Trucking Permits: A Look At The Common Types Needed For Some Truckers

From the wood it took to build your home to the canned food lining the grocery store shelves, there is a really big possibility that most of these things were loaded onto a semi at some point before they got to where they are. As an over-the-road trucker, you are likely familiar with this fact very well. With all the different trips you make around the country and the different loads that you haul, there is a good chance that at some point, you will need some kind of trucking permit. Take a look at some of the most common types of trucking permits and why you may need them. 

Fuel Permit 

Some states in the United States require you to have an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decal. If your truck is registered in a state where this decal is not required but you will be traveling to a state that does require you to pay for this clearance, you may have to get a temporary fuel permit to travel through that state. There are specific outlines about which vehicles have to have these permits, but semi-trucks, especially those hauling a load, do typically fall under the criteria to need this designation. 

Overweight Permit 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) determines the weights that are allowed to be carried by semis on certain highways. In the event you have something that has to be hauled with your semi that is going to go over those weight requirements, you will have to obtain an overweight or over-capacity permit. This permit will grant you permission to haul your load over the specified highway or through the specified location temporarily. These permits do not have a very long life span; most are designated as good for only the single load you are hauling and expire rather quickly. 

Trip Permit 

When you invest in a semi, you register that vehicle in the state where the truck is located so you have a right to be on the road with a commercial vehicle performing a commercial task. A trip permit will allow you to travel through a state in which your vehicle is not registered for travel. These permits are not as common as they once were because many states have dismantled regulations regarding semi-trucks and their right to travel through the state. However, you may occasionally have to get a trip permit just the same. 

Reach out to your local transportation and shipping administration to learn more about trucking permits.