Pursuant to Senate Bill No. 2476, the owner and/or
operator of a vehicle may apply to the Mississippi Department of Transportation
for authorization to receive a Harvest Permit. The permit will entitle the
vehicle to haul sand, gravel, fill dirt, agricultural products or unprocessed
forestry products at an authorized maximum gross weight not to exceed 84,000
pounds. The authorization and permit are subject to the following
restrictions.
1. All applications for
authorization for a Harvest Permit must be submitted to the Mississippi
Department of Transportation (MDOT): Harvest Permit Application, Post Office
Box 1850, Jackson, Mississippi, 39215-1850.
2. Harvest Permits are not valid on
Interstate Highways. Any weight in excess of the maximum legal gross weight of
the vehicle or in excess of the maximum highway weight limit shall be penalized
$0.05 per pound for the first 16,000 pounds of excess weight and $0.15 per
pound for all excess weight exceeding 16,000 pounds.
3. Harvest Permits are not valid on
low-weight roads.
4. Vehicles,
which due to number of axles and/or axle spacing, can not haul maximum load
limits, may obtain Harvest Permits to haul covered products at 4,000 pounds
above their authorized gross weight limit. Weight in excess of 4,000 pounds
above their authorized weight limit will be penalized at $0.05 cents per pound
and $0.15 cents per pound for excess weight exceeding 16,000 pounds.
5. For the purposes of these regulations,
"agricultural products" (except unprocessed forest products) are defined as
those products produced on the farm and being transported from the farm to
market or processing points (cotton seeds, regardless of origin, will be
considered an agricultural product).
6. For the purposes of these regulations,
"unprocessed forestry products" are defined at those forestry products being
hauled directly for the forest. Hauling from a "holding yard" will be
considered as being hauled directly from the forest. (Sawdust, bark, and chips,
regardless of origin, will be considered an unprocessed forestry
product).
7. A check or money order
in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) made payable to the Mississippi
Department of Transportation must accompany the application for authorization
for a Harvest Permit. All checks or money orders not made payable to the
Mississippi Department of Transportation will be returned.
8. Applications for authorization for a
Harvest Permit are subject to approval by MDOT. Applications not approved for
any reason will be returned to the applicant for correction.
9. The Harvest Permit shall include a decal
and an authorization letter. The Harvest Permit is effective as of the issue
date as shown on the authorization. Upon receipt of the decal, the decal shall
be affixed in the upper left corner of the applying vehicle's driver side
windshield.
10. One Harvest Permit
decal will be issued for every approved application after meeting all other
requirements. The decal will be serialized for audit purposes. The decal is not
transferable between owners or vehicles. If a decal is found on a vehicle for
which it was not issued, the decal becomes null and void and the vehicle is
considered as not having a Harvest Permit.
11. A Copy of the authorization letter must
be kept in the vehicle at all times. If the vehicle is found without the
authorization, the decal becomes null and void.
