A new annual overweight permit for commercial and farm vehicles is now available through the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) for $500 a year.

The new all-systems permit, approved by the Iowa Legislature last spring, is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance and allows trucks on the state road system and certain city/county roads to exceed axle weight by a maximum of 12%.

Applications are open online at bit.ly/3jGWkWg. Permits can be paid online and sent electronically.

The overweight permit is similar to the agriculture-specific weight exemption that Iowa governors have issued each fall for several years but would apply to more than just agricultural commodities and is valid for unlimited trips year-round. 

According to a DOT fact sheet published last month, with the 12% weight overage, the maximum weight on a 5-axle truck is 89,600 pounds, six-axle is 100,800 pounds and seven-axle is 107,520 pounds.

It’s also important to note that this applies only to the state road system and doesn’t include federal interstates, such as I-80 or I-35. It also doesn’t allow access to restricted areas such as embargoed bridges and certain construction zones.

The new permit only applies to weights — size requirements are unchanged, at a maximum width of 8 feet, 6 inches, and a maximum height of 13 feet, 6 inches.

More information, including a map listing city and county routes that are authorized for the overweight permit, is available online at iowadot.gov/mvd.