PEORIA, Ill. — Last week’s defeat of U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble’s (R-Wis.) Safe, Flexible and Efficient Trucking Act disappointed more than 70 leading agricultural organizations that support legislation allowing individual states the option to permit semis to weigh up to 91,000 pounds with an additional axle.
Among those expressing dismay at the 187-236 rejection of Ribble’s proposed amendment to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act (H.R. 22) was Richard Sellers, senior vice president of legislative and rural affairs for the American Feed Industry Assoc. (AFIA).
"The Ribble amendment was the light at the end of the tunnel to our members, as full truck loads would improve efficiency when shipping commodities, while reducing the number of trucks on our interstate highways," Sellers said shortly after the Nov. 4 vote. "The feed industry will continue to press to bring about truck weight reform, and is confident this is not the last time this issue will arise on Capitol Hill."
Farmers’ advocacy and commodity groups encompassing nearly every facet of farming and ag transportation signed a Nov. 3 letter to Congress urging approval of the amendment, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Assoc., National Farmers Union, National Grain and Feed Assoc. and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. (NCBA).
"The NCBA is greatly disappointed in the members of Congress who opposed modernizing America’s transportation laws," the NCBA stated.
"The cattle industry relies on trucks for the safe, timely transportation of livestock from all corners of the country in order to keep up with the global demand for our product. The days of the cross-country cattle drive are over, and the livestock industry no longer utilizes the rail system.
"Despite the numerous objective science-based transportation studies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) own study, that support the increase of truck weights both on economical and safety principles, the House failed to vote on the side of science."
Without the amendment’s inclusion, the cattlemen’s group "strongly opposes" passage of H.R. 22.
The Ribble amendment would have had to overcome considerable obstacles to gain passage, conceded Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition and a backer of the amendment.
"While the Ribble amendment enjoyed the benefit of compelling facts, data and statistics on motorist safety, infrastructure wear and tear and cost savings and efficiency gains for agriculture and the broader economy, many opponents of the legislation simply conveyed to members of Congress that ‘bigger semis are more dangerous,’" Steenhoek noted.
"The inherent challenge for supporters of this amendment is that we needed to explain and persuade. Opponents, in many cases, simply needed to frighten and confuse."
According to the DOT’s Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study, six-axle semis can operate safely at 91,000 pounds while yielding significant truckload reductions, pavement wear savings and environmental benefits. The study also claims the 91,000 pound, six-axle configuration is compliant with federal bridge formula and would not cause increases in rehabilitation costs for interstate bridges.
Additionally, the Safe Trucking Act would require additional safety equipment for semis before states could allow them to operate. Ribble’s amendment would have allowed the U.S. transportation logistics chain to become more economical while improving motorist safety, decreasing road wear and tear and providing benefits to agriculture, Steenhoek said.
"If the amendment would have passed and been signed into law, the movement of soybeans, grain and many other freight would have been more efficient. Farmer competitiveness would have increased," he said. "Unfortunately, a majority in Congress did not embrace that opportunity."
Republicans voting in support of the amendment totaled 168, while 19 Democrats approved; 74 Republicans and 162 Democrats opposed it. For a full Congressional vote roll-call on the measure, see the results at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll588.xml
