Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021:
North Dakota waives HOS, weight regs for livestock haulers
Extreme drought conditions ongoing since April in North Dakota are impacting the state’s agriculture and livestock production, prompting Gov. Doug Burgum to declare a state of emergency, suspending hours of service regulations and weight restrictions in the state for truck drivers transporting livestock, hay and water supplies for livestock on interstate highways and state roadways.
The declaration waives 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399, along with North Dakota laws pertaining to width and height restrictions and fees.
Under the order, state routes posted at 80,000 pounds are temporarily increased to 105,500 pounds, and routes normally restricted to 75 feet in length are temporarily increased to 95 feet in overall length.
The order is effective through Sept. 9.
Drivewyze adds Wyoming to weigh station bypass service
Drivewyze has announced the addition of weigh stations in Wyoming for bypass opportunities.
With Wyoming, Drivewyze PreClear is now in 48 states and provinces – providing bypass opportunities at more than 800 locations. Two sites – one along I-25, and the other on I-80 – will be activated by the end of August. Three more sites are being planned for future activation.
“The Wyoming Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol are strong advocates for safer highways and supporting industry,” said Brian Heath, president and CEO of Drivewyze. “We are excited about the benefits this partnership will bring to the motor carrier industry.”
Drivewyze PreClear customers will now receive uninterrupted bypass coverage along I-25. Drivewyze’s first site is northbound in Cheyenne – the major port of entry for those entering the state from northern Colorado. The interstate, which starts in New Mexico and goes up to Buffalo, Wyoming, where it intersects with I-90, connects Denver, Colorado Springs and Albuquerque. Along both directions, a trucker could see 10-12 bypass opportunities along I-25.
Going west to east, Drivewyze has added the weigh station in Evanston on I-80, just 80 miles east of Salt Lake City.
New Love’s retread plant opens in Oklahoma
Love’s Travel Stops has opened a tire retread plant and distribution center in El Reno, Oklahoma, the company announced this week.
The 220,000-square-foot facility doubles the size of the one it replaces in Grand Prairie, Texas, allowing Love’s Truck Care and Speedco to increase capacity and better serve customers. Love’s has seven plants across the country and is in the process of further expanding its retread plant and distribution center capacity to increase the company’s commitment to ensuring customer access to tires and parts.
“The new facility in El Reno is a great location to serve our most valuable customers and develop and distribute products to the surrounding towns and states,” said Steve Phillips, director of tire sales and plant operations for Love’s. “This location allows us to provide greater coverage, so our customers can get back on the road quickly and safely.”
I-75 lanes reopening in Troy, Michigan
Highway lanes and ramps reopened on the damaged section of I-75 at Big Beaver Road in Troy, Michigan, Wednesday afternoon, after a one-month closure caused by a July 12 tanker crash and fire that damaged the interstate and median wall.
All southbound I-75 lanes reopened at Big Beaver Road. Northbound I-75 will fully reopen except from 8 Mile Road to Wattles Road, where it will have only two lanes open. A right-lane closure remains in place for slope repairs that are unrelated to the July 12 crash. The Rochester Road and Big Beaver Road ramps also reopened.
To safely rebuild the damaged sections, crews had both directions of I-75 reduced to one open lane. To minimize expected delays and for motorist safety, crews closed the entrance ramp at Rochester Road to northbound I-75 and the Big Beaver Road entrance ramps to southbound I-75.
