Retailers Push for Increased Truck Weight Limits
WASHINGTON — Retailers are urging the Trump administration and lawmakers to consider raising truck weight limits as Congress begins to develop the upcoming highway bill.
In response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s request for policy priorities ahead of next year’s surface transportation reauthorization—set to expire in September 2026—the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) advocates for the “modernization” of federal truck weight limits.
“Allowing for greater truck weights, especially for vehicles with more axles and advanced safety features, can enhance freight efficiency, decrease the number of trips to transport goods, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” stated Sarah Gilmore, the association’s senior director of government affairs. RILA’s members include major retailers such as Target, The Home Depot, and Dollar General.
Gilmore noted that certain states have already implemented higher weight limits under specific conditions.
“For retailers, maximizing truckloads is essential for minimizing transportation costs, improving supply chain sustainability, and effectively meeting consumer demand. We believe DOT should partner with Congress to explore pilot programs and regulatory avenues that would permit increased weight limits on designated freight routes, while still ensuring safety and infrastructure integrity are upheld,” she added.
Prior congressional proposals have sought to establish pilot programs, including a bill last year that would have permitted states to raise truck weights on federal interstates from 80,000 pounds to as much as 91,000 pounds for six-axle trucks, along with another initiative to allow weight increases to 88,000 pounds for particular auto haulers.
New legislation has also been introduced this year aimed at increasing weight limits for logging vehicles.
However, the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) counters that relaxing federal truck size and weight regulations would not reduce truck trips but instead increase the volume of truck traffic. CABT argues, “Heavier or longer truck combinations will lower trucking costs, subsequently boosting truck use. The notion that this increased demand can be fully managed by enhanced truck capacity is misleading.”
“While lower costs may result in higher profits for select shippers, larger trucks pose risks to motorists, law enforcement, and first responders, damage highway infrastructure at taxpayers’ expense, burden commercial drivers, and contribute to more trucks on the road,” CABT concluded in their comments to DOT.
Opposition to raising truck weight limits comes from owner-operators and various trucking associations. John Elliott, executive chairman of Load One, representing the Truckload Carriers Association, noted earlier this year that the trucking industry is divided on the topic. “The less-than-truckload segment favors larger trucks, whereas other sectors support heavier trucks. However, as the largest segment, truckload adamantly opposes both,” Elliott stated, emphasizing, “It ultimately revolves around safety; bigger and heavier does not equate to safer in any respect.”
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