Arizona Gov. Douglas Ducey is helping commercial, over-the-road truck drivers by allowing licensed food vendors to sell food products at eight of the state's highway rest areas. The move is said to aid truck drivers who are otherwise unable to get fresh food from restaurants, which remain closed during the national COVID-19 emergency.

The executive order allows food vendors who are already operating under state licenses to apply for no-fee permits to sell food and non-alcoholic beverages at the Department of Transportation rest areas.

"We want to ensure we're doing everything we can to support the truck drivers who are working long hours to keep our grocery stores stocked and our medical professionals equipped," Ducey said in a prepared statement.

Arizona food truck owners can visit azdot.gov/permits and click on the "encroachment permits tab" to get more information and apply for the no-fee permit. These permits are valid for 30 days.

Rest stops on I-17, I-40, and I-10 are included in the governor's order.

In a recent action, the governor ordered two rest areas in northern Arizona to be reopened for commercial truck use. Furthermore, the governor raised weight limits for commercial trucks hauling supplies for the coronavirus relief effort to 90,000 pounds. The standard federal weight limit for commercial vehicles is 80,000 pounds.