Senators introduce companion to House bill to allow states to increase truck weight
Like identical companion legislation now pending in the House of Representatives, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act would permit state DOTs to raise interstate weight limits within their states to 97,000 pounds for trucks equipped with six axles instead of five.
The Trucker News Services
8/5/2010
WASHINGTON — Three senators have introduced companion legislation to a House bill that would allow states to increase the weight limit of trucks on interstate highways.
Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Herb Kohl, D-Wis., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, S. 3705, in the Senate Thursday.
The bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
“This bipartisan legislation gives states the option to increase interstate truck weight limits in a safe manner so that we can get more goods from the farm or factory to consumers in fewer trips and fewer vehicle miles,” Crapo said in a prepared statement. “Many trucks now hit the federal weight limit with space left in their trailers. The Department of Transportation estimates that the use of six-axle trucks could save as much as $14.5 billion in shipping costs annually. SETA will also make U.S. goods more competitive in the global marketplace, as Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other countries already have higher weight limits.”
Like identical companion legislation now pending in the House of Representatives, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act would permit state DOTs to raise interstate weight limits within their states to 97,000 pounds for trucks equipped with six axles instead of five.
The Coalition for Transportation Productivity lauded the bill’s introduction.
“With freight increases in the forecast, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act would make roads safer, greener and more efficient – both now and in the future,” said CTP Executive Director John Runyan. “The American Trucking Associations estimates that the trucking industry will haul 30 percent more tonnage in 2021 than it does today. If current weight restrictions remain the same, that means our economy will require 18 percent more trucks on the road driving 27 percent more miles than they do now. The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act would ease the burden on our roads by adjusting weight limits to safely reduce the number of trucks required to ship a given amount of goods.”
The American Trucking Associations also supports the bill.
“ATA supports a number of reforms to federal truck size and weight regulations as part of our Sustainability Initiative,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “More efficient trucks, like those allowed under this legislation, will significantly reduce the trucking industry’s carbon output.”
Graves said existing restrictions on truck weight limits constrain the trucking industry's efforts to reduce crashes, lower our carbon footprint and help our customers to remain competitive in global markets.
“It is important to note that U.S. weight limits are the lowest in the developed world, putting American businesses at a distinct disadvantage,“ he said.
The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, H.R. 1799, was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Michael Michaud, D-Me., and Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio. It currently has 54 cosponsors.
The Trucker staff may be contacted to comment at editor@thetrucker.com.