The state of Virginia now has a new law granting a log truck weight variance of up to 90,000 pounds gross (with the purchase of a permit), due to the excellent wok of VFA, VFPA, and VLA; this is similar to North Carolina’s law.
Increasing federal truck weight limits on interstates (vs. state highways) is much more difficult to achieve, due to the challenge of obtaining bipartisan Congressional support. Legislators appear anxious to pass a new highway/transportation bill and seem hesitant to slow down a highway reauthorization bill by adding in truck weight changes.
Perhaps our industry should propose more state pilot projects, similar to the program in Maine and Vermont, where higher truck weights are currently allowed on interstates.
The American Loggers Council has initiated a bill that proposes to extend every state’s current log truck weight variances to the respective interstates, is also supported by FRA. Even a blanket federal law that allows state variances to apply just where federal interstates and U.S. highways run together for the same stretch of pavement would be helpful.
The following Internet address (cut-&-paste) is a press release that details research findings on increased truck weight paired with an additional axle:
http://transportationproductivity.org/templates/files/ctp-dot-tech-findings-statement.pdf
