TCA changes stance to favor higher truck weights

user-gravatar Headshot

The Truckload Carriers Association has changed its position on federal maximum truck weights and now supports increasing the allowable weight from 80,000 to 88,000 pounds.


The association amended its weight policy Oct. 16 in favor of supporting the hike on any five-axle tractor-trailer combination, said TCA Chairman John Kaburick.


The association based the decision on a need for increased productivity and to cope with the driver shortage. The 88,000 pound limit is close to the Canadian federal limit, Kaburick said.


The American Trucking Associations and National Private Truck Council, along with the Coalition for Transportation Productivity, are campaigning for increasing truck weight limits on federal interstate highways for trucks equipped with a sixth axle. The change would result in fewer trucks on the road, which would create less emissions and traffic congestion, the advocates said.

Norita Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said OOIDA has remained against increases, and productivity can be improved only if loading and shipping time problems are dealt with.  

“Relaxing weight limit restrictions would not address any of the problems cited by proponents,” Taylor said. “The supposed driver shortage is actually a problem of high turnover.” 

New
Overdrive's Load Profit Analyzer
Know your costs? Compute the potential profit in any truckload, analyze per-day and per-mile breakouts, and compare real offers on multiple loads or game out hypothetical rate/lane scenarios. Enter your trucking business's fixed and variable costs, and load information, to get started.
Try it out!
Attachments Idea Book Cover

Maine and Vermont have pilot programs, due to expire in December, that allow trucks  weighing up to 100,000 pounds to operate on the states’ Interstate Highway System.

Congress received the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2010, or S. 3705, on Aug. 4, which was referred to committee with two co-sponsors. It would allow trucks weighing up to 97,000 pounds operate on Interstate Highways if equipped with a sixth axle.

Last year, its companion bill, H.R.1799, was introduced and referred to committee with 54 co-sponsors.



Looking for your next job?
Careersingear.com is the go-to platform for the Trucking industry. Don’t just find the job you need; find the job you want with the company that wants you!
Pride & Polish
Overdrive’s annual Pride & Polish virtual truck show attracts entries from across the nation showcasing show-quality design, mechanical ingenuity and plenty of trucking-business pride. Find recent-history awards shows, in-depth features about the winners, and more.
Read More
Pride & Polish Promo Image