Temporarily raising the 80,000 lb. truck weight limit in California to 88,000 lbs. largely misses the mark when it comes to relieving historic congestion at the state’s ports, according to trucking experts.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that the state will begin issuing temporary permits to allow trucks to gross upwards of 88,000 pounds on state and intrastate routes between statewide ports and distribution centers.
Newsom and others believe that increasing the truck's max weight by 4 tons will help clear out massive stacks of shipping containers at the ports and get freighters anchored offshore to the docks faster for unloading.
Trucking experts, however, advise that the 8,000-lb. allotment will invite more equipment challenges and end up doing little to alleviate port congestion.
“Nobody, and I mean nobody thinks this was anything more than putting lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig,” said Joe Rajkovacz, director of governmental affairs and communications at the Western States Trucking Association (WSTA).
“You’ll note in the order allowing 88,000 lb. stipulated axle weight limits were not being changed which in practical terms means you must have three axle trailers/split axle trailers (that’ll only get you to a gross of 86,000),” Rajkovacz continued. “That kind of equipment is rare in the intermodal market here in California.”
