A handful of new laws that take effect this weekend in Virginia cover IFTA, loose loads, and military truckers.

One new rule puts the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles in charge of the state’s involvement with the International Fuel Tax Agreement program.

As of Sunday, July 1, truck drivers will be responsible for applying to the department for IFTA licenses and identification.

The new rule authorizes DMV personnel to handle truck size and weight compliance at permanent weigh stations, as well as issue citations for IFTA violations.

The agency will also be responsible for working with State Police and local law enforcement to make sure truck rules are dealt with uniformly throughout the state.

Also taking effect Sunday is a law that addresses sand, gravel, and crushed stone hauls. The new rule extends the temporary increased weight limit for such loads in coal counties to January 2013.

The expiration date, which has been updated for the past eight years, had been sent for July 1.

One more new law authorizes a program dubbed “Troops to Trucks.”

Intended to ease the transition from military duty to driving truck stateside, the DMV is required to consider applicants’ military training and experience in reviewing their eligibility to receive a Virginia CDL.

The rule allows service personnel returning from duty to exchange their military CDL for a state-issued CDL without the need for a written or a skills test.

A similar exception is being made in Iowa. Military personnel and veterans licensed in the state are allowed to obtain a CDL without taking the driving test. However, the written portion of the test is not waived.

Affected applicants must be on active duty or separated honorably within the past 90 days.

Editor’s Note: Please share your thoughts with us about the story topic. Comments may be sent to state_legislative_editor@ooida.com