Waiver granted by Governor Abbott to hay carriers in Texas Panhandle due to wildfires

Texas (KVII) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has granted permission to carriers transporting hay to many areas of the Texas Panhandle.

According to Abbott's office, the Governor sent a letter to the Chairman or the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles suspending the permitting requirements, legal height restrictions and associated permit fees for carriers transporting round bales of hay to areas of the Texas Panhandle.

The waiver is in effect for carriers transporting to Carson, Gray, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Potter, Roberts and Wheeler counties. It also applies to any Texas county where transport is necessary to reach the disaster response area.

The letter from Abbott to the TXDMV reads:

Due to the ongoing disaster caused by wildfires, livestock producers in these counties are experiencing forage and hay shortages. To facilitate the transportation and to ensure that state regulation is not an unnecessary barrier to the emergency transport of hay, I hereby direct you to suspend the permitting requirements and legal height restriction for cylindrical (round) hay bales, as well as associated permit fees, for carriers transporting round bales of hay to these counties.

However, Abbott said the TXDMV will require carriers transporting loads more than 14 feet in height to contact the TXDMV Carrier Division at (800)299-1700. This is to ensure the safety of the traveling public.