Texas major highways the heavy rutted drive lines of the 18 wheelers. If one is not careful these can be deep enough to cause your vehicle to veer or sling off the road. So, careful is the answer but as a rancher I too need to be able to get hay from wherever and keep my cost down as much as possible. Srive safe and keep the good northern hay coming south.
They should lift the 150 air miles for farmers operating a vehicle over 26001 #s.
Of course, the other issue is, the roads are melting in a lot of areas due to the extreme heat!
Try paying for the nice roads without taxes that trucks pay. You would be driving on dirt roads.
Most of the hay is coming from the north… we need this exemption in Oklahoma and Kansas as well
I wish I could help. I bale my hay twice a year and give it away. If I wasn’t bound by the 150 miles I could truck it to Texas. As it stands I am dead in the water when I reach the Kentucky/Tennessee border. I would like to see the 150 mile rule go away. I lost out on some good FREE farm equipment from family in North Georgia be cause it was over the 150 miles.
If you are donating or at least not taking advantage of people in need and have hay for the cause . I will as a one truck owner operator and cattleman from Texas will do my part in helping get it to the one’s in need at the cheapest rate I can. I know it’s not free but there is fair prices for everything . If you take advantage of a person in a crisis to benefit yourself, you will find yourself in a crisis and be taken advantage of.
What is the 150 rule you’re talking about
Its NOT the weight of trucks that screws up roads for the most part of it tx roads are made cheap. My bro in law was inspector for the state and I am a Texas driver big trucks they look the other way on quality at all costs other states have way better highways in texas I do otr..I rank tx 45 in best roads. maybe
Way to go KENT !!!!! Everything you said is the absolute truth. Thank You Sir!!!!! DAVID LEE BELL WACO, TEXAS
4 states allow trucks that weigh 120,000 lbs. The same trucks are used in most other countries and pull 120,000. 2 TRAILERS AT 53 FT are legal, in the same states and many countries. When it comes to trucking and many other things like this the US should be called third world. We are so far behind.
Has this been lifted or is it still in effect?