To date, I have focused my ‘Ask the Expert’ Blogs on Federal Emergency Declarations information in the U.S. and Canada.
I am switching gears today to focus on specific State and Provincial Waiver Announcements, as they may impact truckers differently, depending on where your home jurisdiction is.
I have also included a link and specific contact information where truckers can get more information, in those cases where I was able to source this material.
Specific U.S. States and Canada provincial jurisdictions have granted temporary waivers for specific requirements as described below in response to COVID-19.
Please refer to the International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) COVID-19 Information at:
https://www.iftach.org/bulletins/Covid-19.php
You may also want to refer to the International Registration Plan (IRP) COVID-19 Information at:
The list below is current as of March 24, 2020.
U.S. States
Alabama: Temporarily waiving IRP and IFTA requirements for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) engaged in interstate emergency relief efforts.
There are also specific extensions for obtaining March 2020 motor vehicle registrations, as well as for paying property taxes on vehicles.
Alabama announced that it will also be delaying certain penalty charges associated with motor vehicle registration and renewals through April 15, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division at (334) 242-9000.
Colorado: Waiving late registration fees, providing registration extensions, and issuing weight exemptions.
If you have any questions, contact the [email protected], or call at (303) 205-5608.
Connecticut: Issuing a temporary waiver of IRP requirements for commercial motor vehicles entering Connecticut for the purpose of responding to the pandemic COVID 19 emergency.
If you have any questions, contact Lori Druan, Program Coordinator, Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, at (860)263-5063.
Effective March 20, 2020, the expiration date of all Connecticut vehicle registrations, Connecticut’s operator’s licenses, ID cards and permits that expire between March 10 and June 8, 2020 are extended for 90 days.
If you have any questions, contact Ernie Bertothy, Manager, Department of Transportation, at (203) 228-7940.
District of Columbia: Temporarily waiving IRP registration requirements.
The District of Columbia also requests that enforcement use discretion for vehicles having expired DC apportioned vehicle registration.
If you have any questions, contact Elaine Speller, MSgt, Program Manager, District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, at (202) 729-7078.
Florida: Suspending IRP and IFTA registration requirements for commercial motor vehicles properly registered in other jurisdictions that are participating in direct emergency relief efforts including emergency services or supplies, to transport emergency equipment, supplies, or personnel, or to transport FEMA mobile homes or office style mobile homes into or from Florida.
Illinois: Extending vehicle registration expiration dates by 30 days.
Illinois Driver Services facilities across the State will close through March 31, 2020.
Illinois may also issue permits for the transportation of emergency response/relief supplies.
Iowa: Temporarily waiving IRP and IFTA requirements for CMVs through April 16, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact Alex Jansen, Manager, Iowa Department of Transportation, at (515) 237-3239.
Kansas: Temporarily waiving IRP requirements for commercial motor vehicles traveling in or through Kansas to provide disaster relief.
Kansas has also suspended fuel tax permits and licensing, certification, and permitting rules.
Carriers can haul up to 10% more than their licensed weight.
Additionally, the Kansas Division of Vehicles Offices is now closed until further notice.
Kentucky: Temporarily waiving hours of service, weight station stops, permits fees for overweight and over-dimensional vehicles, and registration and licensing requirements until April 12, 2020.
The expiration date of vehicle registration, vehicle license plates, and tag certificates are extended for 90 days.
The renewal date for Kentucky operator’s licenses, ID cards, and permit expiration dates has been are also extended 90 days.
If you have any questions, contact Mary Cook, Assistant Director, Kentucky Division of Motor Carriers, at (502) 564-1257.
Louisiana: Declaring a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 virus.
All apportioned registrations issued under IRP with an expiration date of March 31, 2020 are extended to May 31, 2020.
Please contact the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles at 225-925-7022 with any questions.
Maine: Asking enforcement personnel to use discretion against vehicles with expired IRP or IFTA registrations for the next 30 days.
If you have any questions, contact April Goodwin, Chief of Motor Carrier Services, Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Maryland: Asking enforcement personnel to use discretion against motor carriers with apportioned vehicle registrations that expire on or after March 12, 2020 until further notice.
If you have any questions, contact the Maryland Department of Transportation.
Maryland is also allowing a 15% tolerance above typical weight limits.
Missouri: Temporarily suspending all IRP and IFTA trip and fuel permit requirements for vehicles traveling in or through Missouri.
Nebraska: Declaring that vehicle registrations that expire on or after March 1, 2020, are valid until 30 days after the lifting of the declaration of emergency.
Late filing penalties and interest have also been waived.
Expiration dates for Nebraska driver licenses and commercial driver licenses are also extended until 30 days after the lifting of the emergency.
Nevada: All DMV offices closed as of March 20, 2020.
Nevada has also temporarily waived IRP and IFTA requirements for the duration of the emergency or until April 15, 2020, whichever comes first.
If you need to place a new or unregistered vehicle in service while the Nevada DMV offices are closed, please email Dawn Lietz at [email protected] for more information on obtaining temporary authority.
New Jersey: Temporarily waiving IRP and IFTA requirements for vehicles traveling through the state.
New Jersey IRP vehicle registrations and temporary IRP registrations that expire in March 2020 through May 2020 are also extended until May 31, 2020.
New York: Closing all DMV offices until further notice.
Additionally, IRP vehicle registrations and temporary registrations expiring on or after March 1, 2020 are extended through April 19, 2020.
If you have any questions, email the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
New Mexico: Temporarily waiving permit fees for overweight and over-width vehicles.
New Mexico is also waiving registration and licensing requirements, until April 6, 2020.
