The Governor has temporarily suspended the weight limits on roads used by Iowa farmers and grain haulers. The action is intended to help farmers deal with a higher-than-expected corn yields this fall. State officials say the corn harvest is 200-million bushels above last year’s yields, and it’s important to get it out of the fields as soon as possible. D-O-T Director of Enforcement, Mike Winfrey says the change will allow haulers to carry up to 90-thousand pounds, as opposed to the limit of 80-thousand pounds.He says semis and very large farm trailers are the vehicles that’ll be impacted. He says they’re usually the ones that get stopped and checked for weight violations — but not for the next 30 days. Winfrey says the weight restrictions are intended to prevent damage to roads and bridges, but this short waiver shouldn’t pose too many problems. Winfrey says weight embargoes on bridges will still apply.
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