Michigan lifts weight restrictions below Mackinac Bridge

Still in effect for the U.P.

Michigan lifts weight restrictions below Mackinac Bridge

Truckers News Staff Truckers News 2020 04 02

Effective noon today, April 2, the Michigan Department of Transportation lifts spring weight restrictions on state roads from the southern Michigan border north to the Mackinac Bridge.

Frost restrictions are still in effect for all state trunkline highways north of the Mackinac Bridge. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.

(Michigan DOT)

On March 16, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order temporarily lifting seasonal weight and other delivery-related restrictions for vehicles on state and local roads carrying essential supplies to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The executive order extends until 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 13. This spring weight restriction update does not alter the direction given in the governor’s order. Permits will still be required for loads exceeding the normal legal limits.

In areas with seasonal weight restrictions still in effect, MDOT says the following apply:

  • On routes designated as “all-season” (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
  • On routes designated as “seasonal” (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements.
  • All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.

MDOT reminds truckers county road commissions and city public works departments can put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect, according to the agency.

For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT’s website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers, under “Restrictions.”

All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts.

Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256.

https://www.truckersnews.com/michigan-lifts-weight-restrictions-below-mackinac-bridge/

Everything you need to know about securing an Arkansas oversized permit

Arkansas is home to six national park sites, 2.5 million acres of national forests, seven national scenic byways, three state scenic byways and 50 state parks. But to drive an oversized load through The Natural State, you’ll need to secure an Arkansas oversized permit. At The Permit Company, we help you obtain oversize and overweight…

The post Everything you need to know about securing an Arkansas oversized permit appeared first on The Permit Company.

Everything you need to know about securing an Arkansas oversized permit

M The Permit Company 2020 03 21

Arkansas is home to six national park sites, 2.5 million acres of national forests, seven national scenic byways, three state scenic byways and 50 state parks. But to drive an oversized load through The Natural State, you’ll need to secure an Arkansas oversized permit.

At The Permit Company, we help you obtain oversize and overweight truck permits by working directly with state and local agencies on your behalf. If you have any questions about moving oversized loads through Arkansas or securing a permit, we have the answers.

 

1. How long are oversize permits valid for in Arkansas? 

Oversize permits are valid for three days.

 

What are the legal dimensions for loads in Arkansas? 

The legal limits in Arkansas are as follows:

  • Gross weight: 80,000 lbs.*
  • Width: 8’6” on all roads
  • Height: 13’6” on all roads
  • Length: 45’ for single units and buses on all roads; 53’6” for semi-trailers on all roads, 28’ for twins and doubles on all roads (semi-trailers or trailers 28’6″ in length, that were in lawful use on or before December 1, 1982, are allowed); 65’ for autotransporters on all roads; 75’ for stinger steered on all roads; Rocky Mountain doubles, turnpike doubles and triples not allowed on any roads; and 90’ for saddle mounts (power unit and three saddle mounts) on all roads.

Federal Bridge Formula applies.

 

3. What are the permit limits for loads in Arkansas?

The routine-issue permit limits in Arkansas are as follows:

  • Weight
    • Steering axle: 12,000 lbs.
      • Single: 20,000 lbs.
      • Tandem: 34,000 lbs.
    • Load-carrying axle*:
      • Single: 20,000 lbs.
      • Tandem: 46,000 lbs.
      • Tridem: 60,000 lbs.
      • Quad: 68,000 lbs.

*No additional weight for trunnions.

  • Length: No set maximums
  • Width: 20’, 16’ on interstate system. A maximum overall width of 24′ may be allowed for short moves only in cases of an emergency.
  • Height: 17′. If the overall height exceeds 17′, the move must be accompanied by public utilities personnel.

If load exceeds any of these dimensions or weights, refer to the section on superloads.

 

4. Is continuous travel allowed for oversize permits in Arkansas?

Normally, permits are only valid during daylight hours as established by the U.S. Weather Bureau. Permits may be issued for the movement of overweight vehicles on Arkansas highways on holidays and during the night when all dimensions are legal. Loads not exceeding 90′ long may travel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Loads that are only overweight may travel 24 hours a day.

Permits may be issued for movement of loads on Arkansas highways on Saturday and Sunday, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Mobile homes are prohibited from moving on Sundays.

