3/10/05-Two weeks after easily passing the House, a bill that would have allowed more trucks to exceed the 40-ton weight limit on roads in the state was rejected by the same lawmakers.
The 50-33 vote, which occurred March 8, came after the Senate Transportation Committee agreed to exempt Louisville and Lexington from the “overweight truck bill.” The Senate had passed the bill 23-12 hours earlier, with little debate.
Many House lawmakers explained after the vote that attitudes recently changed as they learned more about the bill.
Sponsored by Rep. Howard Cornett, R-Whitesburg, the bill would have allowed trucks filed with various natural resources, including sand, oil and gravel, to haul up to 60 tons.
Kentucky law governing truck weight limits has been on the state’s books since 1986 when the General Assembly granted a special privilege to coal trucks to surpass the 40-ton limit on certain roads designated for heavier weights.
HB8 was initially presented as necessary to ward off a lawsuit brought by a Pike County, KY, gravel hauler challenging the two-tiered weight limit system. Lawmakers were also told it was strictly a rural issue.
Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, said the House’s change of heart from last month’s vote of 56-31 in favor of the measure primarily reflected the realization that the trucks wouldn’t necessarily be confined to designated roads in the mountains of eastern and western Kentucky.

2/24/05-The House approved a bill Feb. 22 that would allow trucks filled with various natural resources, including sand, oil and gravel to be allowed to carry loads that weigh up to 60 tons.
Only coal trucks with permits now are allowed to exceed the 40-ton weight limit.
HB8, sponsored by Rep. Howard Cornett, R-Whitesburg, passed 55-32 and has been forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
For bill status, call (502) 564-8100. In Kentucky, call 1-866-301-9004.