Sen. Messmer on Overweight Truck Permits

Indiana takes great pride in being “The Crossroads of America.” Our geographic location places us within one day’s drive to 80% of major US markets. In addition, more than $650 billion in goods annually move through our state, making transportation and logistics  an important part of our economy.

To help improve trade in Indiana, the General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act 1190 this past session. This new law seeks a fair and balanced approach to regulating overweight trucks on our highways. 

Previously, Indiana took a commodity-based approach to the authorization of overweight truck permits. This only allowed trucks to be on the road at 80,000 pounds, with the exception of agricultural and wood products, which could go up to 97,000 pounds, and steel coils, which could be carried at 120,000 pounds. This limited policy approach left all other industries at a disadvantage.

Indiana's bordering neighbors allow transportation companies and truck operators to apply for permits to move more weight on one load – instead of enforcing arbitrary permitting laws and requiring multiple trips or alternative transportation, as Indiana previously did.

HEA 1190 allows Indiana to be competitive with neighboring states by allowing any product to be hauled in a load of up to 120,000 pounds, instead of restricting this allowance to limited commodities.

In addition, to maintain our roads and infrastructure, HEA 1190 gives the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) the ability to issue no more than 8,500 single-trip, overweight permits each year. Applicants seeking these permits must get separate permits from state and local government to travel on our roads – one from INDOT to travel on state roads, and one from a local unit of government to travel on county or city roads. Any approved permit may specify the route by which the truck must travel and may contain other restrictions or conditions necessary for the safe movement of the vehicle.
This will encourage objective commerce, fewer trips for trucking companies and fewer large loads on our highways.

As a state, we have a responsibility to review all of our state’s laws and regulations to determine if they promote or inhibit economic activity and growth. Increasing the weight limit on trucks carrying Hoosier products in a safe and measured fashion is one way we can help Hoosier businesses market quickly, safely and efficiently. 

As always, feel free to contact my office directly with your questions and concerns by email at [email protected] or by phone at 800-382-9467.