Travel is restricted on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

 

5. When are escorts needed in Arkansas?

On two-lane highways:

  • 1 front escort is needed for widths 12’-14’
  • 1 front and 1 rear escort (2 total) needed for widths more than 14’
  • 1 escort with height pole is needed for heights of 15’-16’
  • 1 escort with height pole (as stated on permit) and special approval is needed for heights more than 16’
  • 1 public utility escort is needed for heights more than 17’
  • 1 front and 1 rear escort (2 total) with height pole needed for vehicles more than 12’ wide and 13’6” high
  • 1 front escort is needed for lengths 100’-130’
  • 1 front and 1 rear escort (2 total) needed for lengths 130’ or more

On four-lane or interstate highways:

  • 1 rear escort is needed for widths more than 14’
  • 1 front escort with height pole is needed for heights of 15’-16’
  • 1 escort with height pole (as stated on permit) and special approval is needed for heights more than 16’
  • 1 public utility escort is needed for heights more than 17’
  • 1 front and 1 rear escort (2 total) with height pole needed for vehicles more than 12’ wide and 15’ high
  • 1 rear escort is needed for lengths 100’-130’
  • 1 front and 1 rear escort (2 total) needed for lengths 130’ or more

NOTE: The maximum width for highway movement is usually 20’ (based on routes, distance and traffic volume or type).

NOTE: Height poles should be run at 6” above load height on all highways.

Mobile homes

  • 1 escort is needed for widths up to 14’ on certain highways near the Little Rock area and on two-lane highways
  • No escorts are needed for widths up to 14’ on interstate or fully controlled access facilities.
  • 1 or 2 escorts are needed for widths more than 14’ depending on the route

 

6. What is a superload in Arkansas?

Any vehicles more than 16’6” wide, 100′ long, 15’6″ high or weighing more than 180,000 lbs. are considered superloads. Three copies of the applications for extra heavy load permits must be submitted along with a detailed sketch of vehicles including all tire sizes, the distance between axles and the overall length of the vehicle. If a load exceeds 17’ high, it must be escorted by public utilities personnel. This application should be submitted at least two days in advance of the expected move.

An additional $250 fee will be assessed on loads weighing more than 180,000 lbs.

 

If you need help in getting an oversize permit in Arkansas or have a question about permits in any other states, give us a call at (800) 359-9407 or send us an email.  

The post Everything you need to know about securing an Arkansas oversized permit appeared first on The Permit Company.

https://www.permitcompany.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-securing-an-arkansas-oversized-permit/

Troopers say truck was 96,300 pounds overweight

Overweight IndianaIndiana State Police say that they handed out a whopping citation following a truck inspection that turned up numerous violations this morning.

Troopers say truck was 96,300 pounds overweight

Ashley CDLLife 2020 01 16

Overweight Indiana

Indiana State Police say that they handed out a whopping citation following a truck inspection that turned up numerous violations this morning.

The truck inspection happened in Rushville, Indiana, on the morning of January 16.

From a news release from Indiana State Police:

A truck inspection this morning by Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) Trooper Eric Thumb, led to the discovery of a semi-tractor pulling double trailers that was 96,300 pounds overweight.  CVED Trooper Eric Thumb was driving through Rushville just before 11 a.m. this morning when he noticed a southbound semi pulling double trailers known as a “Michigan Train” south bound on Main St. at Park Blvd.

From his training and experience Thumb knew that the trailer set up is often used to haul overweight loads, with special overweight permits, across northern Indiana. Trooper Thumb got the truck stopped to do an inspection and discovered the driver, Gene Maag, age 36 of Waterloo, Indiana, was driving a truck with no registration plate and no federally required company markings or federal tax numbers on the side of the vehicle.. 

The maximum allowable weight for a commercial motor vehicle in Indiana, without a special permit, is 80,000 pounds. As part of his vehicle inspection Trooper Thumb weighed the truck and its steel coil cargo, discovering a combined weight of 176,300 pounds, or 96,300 pounds over the maximum allowable weight, without a special permit.

The fines for the overweight violation alone are just under $14,000.

Troopers say that the truck was impounded and that Maag was cited for the overweight violation and no truck registration in addition to a warning for no federally required markings or numbers on the sides of the truck.