North Carolina: Temporarily waiving hours of service, permit fees for overweight and over-dimensional vehicles, and IRP registration and licensing requirements.
Additionally, North Carolina is waiving the maximum hours of service and certain size and weight restrictions.
These waivers will be in effect for 30 days, or until rescinded or superseded by another Executive Order.
North Dakota: Vehicles enrolled in IRP expiring on March 31, 2020 are granted an expiration extension until May 31, 2020.
Ohio: Asking enforcement personnel to use discretion against vehicles that have IRP expiration dates on or after March 18, 2020, until further notice.
If you have any questions, contact Carolyn Noland, Program Administrator, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, at (614) 752-7955.
Oklahoma: Temporarily suspending oversize/overweight permits fees and registration licensing/operating authority requirements for vehicles involved in direct emergency relief efforts.
If you have any questions, contact Scott Greenawalt, Regulatory Program Manager, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, at (405) 522-8772.
Oregon: Temporarily suspending requirements for oversize/overweight permits, permits and interstate registration requirements for commercial transportation, trip permits, insurance requirements, and hours of service.
Pennsylvania: Closing all Driver License Centers for two weeks effective March 16, 2020.
Pennsylvania also extending expiration dates for vehicle registrations.
If you have any questions, contact Craig Johnson, IRP Manager, Pennsylvania Bureau of Motor Vehicles, at (717) 787-3977.
Rhode Island: Driver’s licenses and registrations expiring between March 1 and March 31, 2020 will now expire on April 30, 2020.
All 5-day temporary registration plates issued between March 1 and March 31, 2020 will be valid up to 40 days from the date of issuance.
Residents who purchase a motor vehicle between March 1 and March 31, 2020 may have up to 40 days to register the vehicle.
Tennessee: Temporarily waiving IRP and IFTA requirements for vehicles traveling through Tennessee, due to the COVID-19.
If you have any questions, contact the Tennessee Vehicle Services Division, at (615) 532-1136.
Texas: Temporarily waiving registration and licensing requirements, current weight and width restriction, and hours of service until April 12, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles at (800) 299-1700 or (512) 872-8090.
Utah: The Tax Commission building, and most Utah DMV offices are closed.
Utah is also suspending IRP registration requirements until further notice.
Law enforcement personnel are asked to use discretion against registrants with expired Utah registrations.
If you have any questions, contact Suzanne Covert, Assistant Director, Utah Division of Motor Vehicles, at (801) 297-7670.
Vermont: Temporary waiving of IRP/IFTA and trip permit requirements for vehicles due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Vermont also requests the suspension of enforcement against registrants with expired credentials for 90 days.
Virginia: Temporarily waiving of registration and licensing requirements and a waiver of normal weight and width restriction until April 12, 2020.
IRP vehicle registrations due to expire on or before May 15, 2020, will be extended 60 days.
Virginia is also asking that law enforcement agencies use discretion with apportioned license plates expiring in March and April 2020.
Effective March 17, 2020, the Department of Motor Vehicle offices will be closed for 14 days.
If you have any questions, contact Patrick Harrison, Assistant Commissioner, Virginia Motor Carrier Services, at (804) 249-5115.
Washington: Temporarily waiving IRP, IFTA, 3-day trip, and special fuel permit requirements.
If you have any questions, contact the Washington Motor Vehicles at 360-664-1858 with any questions.
Washington is also extending the expiration of IRP license plates expiring between March 31 and April 30, 2020 to May 31, 2020.
Newly registered vehicles under IRP will be issued a Temporary Evidence of Apportioned Registration instead of physical license plates as necessary.
Additionally, the IRP offices are closed until further notice.
If you have any questions, contact Wesley Marks, Program Manager, State of Washington Department of Licensing, at (360) 664-1850.
West Virginia: Extending the validity period for vehicle registrations due to expire on or before May 15, 2020, for 90 days.
If you have any questions, contact Zoe Bender, Assistant Director, West Virginia Motor Carrier Services, at (304) 926-2588.
Wisconsin: May issue permits for the transportation of inventory to supply grocery retailers, including for overweight vehicles.
For questions, please reference COVID-19 Relief Effort and contact:
If you have any questions regarding the 72 hour trip permit, contact Wisconsin’s Motor Carrier Section at [email protected] or (608) 266-9900.
If you have any questions regarding overweight permits, contact [email protected] or (608) 266-7320.
Wyoming: Suspending IRP and IFTA registration requirements for motor vehicles participating in emergency relief efforts.
Wyoming is also asking that enforcement personnel use discretion with vehicles with Wyoming IRP vehicle registrations that have expiration dates on or after March 20, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact Debbie Lopez, Vehicle Services Manager, Wyoming Department of Transportation, at (307) 777-4714.
Canadian Provinces
New Brunswick: Extending the validity period of vehicle registrations, inspection stickers, and driver’s licenses that were valid as of March 16, 2020, to May 31, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact Melanie LeVatte, IRP Manager, Department of Public Safety.
Newfoundland and Labrador: IRP registrations due to expire in March and April are extended until May 30, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact Kelli Penney, Registrar, Newfoundland and Labrador Motor Registration Division at (877) 636-6867.
Nova Scotia: Allowing IRP registrants with fleets expiring in March, April, and May to be extended until August 31, 2020.
Prince Edward Island: Extending vehicle registration expiration dates by 60 days, up to June 1, 2020.
The Prince Edward Island’s IRP office will also be closed until March 30, 2020.
Québec: Extending the expiration of IRP license plates expiring in March to be extended until further notice.
Additionally, law enforcement is requested to use discretion with vehicles with expired registrations.
If you have any questions, contact Mathieu Chassé, Program Administrator at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, at 418-528-3333.