The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently voted to include an amendment in the Invest in America Act that provides a 10% axle tolerance for tank trucks transporting dry bulk loads.
The amendment was introduced by US Rep Anthony Brown, a Democrat from Maryland, and supported by Rep Greg Pence, and Indiana Republican, in a bipartisan effort to provide relief to dry bulk stakeholders throughout the supply chain, according to the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).
It was introduced on behalf of a coalition of more than 130 partners representing major industries and employers from across the country, including agriculture, food and manufacturing, which are some of America’s most critical and essential industries.
“On behalf of the broad dry bulk coalition, I commend House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Peter Defazio, Rep Anthony Brown, and Rep Greg Pence for their critical support of our top legislative priority,” said Dan Furth, NTTC President. “Through their leadership, the bipartisan Brown Amendment was passed by the T&I committee … resulting in a significant victory for our coalition.
“NTTC dry bulk carriers extend their gratitude to these leaders, their professional staffs, and the many advocates that worked so hard to achieve this win in this particularly trying time for the nation’s economy.”
This amendment does not allow for any increase in the maximum weight or size of truckloads, NTTC said. It incorporates into current limits an axle tolerance to account for dry bulk shifting and settling during transportation. Dry bulk commodities such as grains, powders, and pellets tend to shift during loading, unloading and transportation, resulting in an uneven distribution within the trailer. This means that a truck that was compliant with all weight limitations at the beginning of its journey may find itself in violation of them at a later inspection, despite hauling the same load.
“As an active coalition participant and dry bulk carrier, I am extremely pleased with the inclusion of the dry bulk axle-tolerance amendment in yesterday’s Invest in America Act,” said Harold A Sumerford Jr, CEO of J & M Tank Lines in Birmingham AL. “This common-sense fix to a unique operating issue will ultimately improve highway safety and reduce congestion while providing substantive relief to the many stakeholders who work in this space for the betterment of the nation’s economy.”
The Invest Act is expected to pass the House and move to the Senate, where its prospects still are fluid, NTTC added. NTTC and the Dry Bulk Coalition will continue its joint efforts to make a 10% dry bulk axle tolerance into law.