eNews • February 2012
Promoting a Cost-Effective, Reliable and Competitive Transportation System

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passes legislation without semi weight, size increases

In the early morning of Friday, Feb. 3, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act,” a $260 billion bill that proposes to fund transportation programs over five years.

The meeting started the morning of February 2 and lasted until just after midnight on the 3rd.  One of the amendments considered during the meetings would allow states to increase truck weight and size limits.

The proposal, strongly opposed by the Association of American Railroads, would have allowed states to raise truck weight limits to 97,000 pounds, up from the current 80,000-pound threshold.  States also could have allowed double- and triple-trailer trucks to travel over longer distances, as well as permit trucks weighing up to 126,000 pounds to travel on the interstate system for up to 25 miles.

The amendment removed the provisions from the bill and instead directed the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct a study of the impact of increased truck weight and size limits on U.S. highway and bridge infrastructure, as well as traffic safety.

In 2009, the soybean checkoff funded an analysis on the impact of heavier semis on motorist safety, infrastructure wear and tear, and the cost savings to the soybean industry.  The study compared a 97,000 lb, six axle semi configuration with an 80,000 lb, five axle configuration.  The study discovered a 97,000 lb semi would accommodate 183 additional bushels of soybeans per truck load.  Soybean farmers could expect $1.2 million in fuel savings when diesel prices are $2 per gallon and $2.5 million in savings when diesel is $4 per gallon.  The reduced number of deliveries could result in farmers gaining an entire day of productivity if semi weight limits are increased.  

Most importantly, the analysis showed the heavier semi – given the addition of a sixth axle – would not impose greater danger to fellow motorists or greater damage to the road.  

Every six years, the U.S. Congress reauthorizes legislation that determines the volume of spending, the recipients of that spending, and the revenue sources of that spending for the nation’s surface transportation system.  The proposal advanced out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on February 3 is only five years in length.  

The current surface transportation plan, the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU), had an expiration date of September 30, 2009.  Since Congress was unable to reach consensus on a new six year authorization, the current legislation has repeatedly been extended. The current extension expires on March 31, 2012.  

The infrastructure projects and overall plan stipulated by SAFETEA-LU are primarily financed by an 18.4 cent tax per gallon of gasoline purchased and a 24.4 cent tax per gallon of diesel fuel.  This arrangement has proven to be unsustainable in adequately funding our nation’s surface transportation needs.  As a result, new funding mechanisms for the next surface transportation bill are being explored and debated.  Finding a sustainable method of funding our surface transportation system remains the primary point of friction in advancing a new surface transportation bill.  


The Soy Transportation Coalition is comprised of thirteen state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board. The National Grain and Feed Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association serve as ex-officio members of the organization.

Soy Transportation Coalition
1255 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy., Ankeny, Iowa 50023
Phone: (515) 727-0665 Fax (515) 251-8657
Email msteenhoek@soytransportation.org
Web www.soytransportation.org

Funded by the Soybean Checkoff