AF&PA welcomes introduction of the Safety & Efficient Transportation Act

WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 18, 2011 (Press Release) - American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman today issued the following statement regarding introduction of the Safety & Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio).

"The introduction of SETA provides an opportunity to bring an outdated federal weight limit up to 21st Century standards. Under the current law, U.S. manufacturing and shipping industries are at a competitive disadvantage to our trading partners, who have already adopted higher weight limits. Technology has greatly improved over the last 30 years since the law was enacted to provide for the safe transport of trucks carrying higher weight loads. It is illogical for trucks to be limited below their space capacity, leading to more trucks on the road, more emissions in the air and more fuel needlessly consumed. At a time when small and large businesses alike are searching for ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness in their operations in order to save jobs, this is a welcome proposal.

"There is a way forward by permitting states to choose whether to allow for these trucks to add a sixth axle and increase the weight limit from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds on their interstates. SETA is a win for U.S. competiveness, a win for our highway system, a win for driver safety, and a win for our environment. I applaud Reps. Michaud and Schmidt for reintroducing this important legislation."