Know if your vehicle has too much weight

By Sgt. Marc Erickson

Date Modified: 03/29/2012 10:09 AM

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Q: I know in the spring the counties have road embargos for 5-7 ton on the blacktops and gravels. Is there a permit or exemption for someone handling delivery of feed to a farm?

A: Road restrictions are placed on the county roads and state highways to preserve the investment that was made. The problem they are facing is, to replace a road costs approximately $1.6 million for a mile of 10 ton route. If it was possible to allow heavier weights on the roads in question and not do damage, I am sure that the road authority would not restrict the road to the lower limits. The problem we are faced with is that the damage is cumulative and once the road fractures, it never heals again.

To answer your question, road restrictions is the only time of year when there are no exemptions for weight.

Erickson is a technical sergeant with Minnesota State Patrol's Commercial Vehicle Section. He is contributing to Agri News by answering your questions about the rules of the road. Send questions or comments to hthorstensen@agrinews.com or mail them to Agri News at P.O. Box 6118, Rochester, MN 55903.