California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will temporarily issue special overweight truck permits as a means of aiding COVID-19 emergency supplies transport.
Caltrans officials said the action stems from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent State of Emergency declaration and the federal Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act activation.
“Authorizing these special exceptions clears a path for greater volumes of material vital in the fight against COVID-19,” Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin said. “Emergency medical supplies and equipment, groceries, perishable items, water, and countless other essential items will now reach their destinations more rapidly than they did before, at a time when people need them most.”
Officials indicated the Caltrans permits would increase maximum allowable gross vehicle weight from 80,000 to 88,000 pounds and will be valid until further notice. The agency is performing advance review and analysis on major corridor routes to expedite the permits.
Items included within the essential goods classification include medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19; supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19, such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectant; food, paper products, and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores; and immediate precursor raw materials, such as paper, plastic or alcohol that are required and to be used for the manufacture of items.