Senate Bill Would Apply Federal Weight Limits to More Highways

WASHINGTON — A bill introduced Tuesday in the U.S. Senate would prohibit states from increasing truck size and weight limits on the National Highway System.

The Safe Highways and Infrastructure Protection Act would apply federal weight limit of 80,000 pounds, which currently applies only to the Interstate Highway System, to NHS.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the Senate bill. Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) introduced identical legislation in the House of Representatives last month.

The bill is in contrast to one introduced by four Senators last month that would allow states to increase truck weights to 97,000 pounds.

American Trucking Associations blasted the new bill shortly after its announcement.

“The fact is, the trucking industry has never been safer,” ATA President Bill Graves said in a statement.

“Allowing states the flexibility to make decisions on more productive trucks would not only cut shipping costs during this fragile economic recovery, they would allow trucking to better utilize its safest, most efficient and greenest vehicles,” Graves said.