Should Congress update U.S. transportation laws hauling weights?

The Fence Post: In Pursuit of Efficiency: Groups pushing for changes to livestock transportation laws.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association officials are lobbying Congress to update 25-year-old U.S. transportation laws governing hauling weights.

The organization is proposing the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2011 (H.R. 763) as part of any consideration of a new Highway Bill in 2014.

The legislative proposal gives states the option to increase truck-weight limits to 97,000 pounds with inclusion of a sixth axle on trucks. The additional axle maintains the current axle level with the current weight limit standard while maintaining the same braking capacity.

Kent Bacus, NCBA associate director of legislative affairs, says 80,000-pound load limits are incompatible with current livestock transportation needs.