Shippers Coalition Statement for the Record
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Highways and Transit Hearing: “Freight Forward: Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges to Deliver for America”
The effective, efficient and safe movement of freight is the backbone of the American economy, and Congress must pass common-sense legislation to better achieve those goals, fortify our supply chain, and strengthen the competitiveness of the nation’s economy. The SHIP IT Act is a holistic solution to some of the challenges in the movement of freight, including providing incentives to recruit and retain drivers, reducing regulatory burdens on truck drivers, and creating efficiencies and reduced emissions through modest gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit reform.
Download the Full Statement for the Record HereComments of the Shippers Coalition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The Shippers Coalition respectfully submits these comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA or agency) in this docket; the FMCSA proposes to change its rules to limit when and, if so, the extent to which emergency exemptions to its rules are applicable. NPRM published at 87 Federal Register 75206 (December 8, 2022).
The Shippers Coalition includes many of the nation’s prominent companies and trade associations engaged in manufacturing, agribusiness, and other business. Coalition members directly or indirectly sustain millions of American jobs. They move freight by all modes and do not favor any mode. The Shippers Coalition (Coalition or we or our) has emerged as a leading voice for a modern, safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly freight transportation system. The Shippers Coalition seeks to improve supply chain fluidity and freight transportation efficiency while – advancing transportation safety; reducing emissions, fuel consumption and congestion; and protecting infrastructure.
Shippers Coalition Praises SHIP IT Act
Our broken yet vital supply chain needs the SHIP IT Act to ensure access to critical goods.
Washington, D.C. – The Shippers Coalition applauds Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) for introducing the Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act, the “SHIP IT Act.” This bill provides common-sense solutions by taking a holistic view of the pain points in the supply chain by increasing shipping capacity, lessening burdens on current and future truck drivers, providing incentives to recruit and retain drivers, and allowing additional flexibilities during times of emergency. These solutions will ensure consumers have access to critical goods and bring much-needed reform to a system that has been long neglected.
Download the Full Letter HereComments of the Shippers Coalition to the Federal Maritime Commission
The Shippers Coalition respectfully submits these comments on the Notice of Proposed Rule making (NPRM) by the Federal Maritime Commission (“Commission” or “FMC”) regarding “Demurrage and Detention Billing Requirements.” 87 Federal Register 62341 (October 14, 2022).
The Shippers Coalition includes many of the nation’s prominent companies and trade associations engaged in manufacturing, agribusiness, and other business. Coalition members directly or indirectly sustain millions of American jobs. They move freight by all modes and do not favor any mode. The Shippers Coalition (“Coalition” or “we” or “our”) has emerged as a leading voice for a modern, safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly freight transportation system. The Shippers Coalition seeks to improve supply chain fluidity and freight transportation efficiency while – advancing transportation safety; reducing emissions, fuel consumption and congestion; and protecting infrastructure.
Shippers Call for Quick Action to Prevent Railroad Strike
Persistent supply chain shortages and inflation loom as the likelihood of strike grows
Washington, D.C. – The Shippers Coalition calls on Congress, the White House, railroads, and union leaders to act quickly to prevent a rail strike from further damaging an already fragile supply chain. The ongoing negotiations between the unions and the railroads must result in certainty for consumers looking for critical goods and for shippers across the country who ship products via both rail and truck. Any disruption in the supply chain will have detrimental impacts on the ability for goods to reach consumers and further deteriorate the country’s supply chain. As the holiday season approaches, the impacts of a railroad strike would harm consumers through supply shortages and higher prices for everyday goods. Empty shelves are unacceptable, and we urge all parties involved to resolve negotiations to protect consumers’ ability to get goods.
Download the Press Release HereComments of the Shippers Coalition to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
The Shippers Coalition (we or our) continues to support the proposed ICR because it would provide data that would help implement and assess a statutorily directed pilot program under which 18- to 20-year-old commercial driver’s license holders would be allowed to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. The collection for which FMCSA seeks authorization would provide information on the safety performance of these drivers and the motor carriers employing them under the conditions of the pilot program.
