Congress seems to be warming up to proposals for increasing truck weight limits nationwide, though by how much remains to be seen. Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME), for one, believes the broad, multi-industry effort seeking to raise commercial truck weight limits from 80,000 lbs to 97,000 lbs is not falling on deaf ears.

“The truck weight issue is getting a hearing because Congress is very much aware that it’s not only a jobs issue, it also saves fuel, reduces the impact on infrastructure, and most importantly saves lives,” he said at a news conference in Washington D.C. yesterday hosted by the Agricultural Transportation Efficiency Coalition (AGTEC).

“In my state, the main roads from Canada allow higher weights, so trucks coming from there cannot use the highways and must be diverted to secondary roads,” Michaud added. “That’s a safety issue. It’s also an economic competiveness issue when the countries we trade with can load their trucks to 100,000 lbs, while we are limited to 80,000 lbs. That’s why I’m encouraged by the willingness of Congress to be open about this issue.”

Continue reading ...