Feb 3, 2012Truck weight reform falls short
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) held a hearing of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, commonly known as the highway reauthorization bill. The hearing lasted 18 hours and resulted in a “marked up” version of the draft bill presented by Chairman John Mica, R-Fla.
The bill would have given states the option to increase the weight limit of trucks on federal interstates from a current limit of 80,000 pounds on five axles to 97,000 pounds on six axles.
An amendment passed by a vote of 33 to 22, removing the truck weight reform language and replacing it with a three-year study of the issue.
Despite the setback, National Potato Council announced that it will continue to work with its allies on a strategy to include permanent truck weight reform in the bill when it is considered on the House floor.
