Productivity coalition applauds passage of Maine pilot for heavier trucks

The provision must now be approved by a House Senate conference committee before it can take effect.

The Trucker News Services

9/18/2009

WASHINGTON —  The Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP), an advocacy group of more than 100 shippers and allied associations dedicated to responsibly increasing federal weight limits on interstate highways, today applauded the U.S. Senate for passing legislation enabling Maine to conduct a one-year pilot program allowing 100,000-pound, six-axle trucks on interstates within the state.

The provision by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, included the provision in the FY 2010 appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which passed Thursday.

“Sen. Collins’ program will make Maine’s roads safer and greener by allowing producers to consolidate freight on fewer trucks and minimize both their fuel use and emissions,” CTP Executive Director John Runyan, said. “The heavier weight limit will reduce risk by giving trucks access to a multi-lane interstate system engineered for heavy commercial vehicles, and the ability to leave the rural roads they are currently forced to use.

“This pilot program will also allow Northeastern producers to more efficiently export goods to Canada, a country that already allows trucks to carry more weight. Manufacturers feeling the economic pinch can reduce their shipping costs and preserve valuable jobs.”

The provision must now be approved by a House Senate conference committee before it can take effect.

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