Skip to content

Bill Would Allow States to Raise Truck Weight Limits

A bill was introduced in the Senate Thursday that would put an end to the federal freeze on changes in truck sizes and weights, allowing states to allow 97,000-pound, six-axle rigs on their highways.

The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) is cosponsored by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The bill number is S. 747.

Like identical companion legislation pending in the House of Representatives, SETA gives each state the option to selectively raise interstate weight limits from 80,000 pounds to up to 97,000 pounds. The higher limit applies only to vehicles equipped with six axles instead of the typical five. The additional axle does not affect truck size, but it does allow shippers to safely use extra cargo space while maintaining, or improving, all safety and handling characteristics.

As Crapo pointed out in a statement, Idaho currently allows for 97,000-pound loads under special permitting and axle options. The SETA bill would allow other states the same option if axles are added to maintain safety and weight standards. Under present law, trucks heavier than 80,000 pounds are forced off the Interstate and onto local roads in some states.

“Businesses and consumers alike are concerned about high energy prices,” said Kohl. “We must do everything we can to lessen the shock of $100-per-barrel oil and $4-per-gallon gas, and we must reduce our usage of and dependence on foreign oil. This is a common sense bill that will save money for the American companies that make everyday products as well as the families that use them. I’ve heard from businesses across the state that have told me that lowering their fuel costs will increase their competitiveness and free up the money they need to create more jobs.”

The Coalition for Transportation Productivity, a group of more than 180 shippers and allied associations dedicated to responsibly increasing federal weight limits on interstate highways, praised the bill.

“SETA is a narrowly drawn bill that enables companies to move a given amount of product in fewer vehicles without adding more weight per tire or increasing stopping distances,” said CTP Executive Director John Runyan. “SETA is supported by a body of data collected from academic, state, federal and international experts who have evaluated or experienced this proposal and support the logic of the six-axle, 97,000-pound configuration as the new workhorse standard for the American truck fleet. Even though higher productivity, six-axle trucks are undeniably safe and more efficient, SETA still puts the decision into the hands of state officials, who are best equipped to determine if the configuration makes sense in their states.

“Trucking is a driving force for our economy and plays a critical role in moving raw materials and products from the field and factory to consumers,” continued Runyan. “By making truck shipments more sustainable, SETA is projected to make highways safer, cleaner and more efficient.”

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates that the trucking industry will haul 30 percent more tonnage in 2021 than it does today. If current weight restrictions remain the same, ATA estimates that our economy will require 18 percent more trucks on the road driving 27 percent more miles than they do now. SETA would help correct this imbalance by allowing shippers to safely reduce truckloads, fuel, emissions and vehicle miles traveled for each ton of freight shipped.

However, some truckload carriers are not in favor of the move, believing it would simply force them to purchase new equipment without being able to charge higher rates. In addition, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the railroad industry and many consumer safety groups oppose such a change.

The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, H.R. 763, was reintroduced in the House of Representatives in February by Reps. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) and Michael Michaud (D-ME).


For more information on this issue:

“Supporters of Higher Truck Weights Hope Now is Their Time,” Truckinginfo, December 2010

“Heavier-Rig Idea Advances,” Truckinginfo, June 2009

Printer Friendly Version
Email This Story
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Government/Regulations: Related News

4/8/2011 – Bill Would Allow States to Raise Truck Weight Limits

A bill was introduced in the Senate Thursday that would put an end to the federal freeze on changes in truck sizes and weights, allowing states to allow 97,000-pound, six-axle rigs on their highways….
More

4/7/2011 – CARB Offers Special Compliance Option for California On-Road Fleets

The California Air Resources Board announced an early action compliance credit for trucking fleets that install a particulate filter by July 1, 2011, or that make a commitment to purchase a particulate filter by May 1, 2011….
More

4/7/2011 – 2011 NAT GAS Act Introduced

The New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions of 2011, or NAT GAS, Act, was introduced Wednesday to provide incentives for the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel, the purchase of natural-gas-fueled vehicles, and the installation of natural gas vehicle refueling infrastructure….
More

4/6/2011 – ATA Points Out Outdated Rules to DOT

Responding to President Obama’s call to help reduce the regulatory burden on U.S. businesses, the American Trucking Associations highlighted nine outdated, obsolete or onerous rules that the Department of Transportation should reconsider….
More

4/6/2011 – CARB Makes Over $100 Million Available For Truck Clean-Up

The California Air Resources Board in coordination with six local air districts is offering $106 million in grant funding to help qualified diesel truck owners upgrade or replace their vehicles….
More

4/5/2011 – EPA Streamlines Aftermarket Natural Gas Conversion

The federal government just made it easier to convert cars and trucks to run on natural gas….
More

4/4/2011 – EOBR Mandate Reintroduced in Senate

Two senators have restarted last year’s effort to pass a bill that would mandate electronic onboard recorders on most trucks.

Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., reintroduced the Commercial Driver Compliance Improvement Act, a bill they offered last September but that expired at the end of the congressional session….
More

4/1/2011 – CVSA: Cutting Funding Will Weaken Commercial Vehicle Enforcement

As Congress looks for ways to cut the federal budget and deficit, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance warned a Congressional committee that funding commercial motor vehicle safety programs at lower than current levels would weaken state enforcement efforts. As a result, enforcement would be unable to maintain the progress that has been made and large truck-related injuries and deaths could tick upwards….
More

3/23/2011 – FHWA Launches New Bridge Safety Initiative

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a new bridge oversight initiative that will let the Federal Highway Administration more closely monitor how states are performing their bridge inspections and maintenance….
More

3/17/2011 – Senator Kerry Introduces Infrastructure Bank Bill

At a press conference Tuesday, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), announced legislation to create an infrastructure bank that would help close America’s widening infrastructure funding gap and create millions of American jobs in the next decade….
More

3/17/2011 – Ferro Explains FMCSA Approach to Mexican EOBR Decision

The U.S. plan to equip Mexican trucks with electronic recorders for driver logs would be a limited, temporary program undertaken because it’s the only way the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration can ensure that the Mexican trucks will be monitored, said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro….
More

3/11/2011 – Rep. Defazio Opposes Funding for Mexican EOBRs, Questions Authority to Grant Mexican Carriers Permanent Access

In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), expressed concern of U.S. DOT funding or EOBRs for Mexican carriers participating in the pilot program….
More

3/10/2011 – FMCSA, Small Carrier Groups Settle CSA Suit

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has settled a suit by three trucking associations over information published in the CSA program.

The agency said in the Wednesday announcement that it will change the way it displays CSA safety scores, in response to the carrier groups’ contention that the original plan was flawed and should have gone through a public-comment procedure….
More

3/9/2011 – ATA Asks PHMSA to Block Roadside Hazmat Package Inspections

The American Trucking Associations asked the Obama administration to prevent the opening and inspection of hazardous materials shipments along the roadside, unless it is believed the shipment poses an imminent danger or does not comply with the hazardous materials regulations….
More

3/4/2011 – Retailers Say Shorter Hours for Truck Drivers Would Increase Costs and Congestion

The National Retail Federation told federal transportation officials this week that a proposal to limit the number of hours truck drivers spend behind the wheel each day would increase costs for businesses and consumers…
More

3/4/2011 – CARB Nears End of 90-Day Grace Period on 2003 TRUs

Owners of 2003-model-year transport refrigeration units have until the end of this month to meet new California Air Resources Board standards….
More

3/3/2011 – Bipartisan Group Urges Administration to Abandon Proposed HOS Changes


A bipartisan group of Congressmen and Senators called on the Obama administration to abandon its controversial hours-of-service proposal and retain the current safety rules.

“The rules currently in place are working well and do not need to be changed,” 122 representatives wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood….
More

3/2/2011 – Texting Ban Announced for Hazmat Drivers

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a final rule this week prohibiting texting on electronic devices by drivers transporting hazardous materials….
More

3/2/2011 – GAO Study Examines Societal Costs of Transportation Modes

A study by the Government Accountability Office finds that shippers do not pay the full societal cost of freight service in any mode, but particularly in trucking.

External trucking costs, such as accidents, pollution and congestion, are six times greater than similar costs created by railroads and at least nine times greater than those created by waterways, GAO said in its report to the House Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures….
More

3/2/2011 – Cost of CSA Will Rise as Program Ramps Up

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration created and launched its new CSA safety enforcement program with a small number of staff, outside contractors and existing budget, but now that the program is ramping up it will require considerably more resources, said the Government Accountability Office….
More

3/1/2011 – ATA Challenges Research in Hours of Service Proposal

The American Trucking Associations is upping its campaign against the Federal Motor Carrier Administration’s proposed changes to the hours of service rule.

ATA asked a researcher whose work the agency cites in support of the proposal to review the agency’s findings. Prof. Francesco Cappuccio, an epidemiologist at the Warwick Medical School in Coventry, U.K., replied that the work he participated in does not support the agency’s conclusions….
More

2/28/2011 – FMCSA Expands Pre-Employment Screening Program

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration added a new feature to the screening program that gives carriers a look at the history of a driver who is applying for a job.

The agency is making data available on co-driver safety and post-crash violations, in addition to the roadside inspection and crash records that employers already can see. …
More

2/25/2011 – CARB to Hold Free Seminars on Truck Emissions Rules

The California Air Resources Board will hold a free daylong seminar in Fresno on March 26 to help truck owners meet new rules for diesel trucks and learn about available government grants and funding….
More

2/24/2011 – ATA Supports Proposed Ban on Hand-Held Phone Use by Drivers


The American Trucking Associations announced its support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed prohibition on the use of hand-held mobile phones, though it urged the agency to allow the use of hands free devices, citing agency research demonstrating the net safety benefits of such devices….
More

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )
Join over 3.000 visitors who are receiving our newsletter and learn how to optimize your blog for search engines, find free traffic, and monetize your website.
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.
Tax, Accounting, Consulting - Emil Estafanous, CPA, CFF, CGMA