Urbandale, Iowa — The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) recently published, “Heavier Semis: A Good Idea?” – a study analyzing the likely results of expanding semi weight limits over the federal highway system.

The study compares and contrasts the potential impact of the current 80,000 lb, five axle semi configuration and an expanded 97,000 lb, six axle configuration on three areas: motorist safety, infrastructure integrity, and cost savings and efficiency gains for the soybean industry. The goal of the study is to highlight whether expanding semi weight limits is a viable and common sense approach for enhancing transportation capacity and mitigating highway congestion.

Norm Husa, a soybean producer from Barneston, Nebraska, and board member of the Soy Transportation Coalition argues, "Worldwide demand for food is expected to increase. Farmers are working to meet this demand by dramatically increasing yields over the next 10 years. Unfortunately, increased yields without a robust transportation system will result in widespread bottlenecks and greater congestion. In producing this study, the Soy Transportation Coalition seeks to call attention to an option to increase desperately needed capacity while preserving safety for fellow motorists."

"What Americans produce, manufacture, purchase and consume requires a transportation system to deliver products in a cost effective, reliable manner," says Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. "By all estimates, our nation's highways and interstates are increasingly incapable of accommodating these demands - resulting in a further drag on our overall economy, including the agricultural sector. Increasing semi weight limits offers the potential of relieving a degree of pressure on this overly congested system. However, because it is a hotly contested, controversial issue, it was prudent for the soybean farmers to take an inventory of the available research and analysis on this subject as well as determine the potential cost savings and efficiency gains realized by the soybean industry. We believe our report will add value to the overall debate."

The full STC study, “Heavier Semis: A Good Idea?” as well as an executive summary can be accessed at the STC’s website: www.soytransportation.org.

Established in 2007, the Soy Transportation Coalition is comprised of seven state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board. The goal of the organization is to position the soybean industry to benefit from a transportation system that delivers cost effective, reliable and competitive service.