In an effort to assist in the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has approved a special blanket permit for haulers carrying heavy or over-sized loads of food, non-alcoholic beverages, medical supplies, cleaning products, and other household goods. Grain shipments are not included in this permit.

The blanket permit applies to travel on roads and bridges maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Hauler loads may not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and must comply with all posted bridge weight and height restrictions. Loads exceeding 90,000 pounds gross vehicle weight MUST contact the ODOT Special Hauling Permits. This process is in place as long as the COVID-19 emergency response are ongoing. Learn more here.

Although this special permit does not cover farm commodity shipments like soybeans from the farm to the elevator, there is a standard exemption for agriculture in Ohio beginning on April 1 and this allows farm commodity shipments to exceed the standard weight limit by 7.5%, so up to 86,000 pounds.

Permits for overweight or over-sized vehicles can be obtained from the Ohio Division of Highway Operations and a complete explanation of Ohio’s road rules can be found in Chapter 45 of The Ohio Revised Code.