New bill would allow for logging trucks to use federal highways
“This bipartisan bill is a commonsense piece of legislation that will reduce collisions, protect the people on our back roads, and ensure that loggers from across the United States can use the safest route possible to transport essential forest products.”
Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress in April by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) to create a route for logging trucks to move off of smaller streets and roads and on to the federal interstate system and reduce accidents and fuel consumption in the process.
“When logging trucks aren't allowed to use federal highways, they use state and local roads where they encounter school zones, crosswalks, and sharp curves. This doesn't just extend the time it takes to get their products from point A to point B, but increases the number of accidents involving these trucks," Gallagher said
“This bipartisan bill is a commonsense piece of legislation that will reduce collisions, protect the people on our back roads, and ensure that loggers from across the United States can use the safest route possible to transport essential forest products.” Golden said.
Allowing logging trucks to avoid heavily traveled rural roads has been endorsed by the Forest Resources Association and the Great Lakes Timber Professional Association.
