Republican Virginia Rep. John McGuire introduced his first bill in Congress on Friday, a measure aimed at reducing transportation costs for Virginia’s agriculture and logging industries by allowing heavier loads on the state’s interstate highways.
The “Agriculture and Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act,” shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation, would increase the maximum allowable weight for trucks carrying unprocessed agricultural and forestry products on Virginia’s interstate roads to 90,000 pounds, aligning with existing weight limits on state roads. Under current regulations, these vehicles must use rural roads, which industry leaders argue is inefficient and unsafe.
“The logging and agricultural industries in Virginia rely on our high-speed highways to deliver their goods and services across the Commonwealth,” McGuire said in a statement shared with the DCNF. “For me, this is a safety thing. This bill helps farmers and loggers feed and fuel this country by moving products more efficiently, while also increasing transportation safety.”
Mcguir 007 XML Lumber Bill by tjenglish01 on Scribd
The proposal has garnered support from multiple industry groups, including the Virginia Farm Bureau, the Virginia Loggers Association and the American Loggers Council.
“Increasing weight limits will make for greater efficiency, reduced truck traffic on rural roads and alleviate hauling shortages,” Scott Sink, CEO of the Virginia Farm Bureau, said in a press release provided to the DCNF. “Virginia Farm Bureau thanks Congressman McGuire for his leadership on this important issue.”
Supporters also argue that requiring heavier trucks to use rural and secondary roads increases the risk of accidents.
“Keeping our commercial trucks off the available interstates leads to more accidents and fatalities,” Ron Jenkins, executive director of the Virginia Loggers Association, said. “This legislation is much needed and will improve highway safety for truck drivers and the public.”
Under the proposal, vehicles carrying unprocessed agricultural crops, logs, rough-sawn lumber and other raw forest products could travel on Virginia’s interstate highways at weights already permitted on state roads. Industry officials say this would reduce fuel consumption, emissions and overall transportation costs.
The congressman’s bill also received the backing of New Kent County Sheriff Lee Bailey. Republican Virginia Rep. Rob Wittman has also voiced his support for the measure.
Through the grace of God, I’m the Congressman for Virginia’s Fifth District.
Thank you for your prayers and support. pic.twitter.com/23E0aEki9O
— Congressman John McGuire (@RepJohnMcGuire) January 4, 2025
McGuire was elected in November 2024 to represent Virginia’s 5th congressional district. Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, he served as a Navy SEAL, as well as in the Virginia House of Delegates and briefly in the Virginia Senate.
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