While partisan congressional infighting appears to have delayed the passage of a new Farm Bill until next year, there is still time for Congress to take a small, but meaningful, step forward to help the dairy industry bring its products to market more efficiently.
Last year, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation to establish a voluntary pilot program that would allow participating states to raise the truck weight limit on federal interstate highways in their jurisdictions from 80,000 pounds on five axles to 91,000 pounds on six axles. Current truck weight limits have not been adjusted since 1982 despite major advancements in vehicle safety and road paving technology.
An increase in the allowable truck weight limit would be particularly beneficial to the dairy industry. This is because dairy products tend to be heavier or more dense than other manufactured products, which means that trucks used to transport dairy goods usually hit the weight limit well before they are full. Increasing the truck weight limit on interstate highways would enable our industry to transport the same amount of product in fewer trips.
The result would be a reduction in the number of trucks on the road, safer highways and lower costs for consumers. In a recent study conducted by a dairy economics firm, it was estimated that a modest increase in truck weights would result in more than 105,000 fewer dairy truck trips annually, saving the industry more than $200 million.
Some members of Congress have expressed concern that raising the current truck weight limit will make our roads less safe. We disagree. Many states already allow heavier trucks to operate on state and local roads. Allowing those same trucks to operate on interstate highways would likely mean fewer trucks on smaller roads, which tend to service communities, schools and local businesses.
Secondly, the bill that the House Committee approved last year would require an additional sixth axle for truck participation in this state opt-in pilot program. This means there will be an extra set of brakes on participating trucks, which the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has found would allow the trucks to stop over a shorter distance than the current five-axle configurations.
Additionally, the sixth axle improves weight distribution on the truck by reducing per axle weight, thereby protecting the investments that have been made in our country’s roads and bridges. Studies conducted by the USDOT and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have shown potential cost savings in pavement maintenance along with a decrease in the overall number of truck trips.
Even if you still aren’t sure that the benefits of heavier trucks outweigh the detriments, keep in mind that the legislation Congress is currently considering would sunset after five years. The real goal of the bill is to allow USDOT to collect meaningful data that can help the Department better understand the potential impact a truck weight limit increase would have on highway safety before deciding whether to raise current weight limits across the country.
If you agree with us that it’s past time for Congress to give states the option to participate in a truck weight pilot study, please encourage your Members of Congress to support this legislation. You can do this easily by visiting the IDFA campaign center (https://www.idfa.org/dairycounts/campaigncenter) to send a customizable email message to your representative asking her or him to vote in favor of the bill.
Working together as an industry, we can get this bill across the finish line this year and ensure that dairy products are transported in the safest, fastest, least expensive and most environmentally friendly manner possible.
