Hoeven weighs service hour and weight restrictions for some truck drivers to deal with power emergency

Gov. John Hoeven on Saturday issued an executive order waiving service hour and weight restrictions for non-divisible loads for commercial truck drivers until 11:59 p.m. on April 10, or for the duration of the emergency. All road safety and vehicle compliance regulations still apply and will be fully enforced.

Hoeven issued the order to help carriers delivering supplies to rural electric cooperative and public utility crews. The crews are working to repair damage to rural power lines and transmission towers owing to a severe spring storm that struck south central and central North Dakota Friday.

As of Saturday afternoon, the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (reported that there are up to 4,000 poles and approximately 24 transmission towers downed. Between 4,000 and 5,000 customers are still without power.

The North Dakota Civil Air Patrol has been conducting aerial surveillance to assist the power companies in locating downed infrastructure. The North Dakota National Guard is prepared to provide additional helicopter surveillance as needed. DES continues to coordinate the use of rubber-tire bull dozers and other heavy equipment through private contractors to assist the Rural Electric Cooperatives access and repair lines.

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