Motor Carriers

  Oversize/Overweight Permit Requirements Suspended for Winter Weather Response

Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster for 254 Texas counties in response to extreme winter weather conditions. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has responded by temporarily suspending oversize/overweight permitting requirements for vehicles and loads associated with activities necessary to respond to the disaster. In addition, The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is now temporarily suspending International Registration Plan (IRP) and 72-hour and 144-hour permitting requirements for vehicles and loads associated with activities necessary to respond to the disaster. A copy of Gov. Greg Abbott's Waiver and the TxDMV Waiver Notice must be carried in the vehicle, both of which are attached below.

Additionally, President Joseph Biden has approved an emergency declaration for Texas which can be found at president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-major-disaster-declaration-texas. This authorizes Texas to issue the federal disaster relief (MAP-21) permit which is now available through the Texas Permitting & Routing Optimization System (TxPROS). Guidance from the Federal Highway Administration on use of this permit is linked below.

• Guidance from the Federal Highway Administration on Use of Permit

TxDMV Suspension Notice
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has temporarily suspended:

• The IRP vehicle registration requirements under Transportation Code Section 502.091 and Title 43, Section 217.56 of the Texas Administrative Code, to the extent the vehicle is not already registered under the IRP and as long as the vehicle is registered in one of the 48 contiguous states of the United States; and
• The 72-hour and 144-hour temporary registration permit requirements under Transportation Code Section 502.094 and Title 43, Section 217.40(b)(3) of the Texas Administrative Code, as long as the vehicle is registered in one of the states of the United States.

Examples of disaster assistance include, but are not limited to, vehicles engaged in the transport of relief workers, food, water, clothing, equipment, medical supplies, materials, fuel, shelter, and other supplies to the disaster areas, as well as vehicles used to restore utilities and to remove debris from the disaster areas listed in the disaster declaration. The suspensions do not apply to any requirement not specifically listed in this notice, including safety and insurance requirements. Also, operators are responsible and liable for safely routing their vehicles and obtaining current information concerning hazardous road conditions prior to movement.

The operator of the commercial vehicle must keep the following documentation in the cab of the vehicle and provide the documentation to any Texas peace officer upon request:

• A Copy of the TxDMV Suspension Notice
• Gov. Greg Abbott's Disaster Declaration, including any amendments.
• President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Major Disaster Declaration for Texas

These suspensions remain in effect until terminated by the Office of the Governor or until the disaster declaration referenced above expires.

COVID-19/Coronavirus

1. International Registration Plan (Apportioned Registration) Suspensions.
   Many U.S. states and Canadian provinces have suspended International Registration Plan requirements due to the COVID-19 emergency. Suspensions are linked from the IRP, Inc. site

2. Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a declaration of disaster temporarily suspending size and weight restrictions and oversize/overweight permitting requirements for vehicles and loads associated with activities needed to respond to COVID-19/Coronavirus. Please utilize both waivers when using this suspension.

   Note: TxDMV is not imposing COVID-19 related restrictions on travel for vehicles/loads moving with an Oversize/Overweight Permit. However, all permittees need to check local shelter-in-place/stay-at-home orders prior to movement to ensure the travel meets the definition of “essential” for those areas.

3. Waivers, Exemptions and Permits Outside of Texas
   For a list of emergency declarations, waiver, exemptions and permits for other states, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's page.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Information

1. Hurricane Harvey Relief Information

2. Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a declaration of disaster temporarily suspending size and weight restrictions and oversize/overweight permitting requirements for vehicles and loads associated with activities needed to respond to Hurricane Harvey.