Pending expected approval from Gov. Butch Otter and the state Legislature, Idaho truckers soon will be carrying loads of up to 129,000 pounds, bringing them in line with those from neighboring Nevada and Utah.
Idaho has been stuck at 105,500 pounds since the imposition of the Long Commercial Vehicle freeze in 1991, but Rep. Mike Simpson inserted a provision governing the exemption in the omnibus funding bill that passed Congress and was signed by President Obama on Dec. 18.
“This change has long been sought by the state of Idaho because it will remove the competitive disadvantage … and will be a major generator of economic activity,” Simpson said. “By ensuring that Idaho’s vehicle laws match those of its neighboring states, Idaho can more efficiently play a larger role in transferring goods without impacting road safety.”
As Simpson noted, the higher weight limit will require trucks to have more axles, which actually will reduce the weight that each axle bears and likely will reduce the number of trucks on Idaho’s roads.
“This is a really big deal for us,” said Julie Pipal, president of the Idaho Trucking Association, one of about 80 organizations that has pushed for the increased weight limit. “It levels the playing field. We have a limited amount of drivers with expectations of moving [increasing amounts of] freight, when you can add more weight to a safer vehicle, it’s a no-brainer.”
But Pipal said that not every trucking company in Idaho will be quick to purchase new trailers, which she estimated will cost about $40,000 apiece.
“There won’t be an explosion of 129,000-pound vehicles on Idaho’s roads, but we’ll be able to create corridors of commerce to connect agriculture with processing and shipping,” said Pipal, who cited sugar beets, potatoes, grain and wood products as the goods mostly likely to comprise the increased truckloads in Idaho.
If the rise to 129,000 pounds goes through, only neighboring Montana (137,800), New York (143,000) and Michigan (164,000) will have higher weight limits than Idaho. Arizona, Iowa and South Dakota are at 129,000.
