Trucks carrying goods from Tucson will now be able to haul more freight as part of a pilot program with the Arizona Department of Transportation. The program allows carriers to transport 3,000 more pounds out of the port for the next 12 months.
Trucks may now carry 83,000 pounds of freight with a permit from ADOT. The previous limit forced them to offload parts of any weight over 80,000 pounds.
Tom Herrmann, spokesman for ADOT, said the agency wants to make sure the extra weight doesn’t damage the highways. “I-10 is a key in commerce corridor for us. It’s a key opportunity for transportation companies to move goods around our state and what we’re trying to do here is help them be more efficient” he said.
The program will be tested on Tucson and Nogales highways for a year before officials decide whether to expand to other parts of the state.