The nation currently faces widely reported and significant inefficiencies in supply chains and a shortage of commercial truck drivers. Safely allowing these below 21 years of age drivers to operate trucks in interstate commerce is expected to increase the supply of commercial drivers. That increase, in turn, holds the potential to inject needed fluidity into supply chains, both in the short and long term, while presenting an enhanced career opportunity in trucking to 18- to 20-year-old men and women. FMCSA stated in the April 18 notice in this docket that the pilot program supports “economic strength while maintaining DOT and FMCSA’s commitment to safety.” 87 Federal Register at 23011.
Much Need Passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act
As the supply chain crisis persists and prices of goods rising across the board, the Shippers Coalition applauds Congress’ work to pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.
Washington, D.C. – The Shippers Coalition applauds Senator John Thune (R-SD), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Congressman DustyJohnson (R-SD), and Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) for their tireless efforts in drafting and passing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. This monumental legislation will help to fix supply chains, ease shipping backlogs, and crackdown on skyrocketing international ocean shipping costs.
“As a coalition representing over 80 companies and trade associations critical to ensuring a well-function supply chain, we commend Congressmen Johnson and Garamendi for their leadership on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Their tireless efforts to help shippers move goods is a clear example of how bipartisanship should work in Congress,” said Sean Joyce, Executive Director of the Shippers Coalition.
Comments of the Shippers Coalition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The Shippers Coalition (we or our) supports the proposed ICR because it would provide data necessary to implement and assess a statutorily directed pilot program under which 18- to 20-year-old commercial driver’s license holders would be allowed to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. The collection for which FMCSA seeks authorization would provide information on the safety performance of these drivers and the motor carriers employing them under the controlled conditions of the pilot program.
The nation currently faces widely reported and significant inefficiencies in supply chains and a shortage of commercial truck drivers. Safely allowing these below 21 years of age drivers to operate in interstate commerce is expected to increase the supply of commercial drivers. That increase, in turn, holds the potential to inject needed fluidity into supply chains, both in the short and long term, while presenting an enhanced career opportunity in trucking to 18- to 20-year-old men and women. FMCSA states that the pilot program supports “economic strength while maintaining DOT and FMCSA’s commitment to safety.” 87 Federal Register at 23011.
Comments of the Shippers Coalition to the United States Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. – The Shippers Coalition respectfully submits these comments in response to the notice by the FederalHighway Administration (FHWA) inviting input regarding implementation of the BipartisanInfrastructure Law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.186 Federal Register 68297 (December1, 2021).
The Shippers Coalition (formerly known as the SHIP Coalition) includes many of the nation’s prominent companies and trade associations engaged in manufacturing, agribusiness, and other business.Coalition members directly or indirectly sustain millions of American jobs. They move freight by all modes and do not favor any mode. The Shippers Coalition (“Coalition” or “we” or “our”) has emerged as a leading voice for a more modern, safe, and environmentally-friendly trucking and freight transportation system.
Letter To President Joe Biden
Dear President Biden,
We write to urge you to take advantage of the options available to your Administration to alleviate the supply chain crisis, specifically with respect to the over-the-road shippers.
All across the United States prices for goods are increasing in large part because demand has surpassed the available capacity of our supply chains. One way to immediately increase this capacity for one of the most vital links in the supply chain, the shippers, is to increase the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) on the Federal Interstates. In addition to getting goods to market more quickly, providing a waiver to increase GVW limits would reduce harmful carbon emissions and keep our highways safe.
Shippers to Biden: Address Empty Shelves Now
On the heels of the leadership shown from Newsom, the Shippers Coalition urges Biden to follow in his footsteps to address supply chain constraints.
