COLUMBUS, Ohio—With the coronavirus crisis making it hard for truckers to find food on the road, the Ohio Department of Transportation is now allowing food trucks to set up shop at the state’s 86 rest areas.

Selling food or other commercial activity at Interstate highway rest areas is usually banned under federal law. However, federal highway officials last week gave states permission to allow food trucks to operate at rest areas until President Donald Trump lifts his declaration of a federal emergency.

Ohio and other states have closed all restaurants except for carry-out and delivery service. That presents a problem for truck drivers, as their vehicles are often too big for drive-thru lanes or fast-food parking lots, said ODOT spokesman Matt Bruning.

To set up shop at a rest area, food truck operators must first obtain a free permit through ODOT’s website. Among other things, the permit requires that food-truck workers must obey all social-distancing guidelines, such as avoiding close contact with others and covering their mouths and noses.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will regularly check to ensure a food truck has a permit posted, Bruning said.

In addition, food trucks will not be allowed to sell pre-packaged snacks or drinks other than coffee. That’s because ODOT doesn’t want food trucks to take sales away from rest-area vending machines, which under state law are usually operated by visually impaired merchants.

Bruning said ODOT won’t make arrangements to deploy food trucks to specific rest areas, as the food-truck industry already coordinates locations.

“Truck drivers are the lifeblood of the economy and their jobs have never been more critical than now,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement. “I’ve heard from many in the trucking industry that finding a place to eat while they’re on the road has been tough, but we’re here to help.”

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