IDFA joined nearly 200 of the nation’s top manufacturers, shippers, carriers and allied associations of the Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP) in sending a letter last week urging members of Congress to include the “Safe, Flexible and Efficient Trucking Act,” H.R. 3488, as an amendment to the Highway Reauthorization Bill when it goes before the full House of Representatives.

In its letter, the coalition outlined key safety features of the legislation, known as the SAFE Trucking Act, which would give states the flexibility to allow more productive, six-axle trucks on Interstate highways.

The dairy industry relies heavily on commercial trucks to get milk from the farm to plants and to move dairy foods from the plants to grocery shelves across the country. Because the products are perishable, they must move quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, outdated federal transportation rules now force trucks to leave plants when they are less than full because the trucks reach the current weight limit before they meet the capacity limit.

The coalition also shared positive data about the 91,000-pound, six-axle configurations found in the recent U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Truck Size and Weight Study. Among its findings, DOT concluded that more productive trucks lower congestion costs, fuel costs, and carbon and other emissions. They also found that vehicle stability and control are virtually unchanged on heavier six-axle vehicles. Truck weight reform would also reduce pavement costs significantly.

“The more than 200 members of CTP strongly encourage you to co-sponsor and support the SAFE Trucking Act,” the letter said. “The bill is a measured, reasonable approach to safely address the current capacity crunch, reduce costs and utilize fewer trucks to deliver a given amount of freight.”

IDFA continues to advocate for the inclusion of the Safe Trucking Act in the highway reauthorization bill, and expects the House will consider the reauthorization on the floor next week.

• Read the coalition’s letter to Congress here.

For more information, contact Chelsee Woodey, director of legislative affairs at IDFA, at cwoodey@idfa.org.