New VARIANCE Act Allows Dry Bulk Trucks to Haul 10% Heavier Axle Loads, Putting Pressure on Local Roads

The newly proposed VARIANCE Act—officially the Vehicle Axle Redistribution Increases Allow New Capacities for Efficiency Act—is a straightforward piece of legislation that changes a fundamental rule for how certain commercial trucks can operate. Simply put, this bill gives a specific group of truckers a 10% weight allowance on their individual axles, provided they are hauling dry bulk goods. The critical caveat is that this allowance does not let the truck exceed its total maximum gross weight, only the weight limits on the specific axles.

The 110% Rule: Efficiency for Grain, Gravel, and the Rest

This change is strictly for trucks carrying "dry bulk goods," which the bill defines precisely: the cargo must be homogeneous (all the same stuff), unmarked, unpackaged, and definitely not a liquid. Think grain, sand, or gravel, hauled in a trailer specifically designed for that material (SEC. 2). If a trucker meets these criteria, they can exceed the standard weight limit for any single axle or group of axles by up to 110%. This is a big win for the industries shipping large quantities of bulk commodities, like agriculture and construction, because it allows them to maximize the capacity of their specialized equipment and potentially reduce the number of trips they need to make.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road (Literally)

While the bill is designed to boost efficiency, it introduces a significant trade-off that affects everyone who drives. Why do we have axle weight limits in the first place? Because the weight on a single axle is what determines the stress and wear on the pavement and bridge decks. It’s a common engineering principle that the damage caused by a heavy axle load increases exponentially, not linearly. Even if the total weight of the truck remains within the legal limit, concentrating 10% more weight onto a single set of wheels means significantly higher localized stress on the road surface.

For the average person, this means potentially faster deterioration of state and local roads and bridges. If you’ve ever hit a pothole that seemed to appear overnight, or driven over a bridge that feels like it’s seen better days, you’re experiencing the effects of heavy vehicle traffic. The VARIANCE Act, by explicitly allowing increased axle stress, essentially shifts the cost savings realized by bulk shippers onto public infrastructure maintenance budgets. State Departments of Transportation and local municipalities will be left footing a potentially higher bill for road repairs, which ultimately gets passed back to taxpayers in the form of fees or taxes.

The Fine Print on Bulk Goods

The bill is very specific about what qualifies for this exception, which is important for enforcement. If a trucker is hauling anything that doesn't meet the "homogeneous, unmarked, unpackaged, non-liquid" standard, the 110% variance disappears. This specificity is meant to prevent trucks carrying mixed loads or standard freight from taking advantage of the rule. However, it also means that trucking companies hauling general freight or specialized liquid loads (like fuel or milk) get zero benefit from this Act. This variance creates a distinct advantage only for the specialized dry bulk sector, potentially creating an uneven playing field in the broader logistics industry.