Washington, D.C. – The Shippers Coalition urges President Biden to follow California Governor Newsom’s lead and act immediately by using all of the tools at its disposal to ease the supply chain crisis, including raising the gross vehicle weight limit. Shelves at stores across the country should no longer remain empty due to the lack of action being taken. Governor Newsom announced that California will issue temporary permits to increase weight limits for trucks to 88,000-pounds, up from the Federally set 80,000-pounds.
This is a step in the right direction to modernize the trucking industry, particularly during the current supply chain crunch. However, more needs to be done at the Federal level to alleviate this crisis. Congress should enact a sensible pilot program increasing gross vehicle weight limits to 91,000-pounds on six axles. These common-sense solutions would have an immediate impact on the ability for goods to more quickly reach stores and consumers.
Statement for the Record on Behalf of the Shippers Coalition
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing: “Industry and Labor Perspectives: A Further Look at North American Supply Chain Challenges”
The pervasiveness of our supply chain issues has been widely reported and impacts all links in the chain between producers and end customers. One critical segment of the supply chain that must be addressed is the shipment of goods over the road via trucking. As the supply chain challenges continue to persist, one solution that could immediately allow goods to be moved quicker in a safe and environmentally friendly manner is increasing the gross vehicle weight limit (GVW) on Federal Interstates. Currently, many shippers reaching the current 80,000-pound weight limit before the truck is full and are forced to send trucks out that are only three fourths of the way full, requiring companies to send more trucks out than what otherwise is necessary to meet the current demand. This situation adds to roadway congestion, contributes to slowdowns in the supply chain, and leads to an unnecessary increase in carbon emissions.
Download the Full Statement for the Record HereLetter To The Honorable Peter DeFazio & The Honorable Sam Graves
Dear Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves:
As the Committee develops surface transportation infrastructure legislation, we write to express our support for the inclusion of a pilot program that would increase safety on our roads and help mitigate climate pollution from our nation’s transportation sector. We urge inclusion of a program that would permit a limited number of states to allow operation of vehicles weighing up to 91,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) with six axles on Interstate System Highways.
Gross vehicle weight limit laws have not been updated since 1982 despite truck modernization, changes to state and local road allowances and increased demand. Bringing trucking laws into the 21st century will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, make roads safer for families and drivers, and minimize congestion on state and local roads. Many states already permit trucks that exceed 80,000 pounds to operate on lower classification roads, driving through neighborhoods, by schools, and around other densely populated areas. This ten-state pilot program will shift truck traffic to the Interstate Highway System, reducing the need for trucks to drive on smaller, more hazardous roads.
SHIP Coalition Sends Memo to White House Outlining Proposal to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Washington, D.C.— Today, the Safer Hauling and Infrastructure Protection (SHIP) Coalition sent a memorandum to the White House outlining support for a pilot program allowing a modest increase of gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits on federal Interstates to mitigate climate pollution in the transportation sector. “Following the Administration’s executive action on climate change, we felt it was important to highlight the environmental benefits of our proposal and identify an opportunity to collaborate,” said Sean Joyce, Executive Director of the SHIP Coalition. “We feel confident that results from numerous studies and recent COVID-19 emergency waivers demonstrate the ability to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining safety on our nation’s Interstates.”
The Coalition’s opt-in proposal would increase GVW limits in ten states while protecting safety and improve America’s supply chain. The transportation sector is responsible for 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and the SHIP Coalition’s pilot proposal would take common-sense steps in the industry to combat climate change and make roads safer for families and drivers.
Trucking Relief During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C.— The Safer Hauling and Infrastructure Protection (SHIP) Coalition applauds Congress and the Administration for their work ensuring that truck weight relief was included in the CARES Act. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trucking industry has been using every tool available to ensure that necessary goods and products make it to grocery stores and communities every day. Our country is hurting, and we are committed to making sure the necessary products reach Americans, so they can continue taking every step to protect themselves and their families during this crisis.
We applaud the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee for ensuring the inclusion of this provision allowing the use of all available relief and to keep trucks moving. We thank the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives for their quick passage of this bill and the President for signing the bill into law so states can begin using this flexibility immediately.
