The long-awaited federal Highway Reauthorization legislation is set to move forward this fall giving Congress the opportunity to modernize American truck weight limits and facilitate economic growth just when we need it most.

Lawmakers are expected to begin drafting the Reauthorization proposal, which will fund our transportation network for the next few years. In this bill, Congress will have the critical chance to include truck weight reform known as the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA), legislation now pending in both the House and Senate. SETA would give states the opportunity to allow more productive trucks on interstate highways within their borders.

Many trucks carrying heavier goods meet the current federal gross vehicle weight limit before they are fully loaded. The weight limit forces shippers to underutilize these trucks leading to more vehicles on the road, more miles traveled and more fuel used than we really need. SETA would help correct this inefficiency by allowing a properly equipped truck to carry more freight on the interstate.

Under SETA, states could set interstate weight limits of up to 97,000 pounds for single-trailer vehicles that are equipped with six axles instead of the typical five. The sixth axle compensates for the additional weight, allowing shippers and carriers to safely use more space inside each rig. This additional axle maintains — and even improves — current braking, handling and weight-per-tire characteristics for the truck, all of which improve the safety features of the truck.

Transportation Research Board (TRB) and U.S. DOT studies have both confirmed the fact that a six-axle truck traveling at 97,000 pounds maintains the same braking distance as one running at the current federal weight limit of 80,000 pounds with the current five axles. And because of the additional tires, a heavier six-axle rig puts even less weight per tire on the road.

If equipped with six axles, trucks can safely ship more freight and shippers and carriers can significantly reduce the vehicle miles traveled, as well as fuel and emissions necessary to get products to market. At Kraft Foods, about 40 percent of trucks currently hit the weight limit with significant space left in the trailer. SETA would allow the company to annually eliminate approximately 33 million vehicle miles traveled, more than six million gallons of fuel and 73,000 tons of carbon dioxide from its operations (EPA SmartWay calculations). And that's just one company.

So why make this change now? It's imperative that we use our infrastructure as productively as possible. That means more efficient shipping options. And reducing the amount of fuel needed per ton of freight helps us all as we look to better use our petroleum.

When it comes to truck weights, the United States is simply behind. America trails all other developed countries in cargo mass productivity. Our major trading partners, including many European countries and Canada, already employ trucks that can bear higher weights. We are simply at a competitive disadvantage because we can't move freight to market as efficiently. Considering the rapid population growth and the spike in tonnage shipped on our highways, it is imperative we act now.

Now is the time for lawmakers to bring the U.S. federal weight limit up to date. I hope you will join me and the Coalition for Transportation Productivity in asking Congress to include SETA in the Highway Reauthorization legislation. SETA will help U.S. shippers become more productive and reduce our carbon footprint in a way that is both safe for the motoring public and sustainable for our highways.

For more information about SETA and the truck weight reform effort, visit www.transportationproductivity.org.

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