Subject to the discretion and judgment provided for in section 321E.2, single-trip permits, which may include a round trip to and from a job or delivery site, shall be issued in accordance with the following provisions:
 1.  The maximum height, width, length, and weight of vehicles and loads operating under permits authorized by this section shall be limited to the maximum physical limitations and clearances of the roadway and infrastructure of the intended route of travel, provided that the gross weight on any one axle does not exceed the maximum prescribed in section 321.463, pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to chapter 17A. The permit-issuing authority shall make the final determination regarding the issuance of a permit and the suitability of the intended route based upon known roadway clearances and capacities. Permits shall be authorized only when the movement will not cause undue stress or damage to highway pavement, bridges, or other highway infrastructure. In addition to the dimension and weight limitations of an intended route, a permit-issuing authority shall consider the interests of public safety and, at the discretion of the permit-issuing authority, may deny the issuance of a permit when the intended movement of any vehicle or load poses a potential risk to the public.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 321E.9

  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • highway: means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular travel, except in public areas in which the boundary shall be thirty-three feet each side of the center line of the roadway. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • Roadway: means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. See Iowa Code 321I.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Vehicle: means any vehicle as defined in chapter 321. See Iowa Code 321H.2
 2. Vehicles with indivisible loads may be moved in special or emergency situations, provided the permit-issuing authority has reviewed the route and has approved the movement of the vehicle and load. The permit-issuing authority may impose any special restrictions on movements as deemed necessary or exempt movements from the restrictions of section 321E.11 by permit under this subsection.
 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, cranes exceeding the maximum gross weight on any axle as prescribed in section 321.463 or 321E.7 and used in the construction of alternative energy facilities may be moved with approval from the permit-issuing authority.
 4. Containers for international shipment shall be considered an indivisible load for purposes of transportation under a permit issued pursuant to this section if all of the following conditions are met:

 a. The combination of vehicles transporting the container under the permit does not exceed the maximum dimensions specified in sections 321.454 through 321.457.
 b. The container is sealed for international shipment and is either en route for export to a foreign country or en route to the container’s destination from a foreign country.
 c. Documentation, such as a bill of lading or another similar document, is carried in the vehicle, in written or electronic form, that ties the container being moved to the container listed in the documentation using the unique container number marked on the container. The documentation shall clearly state the foreign country of origin or destination, and shall be provided to a peace officer upon request.
 d. The container’s contents are exclusively raw forest products as defined in section 321E.26.
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