Troopers say that the steel coils will also be impounded until they can be legally loaded onto other trucks to continue their journey to their final destination in Madison, Indiana.

https://cdllife.com/2020/troopers-say-truck-was-96300-pounds-overweight/

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Grounded no more: The logistics of aircraft maintenance

The delay of aircraft components and replacement parts can mean tens of thousands of dollars in losses for airlines waiting to make necessary repairs, which is why so many turn to specialized logistics providers.

Grounded no more: The logistics of aircraft maintenance

Brian Straight FreightWaves 2019 12 10

Moving
aircraft from one location to another seems simple enough, but what if you have
six of them and have been contracted to relocate each without flying them, or
dismantling them for transport? And you have to do it safely and through a
Mideast country known for terrorist activity?

That is the situation staff members
of AIT Worldwide Logistics found themselves in a few years ago when a
U.S.-based industrial conglomerate hired the firm to transport six single-engine
aircraft from Afghanistan to Wichita, Kansas.

“That program that we executed from
Afghanistan to Wichita was one heck of an accomplishment,” Bob McGhee, director
of government and aerospace operations for AIT Worldwide Logistics, told FreightWaves. “We were ahead of schedule; we were under
budget; and we exceeded the customer’s expectations from day one.”

To complete the job, AIT tapped
into its network of providers, locating a Mideast-based service provider that
could secure an Antonov – the world’s largest cargo aircraft. With the airplane
secured, AIT moved to the routing portion of the job, with several options and
their associated risks, including political, climatological and security,
assessed and presented to the customer.

AIT Worldwide Logistics specializes in logistics for global businesses, including the airline industries. These moves can include everything from single components to entire aircraft, as this photo showed. AIT commissioned an Antonov, the world’s largest cargo aircraft, to transport six single-engine aircraft from Afghanistan to Wichita, Kansas, without dismantling the bodies of the plane. (Photo: AIT Worldwide Logistics)

“Multiple challenges conspired to
add complexity to the project with a high risk for skyrocketing costs,” AIT
explained. “The customer wanted to avoid dismantling the aircraft for shipping,
which left very few equipment options. Flying out of Afghanistan is inherently
dangerous, as is navigating the airspace in the region. Minimizing flyover
permits and royalties would prove to be tricky at best.”

The customer picked a safer route
that would be more expensive due to required royalties and flyover permits. AIT
said its negotiators worked with local officials and eliminated or minimized
certain costs to hold down expenses.

Every aspect of this move was
meticulously planned and involved daily conference calls, McGhee said. The
planes were loaded side by side into the Antonov and successfully delivered to
Wichita.

Relocating a plane is but one of
the services that specialized logistics providers fill for airlines and
industrial customers.

Expedited parts delivery service

While airlines can’t do much about
the weather that results in flight delays, they do have control over
maintenance. Maintenance delays, which lead to something called aircraft on
ground, or AOG, have a ripple effect throughout an airline’s network. Late
planes lead to unhappy customers, missed connections and planes out of position
for the next day’s flights.

According to Airspace Technologies,
a logistics firm specializing in the movement of aircraft parts, an AOG can
cost an airline up to $150,000 per hour. The National Center of Excellence for
Aviation Operations Research, in a 2010 study conducted jointly with the
Federal Aviation Administration, said that flight delays cost airlines $31
billion in 2007.

When an aircraft needs a part, the
logistics machine shifts into motion.

Airbus uses barges to transport large components such as this wing section on the Garonne River in France to Toulouse, where final assembly of planes is conducted. (Photo: Airbus)

“There are frequently planned
operations – that is the perfect world for us – but the
vast majority of our aerospace business, whether it’s military or commercial is
on an emergency basis, or in an AOG [situation],” McGhee explained.

AIT is a non-asset-based global
logistics business offering services in air cargo, sea freight, customs, ground
distribution, intermodal and warehouse management. Its aerospace logistics
business is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with certified
professionals whose job is to get aircraft parts, and sometimes entire
airplanes, to their destination quickly.

“It’s a very fast-paced market and it’s a very high-demand market for getting accurate information,” McGhee said. “We have a 30-minute window to honor all requests and a 90-minute window to [deliver] a transportation plan.”

All team members staffing its
“control tower” are military-certified so they can handle both civilian and
military requests. When an AOG happens, the AIT team moves into action. “There
is no canned response to these things,” Ken Jones, director of government and
aerospace sales for AIT, explained, as each move is unique.

