Winter Storm Fern: Emergencies Declared, HOS Waivers & Oversize Changes

January 24, 2026

Winter Storm Fern has brought ice, snow and freezing temps across the South, Plains, Midwest and Northeast resulting in several states issuing a state of emergency and HOS waivers to help facilitate any needed storm relief.

Various states are currently under emergency declarations, temporarily pausing some trucking regulations, including some oversize load size and weight restrictions.

Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut

Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut currently have a truck travel ban in place. Tractor-trailers, tandem trucks and special permit trucks are all restricted from traveling on interstate highways.

From Rhode Island DOT: All commercial vehicles not delivering food, fuel, or medical supplies have been banned from travel in RI due to severe weather starting at noon on Sunday January 25th until further notice by state authorities.

Massachusetts ban will stay in effect until noon on Monday.

Georgia

Georgia’s governor declared an emergency which will be in effect through Jan. 29, suspending certain size and weight restrictions, and hours of service (HOS) regulations for relief response.

During the emergency, five-axle trucks can travel with a gross vehicle weight of up to 95,000 pounds, 10′ wide maximum and up to 100′ long.

View Georgia’s winter weather executive order.

Tennessee

Under Tennessee’s order, a vehicle may transport a divisible or non-divisible load up to a maximum
gross vehicle weight of 95,000 pounds and a maximum axle weight of 20,000 pounds, except on any bridge or overpass with a lower posted weight limit.

The overall dimensions of a any load shall not exceed 100′ long, 14-4 high on the interstate highway system, except Interstate 55, an 13-6 high on Interstate 55 and any other highway, or 14-6 wide.

Vehicles still must ensure they have proper oversize load signs, flags and escorts as required by Tennessee’s DOT.

View Tennessee’s severe winter weather executive order.

Louisiana

Louisiana’s winter weather state of emergency is effective until Feb. 21. It suspends 49 Code of Federal Regulations 390-399 for carriers providing residential heating fuel, including heating oil, natural gas, and propane.

View Louisiana’s winter weather state of emergency.

North Carolina

The state’s emergency declaration says permits can be issued for commercial vehicles operating on all DOT-designate routs, except those routes designated as light traffic roads, outside of the normal weight, height and length restrictions in the state.

North Carolina’s emergency order is in effect for 14 days, until Feb. 5, and includes a 14-day suspension of HOS rules for carriers providing emergency services such as relief loads, fuel, food and utility equipment.

View North Carolina’s Gov. Josh Steins’ emergency declaration here.

Texas

The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a declaration that provides relief from Title 49, CFR, Part 395.3 (maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles) for carriers in Texas providing direct assistance to the disaster relief in the state of Texas.

View the Texas declaration here.

Questions? WCS Permits & Pilot Cars Can Help

WCS Permits & Pilot Cars is North America’s oversize load authority. We are committed to keeping the oversize load industry up-to-date about travel restrictions, oversize fees, declarations and more.

We provide various industries with oversize load permits, trip & fuel permits, superload permits, route surveying, transportation consulting, pilot car dispatching and truck safety equipment throughout the United States and Canada.

WCS has over 75 permit agents who have the experience and knowledge to permit oversize loads in a timely fashion.

STATE	CA
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IRP REQUIREMENTS	>26k GVW, >2 axles, or with trailer
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IFTA REQUIREMENTS	>26k GVW, >2 axles, or with trailer
RV/SME IRP REQUIREMENTS	Purchase if RV/SME towed. W/dealer tag, IRP not required.
RV/SME IFTA REQUIREMENTS	None
SPECIAL WEIGHT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS	None
HUNTER’S PERMIT AVAILABLE?	No
IRP/IFTA RE-ENTRY PERMIT REQUIRED?	No
EXCEPTIONS	None
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
TRIP & FUEL STATE FEE	$31

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