701-566-9300Eight hundred nine pieces of legislation were “dropped in the hopper” or introduced this month. Other than a possible Delayed Bill or two, that should be it. Now it’s about survival in some form or another to avoid extinction. Very few bills that become law are able to ditch alterations. Maybe in Nebraska (the only state with one chamber) it happens less, I dunno. My point is simply that from here on out, bills are a lot like your business as a producer – adapt or get left behind.
On Friday we heard HB1255 in the House Ag committee. That is the 129,000 lb. truck harmonization bill that I briefly blogged about in #9. I promised that in this entry I would explain the two most effective axle configurations that make the magic happen. That magic of course is being able to haul bigger loads with less negative impact on our roads. And that results in fewer trips with greater efficiencies, less fuel costs, fewer drivers needed (there is a nationwide driver shortage) and other savings. One food grade soybean producer exporter stated that it would save his operation about 20 percent. With new market pressures the past couple of weeks, savings take on added value. ANYWAY, these two configs come from the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute final draft report from December 12, 2016. One is #10 and it goes like this: Truck/Tractor with a steering axle (1) and a tandem drive axle (2) towing a triple axle (3) semi-trailer and a full trailer with two sets of tandem axles (2 & 2). So it’s a 1, 2,3,2,2. The other arrangement is #11 in the study and it is a 1, 3,2,2,2. See graphics below for more information.
This would harmonize us with Montana, South Dakota and the Canadian provinces which, to belabor the obvious, leaves out only Minnesota. Now the process continues for another 60 working days or so.
2017-01-Truck-Harmonization-Study-Final-Report copy
