COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

1401 EAST BROAD STREET

RICHMOND, VA 23219

Stephen C. Brich, P.E.

Commissioner

March 19, 2020

TO:              Affected Agencies and Shippers/Carriers

SUBJECT:    Waiver for carriers transporting essential emergency relief supplies or providing emergency restoration of Infrastructure services. (Amendment)

In order to provide preparedness and response support to areas affected by COVID-19 Governor Northam has declared a State of Emergency to exist for the Commonwealth of Virginia and is seeking to grant temporary overweight, over width, registration, license, or hours of service exemptions to all carriers transporting essential emergency relief supplies to, through and from any area of the Commonwealth. This authorization also applies to water, food, heating oil, motor fuels or propane, or agricultural products, agricultural supplies, livestock and poultry, livestock and poultry feed and forest products, or providing restoration of utilities (including but not limited to electricity, gas, phone, water, wastewater, and cable) or removal of waste to, through, and from any area of the Commonwealth in order to support the COVID-19 response and recovery, regardless of their point of origin or destination.

As a result, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles authorizes a temporary waiver of registration and licensing requirements for carrier, and the Commissioner of Highways authorizes a temporary waiver of normal weight and width restrictions on roads controlled by the Virginia Department of Transportation, for the express purpose of ensuring that emergency essential supplies and services reach impacted areas in timely manner. Weight exemptions are not valid on interstate highways unless there is an associated federal emergency declaration. At this time, there is an associated Presidential Declaration of Emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. This document shall provide a carrier with special permitting authority when traveling on the interstate while responding to this pandemic. This is to be effective beginning 5:00PM March 19, 2020 u11nl 5:00PM May 19, 2020 and includes an exemption in coordination with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management which activates the FMCSA Section 390.23 Relief of Regulations including hours of service.

Weight exemptions are not valid on posted structures for restricted weight. The exemption shall not exceed the duration of the motor carrier's or driver’s direct assistance in providing emergency relief.

TRUCK           MAX                 SINGLE           TANDEM         3AXLE                      4AXLE

All over width loads, up to a maximum of 12 feet, and over height loads up to a maximum of 14 feet must follow Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles hauling permit and safety guidelines.