Safe Trucking Act would mean more efficient grain transportation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2015– The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) said it supports the Safe, Flexible, and Efficient Trucking Act, introduced today by Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wis., which would allow states to increase truck weight limits on federal highways.

Under the bill, states could increase truck weight limits on Interstate System highways within their borders to 91,000 pounds as long as those trucks are equipped with an additional sixth axle. The federal weight limit for Interstate highways has been set at 80,000 pounds since 1982.

“Federal highway truck weight limits currently are lower than most state road weight limits, and this inconsistency presents obstacles to efficient movement of U.S. grains,” said NGFA Director of Economics and Government Relations Max Fisher. “Congressman Ribble’s bill would improve this situation, taking better advantage of our Interstate highway system infrastructure while still protecting highway safety.”

The Safe, Flexible, and Efficient Trucking Act would allow trucks to carry an additional 11,000 pounds of weight on federal highways while adhering to U.S. Department of Transportation safety guidelines.

NGFA said it would welcome the inclusion of Ribble’s legislation in multi-year surface transportation legislation. Funding for surface transportation projects expires at the end of October. To see more of NGFA’s priorities in a multi-year highway bill, click here.

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The NGFA, established in 1896, consists of more than 1,050 grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 7,000 facilities and handle more than 70 percent of all U.S. grains and oilseeds. Its membership includes grain elevators; feed and feed ingredient manufacturers; biofuels companies; grain and oilseed processors and millers; exporters; livestock and poultry integrators; and associated firms that provide goods and services to the nation’s grain, feed and processing industry. The NGFA also consists of 26 affiliated State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations, and has strategic alliances with Pet Food Institute and North American Export Grain Association.