The transport of intact aircraft engines can sometimes be done on in the cargo holds of commercial aircraft. But aircraft often can’t reach manufacturing facilities, requiring the use of trucks for final transport, as AIT Worldwide Logistics did with this Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engine. (Photo: AIT Worldwide Logistics)

How the replacement part is
transported depends on a lot of variables, including what it is, where it is
and where it is going. Some parts can move on commercial aircraft, while others
require a more specialized approach. Take an engine, for instance. According to
McGhee, some aircraft engines can fit in the cargo hold of a narrow-body
aircraft, making a commercial flight a possibility.

“It is very complex when you take
into consideration the size of the engine and the origin/destination plans,” he
said. “That is where the challenges are and where our subject matter expertise
comes into play.”

Customer-focused solutions

Because AIT services are “door to
door,” getting the part on an airplane is only half the battle. “There are
challenges when you have an airplane sitting in a secondary market that [larger
aircraft are] challenged to get into,” McGhee said. If a larger airport is
needed, then truck transportation becomes a requirement. “Having proper
partners … enables us to do that.”

Smaller aircraft parts are a bit easier,
and many actually fly on commercial aircraft. In some cases, they may fly on
UPS or FedEx cargo planes, but McGhee said the flexibility of commercial
aircraft is preferred.

“Nine times out of 10, we’re moving
that small part… on a commercial passenger airplane and the reason we’re doing
that is the scheduling is much more flexible,” he said.

Even when parts move on a UPS or
FedEx plane, AIT handles the “last mile,” preferring to maintain control of the
part to its final destination.

In some cases, a small part may
require a personalized approach. time:matters, a global spare parts logistics
business, told the story of a hand delivery in South Africa using its airmates technology
platform. In the case study, a PRIMUS Aero-managed aircraft was grounded in
South Africa, in need of a control unit.

“The missing control unit was in
the USA, however, not just around the corner from South Africa,” the company
noted. Booked through the airmates platform with the “On Board Courier” option,
the part was quickly located in Addison, Texas. A Texas-based courier picked up
the part and hopped a commercial aircraft to Atlanta and ultimately to Lanseria
International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, arriving with the part 25
hours after the first request arrived in the time:matters system.

Customs can delay spare part
delivery, although McGhee said AIT works with its local partners to ensure all
paperwork is filled out so delays are eliminated.

“There’s an extensive amount of
data out there that we have to juggle, but we work very closely on the U.S.
customs side [and destination countries to process this],” he said.

Jones added that AIT once had a
delay delivering a part because the grounded aircraft was sitting in a country
that had closed customs while it inaugurated a new king. Generally, though,
delays on the commercial side are minimal while military shipments can get hung
up due to political considerations – which countries’ parts can be flown over
or into, for instance.

The Airbus Beluga – technically an A300-600ST Super Transporter – is a customized aircraft designed by Airbus for its own supply chain. The Beluga is used to transport large aircraft parts to facilities throughout Europe. (Photo: Airbus)

Custom logistics networks

While companies such as AIT,
time:matters and Airspace Technologies provide customized services for
airlines, airplane manufacturers have developed their own networks. Airbus explained in detail on its website how it handles the movement of parts to final
assembly locations.

Utilizing five A300-600ST Super
Transporters nicknamed Beluga, Airbus Transport International moves complete
fuselage sections and wings from production plants throughout Europe to assembly
plants in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany.

In the case of parts for the A380
aircraft assembled in Toulouse, the Beluga – which are modified planes with
bulbous main deck cargo cabins – represents just one part of the journey.
Trucks and even watercraft are involved in the trip. Production sites
throughout France, Germany, Spain and the U.K. send completed sections of the
A380 to Bordeaux, France, where these large fuselage sections are loaded onto
waiting barges that travel the Garonne River to Toulouse.

Specialized equipment and training

When it comes to transporting
aircraft engines, the companies that handle these jobs have high standards.
International Machine Transport USA, with offices in Blaine, Washington, and
Dallas, Texas, has transported more than 12,000 engines throughout North America.
It requires all its drivers to attend classroom theory, complete field training
including the loading and securing of jet engines and pass a final exam with a
perfect score.

The company also handles helicopter
transport and more and works with a trailer designer to create custom trailers
for specific industries. Fitted tarps and protective padding are standard
elements to transport engines and other parts.

