The American Soybean Association (ASA) joined the Safer Hauling & Infrastructure Protection (SHIP) coalition efforts to improve trucking efficiency through modernization of truck weight limits on federal interstates.

ASA supports expanding truck weight limits on federal interstates to a minimum of 91,000 pounds with the addition of a sixth axle. ASA joined other organizations on a letter encouraging the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2018 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriations bill to create a voluntary program under which 10 states could opt-in to allowing 91,000 pound, six-axle, bridge formula compliant trucks on Federal Interstate Highways within their borders.

This pilot program would provide additional safety data that could support nation-wide adoption of increased truck weights in the future.

To enable carriers to recoup the investment of an additional axle, the proposed pilot program would be for 15 years, which is the average life span of a commercial trailer. As the letter indicates, such a pilot will provide critical information that is currently lacking, but necessary to determine if significant benefits affiliated with this configuration can be realized in a way that preserves or enhances the safety our nation’s roads.

The full letter can be viewed here and more information on the SHIP coalition is available at here.