A proposal to allow trucks to haul more weight has passed the House and Senate, but will have to go to conference committee to work out differences between the two versions.
The measure, sponsored by State Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven) would allow trucks to haul up to 88,000 pounds of cargo up to 75 miles from the origin point on roads other than interstate highways, which are subject to federal restrictions. The current limit is 80,000 pounds. The bill passed the House 93-81 several weeks ago. Meeks represents Pierce County in the House.
The state Senate passed compromise legislation 44-5 last week. The Senate changed the materials that could be hauled and prohibits the extra weight inside metro Atlanta.
The changes between the House and Senate versions will have to be reconciled and voted on before the Assembly adjourns for the year later this week.
If a compromise version is passed, the bill will go to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk for his decision.
Meeks has said the bill aims to help Georgia farmers and loggers who have told lawmakers they need heavier trucks to reduce the number of loads they have to haul.
The agriculture and timber industries have used an executive order Gov. Brian Kemp signed in the early days of the pandemic three years ago allowing heavier trucks to help them stay in business. However, the executive order expired last week.
“I consider this bill to be a lifeline to the people I represent who provide food and fiber to the citizens of Georgia,” Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman Russ Goodman, R-Cogdell, told his Senate colleagues. Goodman represents Pierce County in the Senate.
While farmers and loggers have pushed for the bill, representatives of local governments, traffic safety advocates, and the Georgia Department of Transportation have argued a permanent exemption allowing heavier trucks would damage roads and bridges and cause more severe crashes.
“Putting grotesquely overweight trucks on the road is dangerous for all of us,” said Sen. Frank Ginn, R-Danielsville, who held management positions in several local governments before being elected to the Senate in 2010. “Not only does it destroy roads. It kills people.”
Story courtesy Dave Williams of the Capitol Beat News Service.
