Trucks and Permits - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Trucks and Permits

A truck hauling a 500 barrel saltwater tank

caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to an Interstate 94 bridge near South Heart.

The load was too high and became wedged beneath the overpass.

The driver was not hurt, but was cited for not having a permit.

Tom Balzer with the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association says drivers with oversized loads are supposed to get a permit.

The DOT then gives them a safe route based on their height and weight.

However, Balzer says, it can take hours to get a permit so many drivers choose to go without.

Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association, Tom Balzer, says "It's preventable, if they would've been properly permuted, they would've known where they could and couldn't have gone, but I also understand the industries frustration, they can be on hold for three hours and then cut off. Time is money when it comes to loads and these deliveries need to be made, especially in the industries we service."

Balzer says the DOT is working on making the permit and routing process for trucks faster and available online 24/7.

The online route tool should be ready for drivers next year.