On Thursday, December 17, 2009, Governor Baldacci signed a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency on the grounds of public safety that will allow an immediate change in truck weight limits on Maine’s Interstate highway system (click HERE to link to the press release and HERE to the link to actual language of the proclamation).

This will allow six-axle trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds to travel on all of Maine’s interstates until the State Legislature convenes in January and can pass a bill to harmonize the state and federal law for 100,000 pound trucks. MDOT confirms that this proclamation now allows 100,000 pound trucks to begin traveling on all of Maine’s interstates. Senator Collins’ one-year truck weight pilot project was signed into law on December 16th.

The Maine Motor Transport Association would like to thank the Governor and his staff, staff at the Maine DOT as well as the State Police for their efforts to make finally make a solution to this decades-long debate a reality.  We would also like to thank Maine's entire Congressional delegation and Senator Collins specifically for her introductionof this proposal and for shepherding this pilot project through the difficult and time consuming process. 

In terms of showing the pilot project's effectiveness, the Congress will be looking to gather information on public safety and the effect on roads and bridges. MMTA encourages our members who benefit from the pilot to gather statistics such as mileage, fuel, and time saved because of the pilot project. We hope to use that information to persuade the congress and DOT to make the pilot permanent.

For more information, contact either Brian or Tim at the MMTA.

PRESS RELEASE LINK

PROCLAMATION LANGUAGE LINK