Transportation load limit exception approved

Farmers will have expanded transportation options under a bill passed by the Legislature July 31.

Currently, the state Department of Transportation, Nebraska State Patrol or local authorities can issue permits authorizing a person to move objects greater than maximum weight and load limits set in state law.

One of these permits allows a person transporting grain to exceed vehicle weight limits by 15 percent and length limits by 10 percent to transport grain from the field to storage, market or stockpile in the field, or from stockpile to market or factory when failure to do so would mean economic loss.

LB931, sponsored by Hastings Sen. Steve Halloran, expands the permit to apply to transport of grain directly from farm storage to market.

The bill also allows single-axle trucks to exceed single axle and gross weight by up to 15 percent for transport from farm storage to market or factory, up to 70 miles.

The maximum load of seasonally harvested grain is increased for tandem axle, group of axles or on the gross weight by 15 percent for transport from farm storage to market or factory without a permit.

LB931 passed on a 46-0 vote.