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Senate Study Bill 1203 - Introduced
An Act 1urging the members of Congress
2to amend federal law to increase the maximum gross
3weight allowed for motor vehicles operated on the
4interstate road system in Iowa and bordering states.
5WHEREAS, federal law imposes a uniform combined
6gross weight limit of 80,000 pounds for vehicles
7operated on the interstate road system, unless
8expressly exempted;and
9WHEREAS, a number of exemptions to the weight limit
10are provided on certain segments of the interstate road
11system, including in Iowa and in states that border
12Iowa;and
13WHEREAS, vehicles with six or more axles can safely
14and efficiently handle loads exceeding 80,000 pounds
15while complying with reasonable axle weight limits,
16as evidenced by the 96,000 pound weight limit for
17commercial motor vehicles with seven axles driven on
18primary highways that are not part of the interstate
19road system in Iowa;and
20WHEREAS, commercial motor vehicle drivers are
21inconvenienced while navigating the interstate road
22system by encountering different weight limits on
23different segments of the same interstate road system
24within and across state borders;and
25WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Iowa and the
26states that border Iowa to have the same vehicle weight
27limits on the interstate road system across all states
-1-1that border Iowa;and
2WHEREAS, it is also in the best interest of Iowa
3to increase the payload capacity of commercial motor
4vehicles, which may result in fewer vehicles on the
5interstate road system and improve traffic flow;NOW
6THEREFORE,
7BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF
8REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, That the General Assembly
9of the State of Iowa urges Congress to amend federal
10law to authorize the federal highway administration
11to raise the weight limit on the interstate road
12system in Iowa and in the states that border Iowa to
1396,000 pounds for commercial motor vehicles with seven
14axles;and
15BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this
16resolution be distributed to the President of the
17United States Senate, the Speaker of the United State
18House of Representatives, and each member of Iowa’s
19congressional delegation.
-2-th/ns
An Act 1urging the members of Congress
2to amend federal law to increase the maximum gross
3weight allowed for motor vehicles operated on the
4interstate road system in Iowa and bordering states.
5WHEREAS, federal law imposes a uniform combined
6gross weight limit of 80,000 pounds for vehicles
7operated on the interstate road system, unless
8expressly exempted;and
9WHEREAS, a number of exemptions to the weight limit
10are provided on certain segments of the interstate road
11system, including in Iowa and in states that border
12Iowa;and
13WHEREAS, vehicles with six or more axles can safely
14and efficiently handle loads exceeding 80,000 pounds
15while complying with reasonable axle weight limits,
16as evidenced by the 96,000 pound weight limit for
17commercial motor vehicles with seven axles driven on
18primary highways that are not part of the interstate
19road system in Iowa;and
20WHEREAS, commercial motor vehicle drivers are
21inconvenienced while navigating the interstate road
22system by encountering different weight limits on
23different segments of the same interstate road system
24within and across state borders;and
25WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Iowa and the
26states that border Iowa to have the same vehicle weight
27limits on the interstate road system across all states
-1-1that border Iowa;and
2WHEREAS, it is also in the best interest of Iowa
3to increase the payload capacity of commercial motor
4vehicles, which may result in fewer vehicles on the
5interstate road system and improve traffic flow;NOW
6THEREFORE,
7BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF
8REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, That the General Assembly
9of the State of Iowa urges Congress to amend federal
10law to authorize the federal highway administration
11to raise the weight limit on the interstate road
12system in Iowa and in the states that border Iowa to
1396,000 pounds for commercial motor vehicles with seven
14axles;and
15BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this
16resolution be distributed to the President of the
17United States Senate, the Speaker of the United State
18House of Representatives, and each member of Iowa’s
19congressional delegation.
-2-th/ns