By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supporters of a bill designed to allow states to raise weight limits for trucks hope the legislation is included in a transportation reauthorization package expected out of the U.S. House later this year.
“There’s a lot of work still to do,” said John Runyan, executive director of the Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP). “Its fate is tied to the Highway Reauthorization Bill. This is the farthest weight limit reform has come in almost 30 years.”

The Safe & Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) was reintroduced earlier this year by Reps. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) and Mike Michaud (D-Maine). A similar bill was also reintroduced in the Senate by Michael Crapo (R-Idaho). Among co-sponsors of the Senate version is Robert Portman (R-Ohio).

Under SETA, states would be permitted to raise weight limits for trucks on interstate highways from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds. Trucks carrying additional weight would add an axle and four more tires, Runyan noted. The House Transportation Committee is expected to begin work on the highway bill after Congress returns from recess in September, Runyan added. Current weight limits for trucks can vary from region to region and state to state, he explained.

“It’s like a patchwork quilt today. We recognize it’s going to be a long process to smooth out the patchwork,” he said. Included in CTP’s members are several ag-related organizations and associations such as the National Potato Council, Agriculture Transporta-tion Coalition and the Fresh Produce Assoc.

Maintaining the current weight limit, established in 1982, is hurting the nation’s competitiveness, Schmidt said earlier this year, adding that Canada and Mexico have adopted higher limits.

SETA would also lower the cost of a variety of goods, including paper products and home construction, she noted.

The bill includes increased user fees for trucks carrying the additional weight, Runyan stated. The money would be returned to the states for bridge repair.
While some states might raise weight limits quickly if SETA becomes law, there would be no time limit or expiration date, Runyan said.

Critics of SETA have said its passage would mean more damage to the nation’s highways and bridges and increased costs to taxpayers to repair that damage.