Tank Truck Carriers Applaud Bill to Help Dry Bulk Haulers

Apr 24, 2025 at 02:08 PM CST
A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would give dry bulk haulers a little more flexibility at the scales. Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Arkansas, and Rep. Salud Carbajal, a Democrat from California, introduced the VARIANCE Act, which allows for a 10% shift in weight variance along the axles of tank trucks carrying dry goods, without any increase in the overall federal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit. Under current law, when stopped at a weigh station, a truck’s weight must be “evenly” distributed among each of the axles. However, with dry bulk goods, even when packed properly, the material often moves around in the tank, causing the weight on each axle of the vehicle to be different.

Apr 24, 2025 at 02:08 PM CST

A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would give dry bulk haulers a little more flexibility at the scales.

Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Arkansas, and Rep. Salud Carbajal, a Democrat from California, introduced the VARIANCE Act, which allows for a 10% shift in weight variance along the axles of tank trucks carrying dry goods, without any increase in the overall federal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit.

Under current law, when stopped at a weigh station, a truck’s weight must be “evenly” distributed among each of the axles. However, with dry bulk goods, even when packed properly, the material often moves around in the tank, causing the weight on each axle of the vehicle to be different.