Rep. Reid Ribble’s Truck Weight Amendment Fails
WASHINGTON — The House on Nov. 3 rejected an effort by Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.) aimed at allowing states to increase weight limits for trucks.
By a vote of 187 to 236, Ribble’s amendment to a multiyear highway bill on the House floor was not adopted. Under Ribble's proposal, states would have been authorized to determine whether to allow an increase in truck weight limits to 91,000 pounds.
The current standard weight limit for interstate highways is 80,000 pounds. Ribble’s amendment was co-sponsored by Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.).
Since pushing his provision in September, Ribble did not garner significant backing from the chamber's Republican leaders. The proposal also had been criticized by key members. During the highway bill’s floor debate on Nov. 3, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said such a provision did not belong in a bill seeking bipartisan support.
The House will continue to take up amendments to the highway reauthorizing bill on Nov. 4. Passage is expected by the end of the week, the bill’s floor managers say.