“The ability for states to lift truck weight requirements on interstate highways is critical to improving the free flow of goods and ensuring Americans get the essential products they are relying on during this national crisis. We applaud Congress for recognizing this important, common sense policy change and including it in the CARES Act,” said Bryan Zumwalt, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs of theConsumer Brands Association.
S.H.I.P. Coalition Cheers 44 Bipartisan Members of Congress for Urging Transportation Leaders for Modern Trucks
A bipartisan letter, led by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Congressman John Katko (R-NY) with 16 Cosponsors and T&I Committee Members, was sent to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman and Ranking Member outlining how to improve safety and bolster the economy. A second letter was sent from 26 Republican Members to the T&I Committee Ranking Member expressing their support for the inclusion of the modern truck pilot program in surface transportation infrastructure legislation.
Washington, D.C.— The Safer Hauling and Infrastructure Protection (S.H.I.P.) Coalition applauds the leadership of Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Congressman John Katko (R-NY) for leading a letter to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO). This letter shows the united front of proponents across both party’s political spectrum looking to modernize the trucking sector after decades of Congressional inaction.
A second letter was sent to Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) to show the support from the Republican caucus on the inclusion of the S.H.I.P. pilot program in any infrastructure legislation. Twenty-six Republicans joined Congressman John Katko (R-NY) in supporting allowing modern trucks on the Federal Interstate.
Letter To The Honorable Sam Graves
Dear Ranking Member Graves:
As the Committee develops surface transportation infrastructure legislation, we write to express our support for inclusion of a pilot program that would further safety and infrastructure protection. This program would permit a limited number of states to allow operation of vehicles weighing up to 91,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) on Interstate System Highways - under conditions that are in the best interest of the public.
This pilot program would allow a state to permit vehicles equipped with six axles, which would have to be bridge fonnula compliant and meet weight per axle tests. The pilot program would reduce the growth in the amount of trucks on our roads and increase efficiencies for businesses that rely on trucks to transport products, by allowing a given amount of cargo to be carried in fewer vehicles. Increasing the allowable GVW on Interstate Highway System, this pilot program will work to reduce congestion on roads, thus lowering fuel consumption and mitigating exhaust emissions. Fmthennore, the required additional axle ( compared to conventional configurations) more widely distributes the vehicle weight which reduces pavement stress. Also, the additional axle comes with additional brakes, increasing braking power. Paiticipation by any state would be totally voluntary; there is no mandate in the program. The provision concerns the Interstate Highway System; it does not broadly authorize pilot program vehicles to operate on local roads. The program provides the option to participate to up to ten states for a period approximating the useful life of the extra axle trailer that would be needed.
Letter To The Honorable Peter DeFazio & The Honorable Sam Graves
Dear Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves:
As the Committee develops surface transportation infrastructure legislation, we write to express our support for inclusion of a pilot program that would further safety and infrastructure protection. This program would permit a limited number of states to allow operation of vehicles weighing up to 91,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) on Interstate System Highways - under conditions that are in the best interest of the public.
This pilot program would allow a state to permit vehicles equipped with six axles, which would have to be bridge formula compliant and meet weight per axle tests. The pilot program would reduce the growth in the amount of trucks on our roads and increase efficiencies for businesses that rely on trucks to transport products, by allowing a given amount of cargo to be carried in fewer vehicles. Increasing the allowable GVW on Interstate Highway System, this pilot program will work to reduce congestion on roads, thus lowering fuel consumption and mitigating exhaust emissions. Furthermore, the required additional axle (compared to conventional configurations) more widely distributes the vehicle weight which reduces pavement stress. Also, the additional axle comes with additional brakes, increasing braking power. Participation by any state would be totally voluntary; there is no mandate in the program. The provision concerns the Interstate Highway System; it does not broadly authorize pilot program vehicles to operate on local roads. The program provides the option to participate to up to ten states for a period approximating the useful life of the extra axle trailer that would be needed.