WASHINGTON -- More than 100 American industry associations and individual companies have launched a coalition asking Congress to raise the truck weight limit in the U.S.

The Coalition for Transportation Productivity, which includes the American Trucking Associations, National Private Truck Council, the Agricultural Transportation Efficiency Coalition and big companies like Kraft Foods, supports the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009, which would increase the weight limit on Interstate highways.

"America's freight transportation infrastructure is on the verge of becoming overwhelmed over the next decade," said CTP Co-Chair John Runyan. "Freight hauled by trucks in the U.S. is expected to double by 2025, and truck traffic is growing 11 times faster than road capacity.

"(The Coalition) wants Congress to responsibly reform truck weight limits with proper safeguards to allow the same amount of freight to be carried on fewer trucks, which will improve the efficiency of our interstates, reduce fuel use, and curb emissions."

Introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine, the Act allows individual states to increase their interstate six-axle vehicle weight limits to 97,000 pounds. Without changing the size or length of the truck, the additional axle would maintain braking capacity and the current distribution of weight per tire while minimizing pavement wear. The bill also imposes a user fee for six-axle units that would fund vital bridge repair.

"A proposal like H.R. 1799 would reduce the number of vehicle miles and overall number of trucks needed to deliver a specific amount of freight, making roads safer while cutting fuel and emissions by as much as 19 percent for each ton carried," added Runyan.

In 2001, the United Kingdom raised the gross vehicle weight limit for six-axle trucks to 97,000 pounds. Since then, the coalition notes, fatal truck-related accident rates have declined by 35 percent. More freight has been shipped, while the vehicle miles traveled to deliver a ton of freight declined.

-- via Truckinginfo.com