Louisiana proposes ‘overnight’ solution to trucker shortage – Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana is exploring a legislative resolution to supply in a single day reduction to the supply-chain bottleneck {that a} nationwide scarcity of truck drivers has prompted.

Senate Invoice 477, sponsored by Sen. Gary Smith, D-Norco, cleared the Senate Transportation, Highways & Public Works Committee with out objection Thursday and can advance to the Senate ground for consideration. 

The invoice would create a brand new “tandem load” allow, permitting sure vehicles to haul two cargo containers at a time to and from delivery ports. The Louisiana Division of Transportation and Improvement can be accountable for issuing the annual permits, which may solely be used on designated roadways excluding interstate highways, that are federally regulated. 

Smith mentioned a good portion of the provision chain pinch comes from delivery containers held up in seaports unable to maneuver because of the scarcity of truck drivers. The invoice would scale back the variety of vehicles and drivers wanted to maneuver these containers, he defined.

“It’s going to hurry up the time,” Smith mentioned. “One truck can pull up, load two containers, and he’s gone.”

Testifying in assist of the laws was Ronnie Mains, proprietor of CRC International Options, a trucking firm headquartered in Louisiana with services at ports throughout the nation. 

Mains mentioned delivery containers are so congested on the Port of New Orleans that cargo is being diverted to different areas alongside the Gulf Coast, together with Houston.

“We wish to do extra right here in Louisiana. We don’t need the trade to maintain loading up masses and transferring them to different ports,” Mains mentioned. 

His firm has services at these different ports, however Mains mentioned, as a Louisiana native, he doesn’t wish to see jobs depart the state. The strain to divert cargo away from the Port of New Orleans is getting worse every single day, and the answer shouldn’t be so simple as hiring new truck drivers, he added.

CRC International Options has its personal truck driving college, however Mains mentioned it takes a minimal of two years to get a driver skilled and licensed in Louisiana.

“One driver — two containers,” Mains mentioned. “That will remedy the issue in a single day.” 

DOTD officers on the committee listening to shared issues about including extra cargo weight to state roadways and bridges.

“We simply preserve ratcheting issues up yearly… the place does it cease?” DOTD Deputy Secretary Eric Kalivoda advised lawmakers. 

Kalivoda mentioned he was significantly involved with bridges, however Mains identified that Smith’s proposal would preserve tandem masses beneath 40,000 kilos per axle, which DOTD already permits for logging vehicles. The utmost common load presently allowed beneath state regulation is 37,000 kilos per axle. 

One rig hauling a tandem load is much less weight than two vehicles every hauling a single load as a result of the truck alone weighs roughly seven tons, Smith mentioned.

Kalivoda mentioned he would really feel extra comfy if the allow referred to as for triple axle rigs as a substitute of double axles. Senators on the committee, nonetheless, weren’t solely satisfied by his argument and superior the laws with none adjustments.

Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier Metropolis, identified that DOTD would be capable of designate the routes, and vehicles wouldn’t be allowed to cross bridges not designed to carry the load.