Bulk Carriers Weigh in on How State Truck Weight Limits Determine Where They Haul
Nixa, MO (PRWEB) July 29, 2013 -- BulkLoadsNow.com, a leading website connecting shippers and carriers of dry and liquid bulk commodities, recently analyzed data of posted loads to examine possible trends of freight moved state to state dependent on gross weight allowances.
“Unlike other trucking segments, the bulk truck freight industry is primarily all paid on weight hauled and not flat rates or rates per mile,” said Jared Flinn, Operating Partner at BulkLoadsNow.com. “Different states have different weight limits creating lanes where trucking companies will move and not move loads. For example, most carriers that run in the Dakotas and Western States tend to stay in those states do to the higher weight limit regulations.”
North Central and Northwest states, like the Dakotas, Montana, Oregon, and Idaho allow up to 105K pounds gross compared to Central and Southeastern states that limit carriers to 80K pounds gross. The differing weight regulations create shipping lanes confined to specific states, restricting most carriers.
“Weight limits already affect the states we run in,” Art Pfluger, owner of Road Warriors Transportation Inc, told BulkLoadsNow. “If there are weight limits in a state but you have to have extra axles then that state typically is out of play for those of us that run OTR. The shippers want to load only those heavier trucks.”
For many carriers a regulated weight limit across all states, or dramatic changes state by state, could mean either an investment they can’t afford, or a loss of investment already made.
“Weight limits are a slippery slope, the states which have allowed heavy haul all along have a huge group of carriers that have spent a great deal of money putting equipment together, which limiting those weights would cause a financial hardship, if the FMCSA imposed an across the board 80000 lb weight limit.,” says Ron Ballenskey of Dawn Transportation. Pfluger has worry about what would happen if a regulation would be for heavier weight, “If they [FMCSA} do something it will require some kind of large investment, more axles, longer trailers…at this time there isn’t room for investment.”
Some states, such as Wisconsin, are currently proposing increasing weight limits http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=25467.
Discussions about bulk freight weight limits go beyond the investment and expense of carriers and shippers but also bring up concerns of roadways and safety. Ballenskey says,”If we limit the national weights to 80-85K, we can expect less wear on our highways and bridges, and I think the numbers would show carrier safety ratings would increase; while the number of trucks on the road would remain relatively the same; carriers that have limited themselves to certain regions because of weight restrictions would then be able to expand their area of service.”
There are several websites that list the weight limits per state such as America's Independent Truckers' Association, Inc., but encourage anyone to check with their state DOT.
About BulkLoadsNow.com
BulkLoadsNow.com is an online community of professionals in North American’s bulk freight industry. Our shipper members are transportation logistics managers of grain, fertilizer, aggregates, feed ingredients and all agriculture commodities. Our carrier members pull hopper bottoms, walking floors, end dump trailers, belt trailers, live floors, pneumatic and liquid tankers. We provide to our members the industry’s most innovative bulk freight solutions including an enhanced load board, database of all carriers in North America, instant communication tools, industry forums and news updates, and much more.
Jared Flinn, Bulk Loads Now, http://www.bulkloadsnow.com, 800-518-9240 2, [email protected]
Share this article