Petroleum Products Transporters Exempt From Restrictions
Sunday, July 10th, 2016 -- 9:41 AM
Drivers who transport petroleum products in Wisconsin will continue to be exempt from certain federal and state weekly hours-of-service restrictions as the industry deals with the temporary closing of the West Shore Pipeline.This week, the Department of Transportation has authorized motor carriers to transport overweight loads of products like fuel and oil through the duration of the emergency or until September 9. The third-such authorization comes after the FMCSA granted an extension to Gov. Scott Walker's earlier executive order declaring an Energy Emergency.
As demand for fuel is high this time of year because of increased travel, the move enables motor carriers to travel into and throughout the state so that any potential gasoline and diesel shortages are avoided. It also will help businesses continue normal operations. WisDOT has elected to grant heavier authorized weights and waives the divisible load limitation on vehicles having a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more while carrying energy resources of fuel, regardless of the highways involved, to conserve energy. Use of the West Shore Pipeline was halted in May because of an anomaly detected during a recent inspection
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