Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced legislation on Wednesday to increase the efficiency of interstate truck transportation. The bill, titled the "Safe and Efficient Transportation Act," is also sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and is a companion bill to H.R. 1799 in the House of Representatives.

The bill, S. 3705, aims to improve the efficiency and safety of milk and dairy product hauling. It would raise the weight limit for commercial vehicles from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds and add a sixth axle. The result would be reduced emissions because fewer trucks would be needed to carry a given amount of freight.

The bill also would raise funds for highway bridge improvements and allow states to consider local factors and implement targeted weight limits on interstates within their borders.

The language of the Senate bill is the same as its House counterpart, which currently has 53 bipartisan cosponsors.

"This bill is very important to dairy processors and producers because it will create safer, greener and more efficient highways," said Ruth Saunders, IDFA vice president for policy and legislative affairs.

IDFA is a member of the Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP), a group of associations and companies that advocate increasing the federal weight limits on interstate highways. Transportation productivity was a featured policy issue at the 2010 Washington Conference, and IDFA members have been actively supporting the legislation.

To learn more about S. 3705 and H.R. 1799, contact Saunders at (202) 220-3553 or rsaunders@idfa.org.