Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/588174
CHANGING LANES 18 NOVEMBER 2015 // WWW.CHANGINGLANESDIGITAL.COM Capitol Hill Report One key factor that could stymie regulatory activity, however, even if temporarily, is the needed Senate confirmation for nominated FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling, Sandberg said. Darling likely won't take action on big regulations until after the Senate has confirmed him, she said, and his looming nomination could also be the reason a Final Rule to mandate electronic logging devices has been delayed to the end of October, she said. House bill would increase Interstate weight limit to 91,000 pounds By Matt Cole U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wisc.) introduced on September 10 the latest version of his Safe, Flexible and Efficient Trucking Act (Safe Trucking Act), which would give states the flexibility to allow 91,000-pound trucks with six axles on U.S. Interstate highways within their borders. "Having the sixth axle is critical to weight displacement and braking power," Ribble said. "The interstates are the safest and most efficient places for trucks to move." He added that, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's recent Truck Size and Weight Study, a 91,000-pound configuration would be suitable for the current Interstate system, resulting in no additional rehabilitation costs for the roads or bridges. John Runyan, executive director of the Coalition for Transportation Productivity, said most states already allow trucks that weigh more than 80,000 pounds to travel on state and county roads. "It's also important to recognize that more than 90 percent of states allow trucks which are heavier than the federal weight limit to travel on state roads, often on just five axles," Runyan said. "The Safe Trucking Act gives these states a critical opportunity to promote the use of safer, six-axle vehicles while transitioning heavier traffic to more capable Interstate highways for at least a portion of their route. Paired with the U.S. DOT's ability to require even more safety technology, the Ribble, at a press conference on Thursday, said increasing the weight limit to 91,000 pounds with six axles would increase the industry's productivity by increasing capacity. It would also reduce congestion and boost safety, he said.