Senate Study Bill 1203 - Introduced
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. _____
BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION RESOLUTION BY
CHAIRPERSON KLIMESH)
1 A Concurrent Resolution urging the members of Congress
2 to amend federal law to increase the maximum gross
3 weight allowed for motor vehicles operated on the
4 interstate road system in Iowa and bordering states.
5 WHEREAS, federal law imposes a uniform combined
6 gross weight limit of 80,000 pounds for vehicles
7 operated on the interstate road system, unless
8 expressly exempted; and
9 WHEREAS, a number of exemptions to the weight limit
10 are provided on certain segments of the interstate road
11 system, including in Iowa and in states that border
12 Iowa; and
13 WHEREAS, vehicles with six or more axles can safely
14 and efficiently handle loads exceeding 80,000 pounds
15 while complying with reasonable axle weight limits,
16 as evidenced by the 96,000 pound weight limit for
17 commercial motor vehicles with seven axles driven on
18 primary highways that are not part of the interstate
19 road system in Iowa; and
20 WHEREAS, commercial motor vehicle drivers are
21 inconvenienced while navigating the interstate road
22 system by encountering different weight limits on
23 different segments of the same interstate road system
24 within and across state borders; and
25 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Iowa and the
26 states that border Iowa to have the same vehicle weight
27 limits on the interstate road system across all states
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 S.C.R. _____
1 that border Iowa; and
2 WHEREAS, it is also in the best interest of Iowa
3 to increase the payload capacity of commercial motor
4 vehicles, which may result in fewer vehicles on the
5 interstate road system and improve traffic flow; NOW
6 THEREFORE,
7 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF
8 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, That the General Assembly
9 of the State of Iowa urges Congress to amend federal
10 law to authorize the federal highway administration
11 to raise the weight limit on the interstate road
12 system in Iowa and in the states that border Iowa to
13 96,000 pounds for commercial motor vehicles with seven
14 axles; and
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this
16 resolution be distributed to the President of the
17 United States Senate, the Speaker of the United State
18 House of Representatives, and each member of Iowa’s
19 congressional delegation.
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