Kraft Foods Shows Congress Truck Weight Reform is a Smart Delivery
Source: www.businessweek.com
New federal legislation presents a unique opportunity to safely improve the efficiency and sustainability of truck shipments. The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA), now pending in both the House and Senate, would give states the option to set interstate weight limits of up to 97,000 pounds for trucks equipped with a sixth axle. Without lengthening the truck, the sixth axle maintains braking and handling capabilities, with a slight decrease in the current weight per tire.
SETA is critical to making the shipment of heavy goods more efficient. Many trucks packed with weighty goods hit the 80,000-pound federal weight limit before the truck is fully loaded. That means these trucks leave the loading dock partially empty. Under SETA, however, shippers could safely utilize more space in their rigs — and avoid using more truckloads and fuel than necessary.
As the largest food company in the United States, Kraft Foods supports SETA because it would shrink our carbon footprint without compromising safety. About 40 percent of our trucks currently hit the weight limit with significant space left in the trailer. Under SETA, we could reduce the number of trucks we’re using by about 6 percent. That translates to 60,000 fewer loads and 33 million fewer vehicle miles traveled each year. And we could also eliminate 73,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Further, the U.S. DOT predicts that freight shipped by truck will dramatically increase over the next decade as our economy grows. By boosting the amount of freight each truck can safely carry, SETA will reduce the number of trucks and vehicle miles necessary to meet demand — and therefore make roads safer now and in the future. In fact, based on the findings of a 2009 Wisconsin Department of Transportation study, if a law like the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act had been in place in 2006, it would have prevented 90 truck-related accidents in the state that year.
SETA will no doubt improve safety records for U.S. shippers, lower their environmental profiles and save major companies tens of millions of dollars per year in shipping costs.
Please contact your members of Congress, and help us show them that SETA will make truck shipment safer, greener and more efficient. For more information about SETA and this truck weight reform effort, visit www.transportationproductivity.org.
Kraft Foods makes delicious foods consumers can feel good about in 150 countries around the globe and is a customer of Con-way Inc. Harry Haney also serves as chairman of the Coalition for Transportation Productivity, a group of over 160 shippers and related industry organizations advocating for the passing of SETA.
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Anyone working in the transportation industry, or a related industry that uses trucks as a mode of transportation for their products has seen this first hand. In the LTL industry we see partial trailers closed as full loads due to weight constraints on a daily basis. This is a great plan, but will have minimal impact unless states confer with their neighboring states and set comparable weight limits. My linehaul operation operates in parts of 5 different states and would by necessity have to restrict it's weight to the lowest state limit through which a particular linehaul schedule would pass. While this is not a huge problem, it would make sense to have the states set their limits based on other state limits in the same region so that carriers could maximize their laden schedule weight and reduce the total number of schedules. If some provision is not put in place to maximize loaded weight limits by region, then the real benefit is minimized for everyone. Heavier loads equals less total trucks on the road, reducing emissions and helping alleviate the current truck shortage.
Thanks for the thoughtful and insightful comment. Your points are well taken.
Your points are well taken. The key will be first getting this legislation passed on a national level and then shippers and carriers working state by state, illustrating the business case for opting in at the full 97,000 weight level to unlock the full potential in terms of safety, environmental and efficiency.
Harry Haney
Even though everyone these days espouses to be "Green" and wanting to help the environment, I see opposition before this comes to the point of an actual vote. Of course it will be organized labor who will oppose it because the battle cry will be "It eliminates jobs". We'll hear from citizens groups who argue that changing the limits will increase accidents and they'll give a hypothetical number -- one that can't be proven -- which projects increased death from heavier trucks.
Truth is, by dictionary definition, trucks are driven by professionals. You don't see them texting, putting on make up or reading the newspaper as they drive. They are fully aware of the physics related to speed and weight and what can happen if control is not maintained at all times.
The general public needs to understand that efficiencies are gained by allowing higher weights. In turn those monies gained by those efficiencies can be re-invested to grow the business and pay higher dividends to shareholders. That growth creates jobs. The referenced reduction in emissions is only one company. That is the selling point, in my opinion, jobs and the environment.
Greater productivity is required for the Transportation Industry if the industry is going to be able to provide our nation with the necessary resources to compete in the global marketplace. As often stated, it takes all modes of transportation to meet our nation's needs and to provide transportation services for all goods and materials to and from all communities.
I will add to the thoughts shared above; in consideration of technology gains, more and more finished goods and materials are constructed of lighter materials. Many products are in fact shrinking in size. Studies find that in about 10% of all truckload shipments, the vehicle combination used in the truckload environment will weigh-out before it cubes out. While it is vital for transportation productivity gains, including allowing weight limits that mirror current bridge weight-formulas, the industry must also be permitted to use more efficient vehicle combinations that support the reality of current and evolving shipment weight and size requirements, and how transportation equipment is utilized with these new requirements. Certainly, there are some constraints associated with safety equipment, driver training and credentialing, and the harmonization between states with respect to how state highways are designated for use by trucks.
As a country, we must adopt a transformational view of our transportation systems in order to improve environmental outcomes, reduce congestion and enable more efficient use of infrastructure by this vital industry.