Rep. Reid Ribble's Legislation Would Allow Heavier Commercial Trucks to Hit the Road
State officials would be authorized to allow heavier commercial trucks on their roadways under legislation Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.) introduced Sept. 10.
Under the “Safe, Flexible, and Efficient Trucking Act,” states would be able to choose to increase weight limits for trucks from 80,000 pounds — the standard weight limit for interstate highways — to 91,000 pounds.
The legislation also would authorize Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to require such heavier vehicles to “include one item of additional equipment not otherwise required by law,” which would mean various safety features.
“For me, it’s not just about productivity, but it’s the increased safety that we get by having fewer trucks moving more product in a safer manner,” Ribble told reporters.
“What I do expect is for the U.S. competitiveness, particularly global competitiveness, to increase for businesses in Wisconsin, in particular, to be able to move product at a lower cost,” he added.
Ribble, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he plans to offer his legislation as an amendment to whatever long-term highway bill the panel takes up this month. He said the panel plans to mark up a policy highway bill Sept. 17.
