A coalition of about 200 shippers backing the use of heavier trucks launched a video campaign to build support for truck size and weight legislation.
The Coalition for Transportation Productivity said its video aims to rally support within the transportation industry for the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act. The shipper group is accelerating its lobbying campaign as Congress struggles to break the deadlock over long-term transportation spending legislation.
“Shipping costs are on the rise, and available truck capacity has dropped by 16 percent since 2008,” said John Runyan, executive director of the shipper coalition.
SETA, introduced in both the House and Senate, would allow states to raise Interstate truck weight limits from the current 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds.
Under SETA, heavier trucks would have to be equipped with six axles instead of five. The trucks themselves would not be bigger, but would have greater capacity. But the CTP faces stiff opposition from the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, which backs a competing bill, the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Protection Act.
The CABT includes consumer advocates, railroads, independent truckers, AAA and police organizations. The SHIPA bill would maintain the current weight limit.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wbcassidy_joc
