New Safe Routes Act Reintroduced For Session

U.S. congressional representatives from Wisconsin and Maine have reintroduced a version of the Safe Routes Act that would allow logging trucks that meet state weight limits to drive on interstate highways.

U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin (R) and Maine’s Jared Golden (D) are sponsoring the bill, and Gallagher, who introduced similar legislation in 2019 and 2021, says he hopes Republican control of the House gives it a better chance to get through committee and attached to legislation, though he admits getting the bill through the Senate is the biggest challenge.

Once a priority of the American Loggers Council (ALC), the Safe Routes Act is still supported, but state groups and other organizations are currently working state by state for “carve-out” interstate waivers that allow logs trucks on certain segments of interstate since such blanket national policies are so tough to pass, legislative experts say.