"The trucking industry is reeling from the high costs of diesel," said Michaud.  "Maine truckers and small businesses are shutting down because of these high costs.  While there are a number of things that we could do to help, one that wouldn't cost anything, but that could help a lot, is instituting an equitable truck weight policy in America."

Currently, most of Maine's Interstate highways are subject to the federally mandated truck weight limit of 80,000 pounds. However, Maine's state limit is 100,000 pounds - and it would be difficult to lower it due to the demands of Maine's major industries, especially forest products, and the through traffic from the surrounding states and Canadian provinces which all have 100,000 pound limits on all of their roads. 

"I have been working on this issue for years, and I know very well that Maine's industries and trucking companies are not alone in their struggle," said Michaud.  "I was pleased that trucking representatives at the hearing today went on the record in favor of increasing truck weight limits, like those on Maine's Interstate north of Augusta.  The witnesses pointed out that by changing weight limits nationally, truckers and shippers alike would benefit.  Larger loads shipped on highways without a patchwork of different truck weight limits would yield more efficient loads by bringing down shipping costs and the amount of overall fuel consumed."

This is the second time in recent weeks that Michaud has raised the truck weight issue before his colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  On April 23rd, at a subcommittee hearing on rail capacity, Michaud asked Evan Hayes, Chairman of the Idaho Barley Commission, about our nation's current truck weight policies.