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Wed., November 2, 2011 6:06am (EDT)

Georgia Companies Seek Higher Truck Weight Limits
By Associated Press
Updated: 7 months ago

ATLANTA  —  
A coalition including Coca-Cola, Georgia-Pacific and International Paper wants Congress to boost the truck weight limit from 80,000 pounds to 97,000. (Photo Courtesy of <a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/unseth/206666532/ >Caleb Unseth via Flickr</a>.)
A coalition including Coca-Cola, Georgia-Pacific and International Paper wants Congress to boost the truck weight limit from 80,000 pounds to 97,000. (Photo Courtesy of Caleb Unseth via Flickr.)
Some of Georgia's largest companies are lobbying state and federal officials to raise weight limits on highways in the states, a move they say will help the economy and the environment.

State officials worry about safety and maintenance issues if heavier trucks are allowed on Georgia roads.

Morris News Service reports (http://bit.ly/s4PWnB) that a coalition of major shippers, including Coca-Cola, Georgia-Pacific and International Paper, wants the weight limits raised.

The companies say that many trucks reach their maximum weight limits while there's still room the trailer. They say that allowing more weight could reduce the number of loads, which would cut traffic and lessen truck emissions.

The coalition wants Congress to boost the limit from 80,000 pounds to 97,000.