1. The department may issue annual permits for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting divisible loads of raw forest products from fields to storage, processing, or other commercial facilities. The combined gross weight or gross weight on any one axle or group of axles on a vehicle or combination of vehicles issued a permit under this section may exceed the maximum weights specified in section 321.463, if the gross weight on any one axle does not exceed the limitations specified in section 321E.7.
 2. A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued under this section shall not exceed the maximum dimensions specified in sections 321.454 through 321.457.
 3. A vehicle or combination of vehicles for which a permit is issued under this section shall not travel on any portion of the interstate highway system.
 4. Notwithstanding section 321E.3 or any other provision of law to the contrary, a permit issued by the department pursuant to this section is valid for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles on a nonprimary highway if the local authority having jurisdiction over the nonprimary highway has approved the route within the local authority’s jurisdiction used by the vehicle or combination of vehicles traveling under the permit.
 5. For the purposes of this section, “raw forest products” means logs, pilings, posts, poles, cordwood products, wood chips, sawdust, pulpwood, intermediary lumber, fuel wood, mulch, tree bark, and Christmas trees not altered by a manufacturing process off the land, sawmill, or factory from which the products were taken.