(The Center Square) – A Virginia congressman has introduced legislation to reduce costs for farmers and loggers by improving supply chain efficiency through increasing the weight limit on interstate highways.
The Agricultural and Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act, introduced by Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., is the initial piece of legislation sponsored by the first-term congressman.
The federal weight allowance limit of 80,000 pounds on interstate highways does not apply to interstates, ultimately forcing them onto rural roads. McGuire says for Virginia, logging trucks are only allowed on rural roads. He says it creates a safety hazard, is less efficient and increases congestion.
The legislation would increase the federal maximum weight allowance to 90,000 pounds for trucks hauling agriculture and forest products. McGuire says the proposed legislation would decrease accident risks, protect local infrastructure and increase efficiency for farmers and foresters.
McGuire underscored the major economic impact the agriculture and logging industries have on Virginia while saying the bill is twofold for safety and economics.
“Agriculture and logging are two of the largest industries in the commonwealth of Virginia, combining for over $120 billion in annual economic impact,” he said. “For me, this is a safety thing. On one hand, this bill helps farmers and loggers feed and fuel this country by helping them move product across the commonwealth, directly from their farms to their processors. The logging and agriculture industries in Virginia rely on our high-speed highways to deliver their goods and services across the commonwealth.”
Scott Sink, president and CEO of the Virginia Farm Bureau, says the legislation will “greatly benefit” the economy by making it more efficient for haulers.
“The agriculture and forestry industries, and the economy as a whole, will greatly benefit from increasing the weight limits for haulers of unprocessed agriculture and forest products,” said Sink. “Increasing weight limits will make for greater efficiency, reduced truck traffic on rural roads, and alleviate hauling shortages during peak harvest seasons.”
In 2015, Virginia authorized a 90,000-pound weight limit for trucks hauling “unprocessed agriculture crops and raw forest products” on noninterstate highways.