IOWA DOT

GETTING YOU THERE

April 28, 2020

RE: Temporary Waiver of International Registration Plan and International Fuel Tax Agreement requirements for operators of commercial motor vehicles traveling in and through Iowa to provide disaster relief from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

To whom it may concern:

On March 9, 2020, Governor Reynolds issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in which certain state regulations were waived relating to size and weight permitting requirements for commercial vehicles moving loads of food, medical supplies, cleaning products, and other household goods. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, and on March 13, President Donald

J. Trump issued a proclamation declaring that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency pursuant to Sec. 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207. Governor Reynolds extended existing regulatory relief on April 27, 2020.

As a result of the emergency referenced above, motor carriers transporting food, medical supplies, cleaning products, and other household goods have requested suspension of the trip permit requirements set forth by the International Registration Plan (IRP) and of fuel permits required by the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) to expedite disaster relief and recovery in Iowa.

On behalf of the Iowa Department of Transportation, I am accepting these requests as a petition for rule waiver under 761 Iowa Administrative Code 500.3, and 761 Iowa Administrative Code 505.2(3). As director, I find that the Presidential and Gubernatorial emergency declarations constitute special or emergency circumstances and under the authority cited take the following actions to expedite the movement of commercial vehicles providing disaster relief to the State of Iowa.

1. I hereby waive IRP vehicle registration under 761 Iowa Administrative Code 500.1 et seq., to the extent the vehicle is not already registered under IRP, as long as the vehicle is registered in one of the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, or a province of Canada. This waiver includes waiver of the requirement to obtain a trip permit under 761 Iowa Administrative Code 500.24.
2. I hereby waive IFTA licensing under 761 Iowa Administrative Code 505.1 et seq., to the extent the vehicle is not already licensed under IFTA. This waiver includes waiver of the requirement to obtain a temporary fuel permit under 761 Iowa Administrative Code 505.3(9).

These waivers apply to commercial vehicles traveling in and through the state of Iowa for the purpose of providing direct Coronavirus (COVID-19) assistance to all counties of the state. Theses waivers shall become effective immediately and shall end on May 27, 2020, in concurrence with the expiration of the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency dated March 17, 2020 and extended on April 27, 2020. If Governor Reynolds extends in writing the March 17 Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, this waiver shall be extended to the date indicated in the extension.

Sincerely,

Scott Marler, Director