On Friday, April 15, Georgia governor Brian Kemp declared a supply chain emergency in his state in an executive order that went into effect on Saturday, April 16, and will remain in effect until Sunday, May 15.
The order stipulates that “no motor carrier operating under the terms of this State of Emergency will require or allow an ill or fatigued driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who notifies a motor vehicle carrier that he or she needs immediate rest will be given at least ten (10) consecutive hours off-duty before being required to return to service.”
The order further bans price gouging on such items as “motor fuel and diesel fuel.” It has also increased the maximum size for vehicles on Georgia roads, increasing the gross vehicle weight limit from the previous 80,000 to 95,000. Maximum width of vehicles has been increased from 8 feet, 5 inches, to 10 feet. Maximum length is set at 100 feet.
Vehicles wider than 8 feet, 6 inches are required to display escort or amber light “after daylight” (defined as from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise) if traveling on two-lane roads. These vehicles must be accompanied by an escort vehicle if traveling on four-lane roads.
The order does not apply to the sections of the federal interstate highway system that run through the state.
Georgia is the first state to respond to current supply difficulties in this way, although members of the California congressional delegation urged a similar measure on Governor Gavin Newsom in November.
