Trucking groups are asking Congress for a pilot program on increased weights

Hauling cattle could soon get easier. The House Transportation Committee is looking at a pilot program that would test increased truck weights.

NCBA says it would be a win for truckers, but some are pushing back.

“It would be a state opt-in, so there would be no mandates, but states that wanted to participate certainly could, and I think that would go a really long way to assist us as we move forward in this truck weight space,” said Allison Rivera.

Some groups spoke out against the proposal, saying bigger and heavier does not mean safer. Aside from weights, groups are also asking for lawmakers to address parking issues, saying there is now one safe place to pull over for every 11 trucks on the road.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

USMEF’s Jay Theiler discusses his leadership role in representing U.S. beef and pork and provides an update on this week’s conference in Indianapolis.
Manure from a hog farm is more than just waste; it is also becoming a key renewable resource for operations.
As economic pressures continue to squeeze agriculture, ag lenders are signaling a more cautious outlook for farm profitability heading into next year, particularly among grain producers facing lower commodity prices and higher operating costs.
Longtime MLF pro angler Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis shares how he and Jeff Sprague of Team YETI are preparing for the Team Series Summit Cup.
USDA released the November WASDE Report on Friday, the first supply-and-demand estimate to drop since September, just before the 43-day government shutdown.
U.S. Trade officials announced new deals with El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Argentina, as well as a steep reduction in tariffs on Swiss imports.