Farmers Offered No-Cost Extension Of Hauling Permits For Hay

Farmers and ranchers across Missouri are being offered a no-cost extension of special over width hauling permits for getting hay back and forth.

Martin Schwartz, Content Development Manager for MoDOT, says the extension will go through March 1st of 2023 to help producers still being affected by drought conditions.

To take advantage of the extension, farmers and ranchers still need to comply with height, weight and length limits and can transport their loads during holiday periods and at night with proper lighting to warn other drivers.

Hay haulers can find more information about the extension or apply for one the extended permits on the MoDOT website.

***Info:

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Department of Transportation has extended the special overwidth hauling permit for hay at no cost through March 1, 2023 in an effort to aid the agricultural community as statewide drought conditions continue.

Loads must be of legal height, length and weight. Permits can be requested online using the MoDOT Carrier Express online service. To have the fee waived, customers can write a comment on the application about the fee waiver or call in to have an agent waive the fee.

Before hauling, drivers must apply for the special overwidth permit for loads that exceed 8 feet 6 inches in width and map their route to avoid work zones, bridges and other areas that have weight, narrow lane or height restrictions. This information, as well as a special bridge and height restriction view, is available on the MoDOT Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org.

MoDOT’s waiver and special overwidth permit allows drivers in Missouri to:

• Obtain the permit at no cost.
• Haul hay loads of up to 12 feet 6 inches in width using a blanket permit. Haul hay loads up to 14 feet in width using a single-trip permit.
• Move hay during holiday periods and at night. At night, or when visibility is less than 500 feet, drivers must use a reflective, oversized load sign and clearance lights instead of the normal flags required at the edges of the load.

Drivers must adhere to all permit requirements, such as using proper signing and lighting and stopping at weigh stations. Drivers are also advised that most of the southeastern United States is currently under a quarantine zone for imported fire ants, which can easily spread through the movement of hay. Farmers and ranchers who believe they have received fire ants in a shipment of hay should call their local University of Missouri Extension agent as soon as possible.

To obtain a permit, hay haulers should visit modot.org/mce to login and use MoDOT Carrier Express to order hay permit(s). The login page also provides a link to obtain a Customer ID and password for those who are not regular users of MoDOT Carrier Express. Haulers will need the make, license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the power unit and must provide the farm business name and address. MoDOT permits cover movement within Missouri only and are required for each truck. Please call MoDOT’s Motor Carrier Services office at 1-800-877-8499 if you have questions. Those who hold the special hay permit that expires on Dec. 1 will be issued one that expires on Dec. 31, 2022, and a second that is effective Jan.1 through March 1, 2023.