Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) launched a new online fuel transport permit system on Wednesday, July 1, to modernize the existing paper-based system that processed more than 106,000 import/export fuel permits in 2025.

The existing permit process requires every person who transports fuel into or out of the State to complete, maintain, and submit multiple paper copies of a permit, along with a paper bill of lading for each fuel shipment. When received by ARDOT, information from the permit and bill of lading is manually entered into a legacy system for tracking and documentation purposes.

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The new online system automatically issues an electronic import/export permit once the user completes and submits the required permit information. This system is designed to alleviate the administrative burden of maintaining and processing completed paper permits.

Key Benefits of the New Online Fuel Transport Permit System:

  • Streamlined Process: Permit information submitted online by carriers is automatically captured and stored in the system, reducing processing time and improving accuracy.
  • Improved Efficiency: The new online system significantly reduces the need for carriers to mail documents and decreases manual data entry.

Paper permits will continue to be available to carriers for events such as internet outages, device failures, or other technical difficulties. For now, ARDOT will continue to process completed paper permits in the legacy system.

However, carriers are strongly encouraged to begin using the new online system to take advantage of its streamlined processing and improved efficiency. Once the legacy system is retired by ARDOT, if a paper permit is used during fuel transport, users will enter the relevant information directly into the new online system within a designated timeframe after transporting the fuel.

The transition to an online system was made possible through a collaborative partnership among ARDOT, the Arkansas Oil Marketers Association, and representatives of the trucking industry. This enhancement reflects the ongoing commitment to improving operational efficiency and delivering more effective solutions for businesses and industry partners.

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