House to vote on highway bill’s proposed truck amendment

A proposed amendment to a $325 billion highway funding bill that’s being considered by the House has been cleared for a vote on the floor of the lower chamber, reports The Hill.

The amendment will let states decide whether they want to allow heavier trucks on their roads. According to The Hill, the amendment, from Reps. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and David Rouzer (R-N.C.), would allow states to decide whether they want to increase the current limit of 80,000 lbs. for cargo trucks to 91,000 lbs.

Trucking companies have argued that increasing the truck weight limit would increase the amount of cargo that can be shipped without requiring drivers to work extra hours. However, safety advocates argue that heavier truck loads would make trucks more likely to crash.

According to The Hill, the sponsors of the amendment said allowing the states to decide for themselves would end the standoff between truck companies and safety advocates.

“The SAFE Trucking Act will help us safely move more of the things Americans want with fewer trucks taking up space on the road, and it is based on data to ensure that truck stopping times and pavement wear are as good or better than our current trucks,” says Ribble. “When we can increase efficiency, decrease traffic, and make everyone safer in the process, that is a win, and the SAFE Trucking Act is able to help us achieve all these objectives.”

Safety advocates also argue an increase in truck weight limits could damage U.S. infrastructure.

“The added truck weight will further destroy precious national infrastructure and cost taxpayers dearly,” says Ed Hamberger, president of the Association of American Railroads.