Skylink, which provides over 250,000 different line items for
distribution to airlines around the world, offers five “must dos” when moving
aircraft engines. They are:

1.       Secure the
engine on a quality engine stand

2.       Invest in
good tarps and tarp the engine multiple times

3.       Strap the engine
by the bottom of the engine stand

4.       When
traveling on a trailer, use an air ride trailer for a softer ride

5.       Work with a
trusted partner.

For airlines looking to minimize
AOG, companies like Airspace Technologies and AIT are the backbone of the
maintenance operation, but even those companies require help.

“We are a non-asset based
organization so everything we do is based on our relationships with our service
providers,” McGhee said. “We have very high standards [and global standards that
partners must meet]. The partners we work with have been developed with people
like myself and Ken and other leaders within AIT that have 30- and 40-plus
years of experience working with international partners and know who are the
most reliable to work with. There are companies that are very strong on
regional basis in various parts of the world that we have aligned ourselves
with and that have the same core values as we do.”

Even in the fast-paced world of
on-demand aircraft parts delivery, it still comes back to relationships.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/grounded-no-more-the-logistics-of-aircraft-maintenance

Electronic OSOW Permits and Their Allowances

Electronic Copies of Permits Accepted in 29 States

Electronic OSOW Permits and Their Allowances

Are you still paying $1-$2 per page to print your permits at a truck stop? Save time and money by using electronic copies of your OS/OW permits where accepted! Many states are now allowing drivers to carry an electronic copy of their OS/OW permits. This not only brings convenience to the driver of not having to stop to print their permits, but allows the dispatcher to send directly to the drivers email. As more and more states move into the convenience of technology, there are still a few who require the paper permit with your signature to be considered a valid permit. One other thing to note, if you plan to use your cell phone or tablet in an area where you usually don’t get reliable coverage from your provider, OSOW recommends that you download the permit file from your email and save it to your device, this will prevent you from not being able to provide proof of a permit if requested from a DOT officer. As states are always changing their requirements and allowance, please check back with the OSOW Blog in order to keep up to date on this subject!

AL — Paper permit only.
AK — Electronic permit allowed.
AZ — Must have paper copy with driver’s signature.
AR — Electronic permits allowed, screen must be 7” or larger.
CA — Electronic permits from (RCATZ/STARS2 only) and any required accompaniments are allowed.
CO — Electronic permit allowed.
CT — Electronic permit allowed.

DE — Paper permit only.
FL — Single trip permits can be electronic, annuals must be in paper form.
GA — Electronic permits allowed for single trips.
HI – Paper permit only.
ID – Electronic permits allowed for OS/OW, not for trip and fuel as of now. 
IL — Paper permits are required when state police escorts are required, all others may use electronic copies.
IN — Paper permits are required when state police escorts are required, all others may use electronic copies.
IA — Electronic permit allowed.
KS — Some highway patrol officers will accept electronic copies, however OSOW recommends using a paper copy as per KS State Law.
KY — Electronic permit allowed.
LA — Electronic permit allowed.

ME — Paper permit only.
MD — Electronic permit allowed.
DC — Electronic permit allowed.

MA — Paper permit only.
MI — Paper permit only, other then power unit construction equipment extender permit.
MN – Electronic permit allowed. Can have provisions as an electronic copy as well.
MS — Electronic permit allowed.
MO — Electronic permit allowed.
MT —  Electronic permit allowed.
NE —  Electronic permit allowed.

NV — Paper permit only.
NH — Electronic permit allowed.
NJ — Paper permit only.
NM — Electronic permit allowed.
NY — Electronic permit allowed.

NY THRU — Paper permit only.
NC — Electronic permit allowed.
ND — Electronic permit allowed.

OH — Paper permit only.
OK — Paper permit only.
OR — Electronic permit allowed.
PA — Paper permit only.
RI — Paper permit only.
SC — Paper permit only.
SD — Paper permit only.
TN — Electronic permit allowed.
TX — Up to law enforcement’s discretion, paper copy is still recommended.
UT – Electronic permit allowed.
VT — Electronic permit allowed.
VA — Electronic permit allowed.

WA — Paper permit only.
WV — Electronic permit allowed.
WI — Paper permit only.
WY — Paper permit only.