Reid Ribble: “We are facing a capacity crunch in the United States today. Overall freight tonnage is projected to increase by 25…”

“We are facing a capacity crunch in the United States today. Overall freight tonnage is projected to increase by 25 percent over the next decade. Our Federal truck weight policy is two decades old, and it must be updated if we are going to stay competitive with our trading partners, especially those in this hemisphere. My bipartisan amendment would give States the option of increasing truck weight limits on their interstate highways from 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds if those trucks add a sixth axle. I want to remind everyone it is an option, not a mandate, and it does not govern weight limits on State and local roads. Twenty-five of the 50 States, including my home State of Wisconsin, already allow heavier trucks on their State or local roads. So here we have an opportunity to move those trucks over to the interstate system, the safest place for trucks to travel. Under current laws, in many States, heavier trucks are forced to share smaller roads with moms and dads driving to work or taking their kids to school rather than on the interstate where they belong. The U.S. Department of Transportation found numerous safety and efficiency benefits for this configuration in their technical report of its truck size and weight study.…”