Lawmakers Introduce Federal Legislation to Prevent Penalties for Dry Bulk Weight Shifts
The “Vehicle Axle Redistribution Increases Allow New Capacities for Efficiency” (VARIANCE) Act, would update rules to allow for a 10% axle variance for trucks transporting dry bulk goods, has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House. IFCA supports this legislation.
Dry bulk cargo like fertilizers naturally shifts in the trailer due to routine breaking, yet forward movement fails to evenly redistribute the weight. Current Federal truck axle weight limits do not account for this shifting, resulting in carriers receiving penalties from state commercial vehicle enforcement officials even when the truck remains within the federal 80,000 lb. gross vehicle weight. By providing for a 10% axle variance, the VARIANCE Act will allow for this uneven distribution.