Dairy industry backs five‑year ODOT pilot to test heavier milk haulers

Representatives considered a narrowly scoped pilot proposed for inclusion in LC 255 that would direct the Oregon Department of Transportation to run a five‑year study allowing freight trucks hauling milk to operate up to 129,000 pounds gross vehicle weight under ODOT permitting and oversight.

Whelan Buchanan, representing dairy interests and Tomac Creamery Association, said the pilot follows federal authority in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and mirrors approaches used in Washington and Idaho. He described the safety rationale: because milk is treated as a nondivisible load, breaking shipments into smaller loads can increase spoilage risk and inefficiency. The pilot would test longer double‑combination rigs with 10–11 axles that spread weight and can reduce per‑axle loads versus typical five‑axle configurations.

Buchanan summarized safeguards in the draft: ODOT may issue and revoke permits for safety noncompliance, will monitor routes and axle configurations, and will report back to the legislature at the end of the pilot with recommendations; permanent changes would require subsequent legislative action. "The greenest trip is the one you never drive," Buchanan said, arguing fewer trips could lower emissions.

Trevor Beltz, government relations for Tomac County Creamery Associations, said dairies see this as an efficiency and emissions‑reduction opportunity for interstate logistics and urged careful selection of routes and evaluation in lower‑complexity regions such as parts of Eastern Oregon.

Committee members asked clarifying questions and were told staff will post the draft and any amendments on OLIS for member review; no vote on the pilot concept was taken that day.