Senate committee advances bill easing axle-weight rules for log trucks amid industry and safety concerns

A Senate committee voted favorably on Senate Bill 110 on a voice vote after more than an hour of testimony weighing the forestry industry’s economic case for modest axle-weight increases against state engineers’ warnings about road and bridge damage and public-safety risks.

The bill would clarify axle-weight definitions and, in some cases, raise allowable weights on a tandem axle from current practice toward a higher per-axle tolerance (speakers described figures in the range of 44,000–48,000 pounds on a tandem axle) while leaving the maximum gross vehicle weight near current statutory limits. Supporters said the change would reduce what they called unfair over-axle citations; state transportation officials and county engineers said heavier axle loads accelerate pavement deterioration and threaten rural bridges.

"Roads and bridges don't don't know what the total weight of the vehicle is. They know the weight of the axle point it's pressing on it," George Connor, Deputy Director for Operations at the Alabama Department of Transportation, told the committee, arguing the road impact depends on how load is distributed across axles. Connor said ALDOT is prepared to seek compromise language that narrows axle increases to specific business cases (for example, single long poles ordered at a specified length) and to locate permanent weigh stations at high-volume entry points to reduce roadside inspections.

Russell Johnson, who identified himself as a third-term Pike County commissioner, described operational impacts he sees locally and said drivers who are under the statutory gross-weight limit are receiving overweight tickets for axle configurations: "We have drivers that get there's 3 issues in this bill... they are under the state allowed maximum weight... they're receiving overweight tickets because they're over on 1 of the other sets of their axles." Justin Hardy, Lee County engineer, said county roads and many posted county bridges were not designed for repeated heavier axle loads and warned that such increases could undermine the progress funded by the Rebuild Alabama program.

Industry witnesses including Skyler Clark, owner of Heritage Timber Company, and several loggers said the bill is meant to clarify axle-weight definitions and give operators tolerances so drivers who load legally to gross limits are not penalized for axle-weight distribution. Clark told the committee the change is not intended to increase gross weights: "We're not trying to increase the overall. Our overall is still gonna remain at 88,000." Tom Gilpin, speaking for a forestry operations firm, said loggers have invested in onboard scales and want to comply with the law but need clarity to avoid tickets.

Sam Adams (industry/federal affairs) and ALDOT representatives also submitted data packets and safety materials to the committee. ALDOT officials said enforcement data show that about 20% of towed trucks that are weighed receive citations and that roughly half of those cited are overweight; they warned the bill’s restriction on the number of trucks that can be stopped at once could clog weigh stations and reduce inspections.

After discussion, Senator Williams moved that the committee give the bill a favorable report; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee also considered two additional, less-contested bills on aquatic weed control and on formalizing a process for abandoning certain dead-end roads; both were reported favorably by voice vote during the same hearing.

Votes at a glance Senate Bill 110 (axle-weight/forestry): Committee reported favorably by voice vote; motion made by Senator Williams; tally not specified (voice vote). Aquatic weed control bill (amendment added per Department of Conservation language): Committee reported favorably by voice vote; roll-call tally not specified. Abandoned roads / right-of-way reclamation bill (sponsored by Senator Stutz as described to committee): Committee reported favorably by voice vote; roll-call tally not specified.

The committee record shows ALDOT offered two specific compromise measures: (1) limit any increased tandem-axle allowance to narrowly defined business cases such as single, specified-length poles that cannot be split, and (2) site permanent weigh stations at high-volume log-truck entry points to streamline enforcement and appeals. Committee members and industry witnesses said they will continue discussions to refine language and identify locations for permanent scales.

The transcript excerpts and submitted materials are part of the committee record; the bill now moves to the next step in the Senate legislative process for further consideration.