International Paper tells Congress to up US truck weights as others have

INTERNATIONAL Paper (IP) has told a US congressional panel that the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) would safely increase federal truck weights by allowing states to grant interstate access to six-axle vehicles.

"Allowing heavier loads to move on safer and more appropriate six-axle trucks will give states the ability to optimise road networks," said International Paper vice president Tom Kadien.

"Six-axle trucks with weights equal to or more than those allowed by SETA are in wide use in Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Heavier trucks are supported by a wide body of research," said Mr Kadien.

SETA would enhance the safety and productivity of IP's truck shipments while minimising fuel use and impact on the environment, he told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, reported the American Journal of Transportation.

International Paper spends US$2 billion annually on logistics. SETA would present an opportunity for the company to raise trucking efficiency by one-fifth for 300,000 trucks trips each year while still maintaining safety standards.

The CTP is a group of 200 shippers and allied associations dedicated to safely and responsibly increasing the federal vehicle weight limit on interstate highways.