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119-hr-2920119th Congress

VARIANCE Act

Sponsored By: Representative Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]

In Committee

Summary

Allows heavier axle weights for dry bulk cargo. The bill creates a Dry Bulk Axle Weight Variance that authorizes commercial motor vehicles carrying narrowly defined dry bulk goods to exceed standard axle or axle-group limits by up to 110 percent while preserving the vehicle's maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) cap and enforcement tolerance.

Show full summary
  • Carriers and freight operators: Can load individual axles or axle groups up to 110 percent of the standard limits, as long as the vehicle does not exceed its GVW cap.
  • Shippers of dry bulk goods: The variance applies only to homogeneous, unmarked, unpackaged, nonliquid cargo transported in trailers built for that purpose, so packaged or liquid loads are excluded.
  • State agencies and enforcers: The change adds this specific variance to title 23 but does not authorize new funding, phase-ins, sunsets, or new enforcement programs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher axle limits for dry bulk trucks

If enacted, trucks hauling dry bulk goods could use axle weights up to 110% of today’s limits. This would not raise the legal gross vehicle weight cap. The 110% would include any normal enforcement tolerance. It would only apply to homogeneous, unmarked, unpackaged, nonliquid cargo in trailers built for that cargo.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/3/2025

  • Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2025

  • Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 10/8/2025

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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