Ag Tractor Trailers Win Reprieve from Port Stops

Ag Tractor Trailers Win Reprieve from Port Stops

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
Colorado state law requires trucks that weigh 16,000 pounds or more empty or 26,001 pounds fully loaded must clear a port of entry within 5 miles of their route.

Truckers who carry agricultural products have long claimed that driving to the ports of entry often adds cost to their trips from time and mileage.

A bill that would have exempted those motor vehicles hauling trailers used primarily for agriculture, including livestock has been shelved.

That's because the legislation at least for now is not necessary.

Colorado Livestock Association Executive Director Bill Hammerich say the bill's sponsor Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling will kill the bill that would have allowed truckers carrying agricultural commodities to bypass the port of entry.

Hammerich says that's a good thing.

"It is. Its nice when people can sit down and cooler heads prevail and come up with an agreement that is satisfactory to everybody.

The agreement has led the Colorado State Patrol, which operates the state's 10 ports of entry, to set up a revocable permit. The permit, which can last for up to three years, shows the route the trucker wants to take that's within the five-mile circle of the port of entry. Truckers access the permit online and it's free.

The state patrol's says the Special Revocable Permits are available to eligible companies operating a regularly scheduled route within 5 miles of a port. Applications must be submitted to the State Patrol . If a permit is issued, it relieves the permit holder of the requirement to clear the specified Port of Entry.

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