In the years between 1978 and 1981, several western states formed an alliance designed to foster cooperation on a variety of highway-related issues including truck size and weight, highway safety, cooperative state highway administration and improved commercial vehicle safety inspections.
The alliance, known as the Multi-State Highway Transportation Agreement (MHTA), recognized the unique transportation challenges faced by rural western states and was intended to improve communication between state legislators, state administrators and private industry.
Every member state entered into the MHTA after passing enabling legislation that authorized participation and detailed the terms of the agreement. The enabling statutes are substantially similar in all the current MHTA jurisdictions.
MHTA recommends changes in law or policy with emphasis on compatibility and uniformity of administrative rules or regulations. MHTA’s goal is to promote effective governmental action and coordination for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
MHTA also facilitates western regional compatibility in areas such as regional trade,
inter-modal transportation network development, air quality compliance, highway safety, and uniform truck operation standards. The MHTA establishes consensus regional standards in these areas while recognizing the continued independence of each member state.
MHTA States Involved Currently, 10 states – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming – participate in the agreement. States are represented at MHTA meetings by state legislators, state agency personnel, and highway transportation industry representatives.
Legislative Findings and Purposes – MHTA Laws MHTA states recognize the importance of highway transportation. They understand that the expanding regional economy depends on expanding transportation capacity. Highway transportation is the major mode for movement of people and goods in the western states. The uniform application in the West of more adequate vehicle size and weight standards results in a reduction of pollution, congestion, fuel consumption, and related transportation costs.
The MHTA states also conclude that they, the participating jurisdictions, are most capable of developing vehicle size and weight standards most appropriate for the regional economy and transportation requirements, consistent with and in recognition of principles of highway safety. They also agree to establish a system authorizing the operation of vehicles traveling between participating jurisdictions to promote uniformity among participating jurisdictions.
The states agree further to secure uniformity, insofar as possible, of administrative procedures in enforcing recommended vehicle size and weight standards and for encouraging and utilizing research that will facilitate the achievement.
MHTA Laws – Establish Cooperating Committee To insure that these purposes, the states established a "Cooperating Committee" and spelled out what was expected of that Committee. They said the "designated representatives" of the participating jurisdictions shall constitute the Cooperating Committee. They are empowered to collect, correlate, analyze and evaluate information resulting or derived from research and testing activities in relation to vehicle size and weight related matters.
The Cooperating Committee is responsible for recommending research and testing in any aspect of vehicle size and weight or related matters when, in their collective judgment, appropriate or sufficient research or testing has not been undertaken. They are given charge to recommend changes in laws or policy with emphasis on compatibility of laws and uniformity of administrative rules that would promote effective governmental action or coordination in the field of vehicle size and weight related matters.
Members of the Cooperating Committee are, by law, entitled to one vote only and no action of the Committee is binding unless a majority of the votes cast by participating jurisdictions are in favor it. The Committee meets at least once a year and elects officers from among its members. An annual report is submitted to the legislature of each participating jurisdiction.
MHTA Objective – Uniform Vehicle Size and Weights The MHTA statutes provide for achieving formal objectives aimed at obtaining more efficient and economical motor vehicle transportation by encouraging minimum standards that serve the cause of uniformity. The law encourages the adoption of minimum standards in MHTA states. They are a single-axle weight not in excess of 20,000 pounds, a tandem-axle weight not in excess of 34,000 pounds and the gross vehicle combination weight resulting from application of the uncapped Federal Bridge Formula.
All MHTA states have adopted the standards for axle weights. The MHTA states have also adopted the Federal Bridge Formula, Formula B, for determining allowable gross weights. However there are major differences in MHTA states in allowable gross vehicle weights. Some of the states cap the gross weight calculated under the formula while others allow an uncapped formula.
The Federal Freeze in ISTEA, enacted by Congress in1991, precludes states from increasing gross weights beyond what was in effect June 1, 1991. Under the freeze the states who capped their gross weights are prohibited from adopting the full Federal size and weight standards.
Objective – Congressional Approval as Compact The MHTA laws provide that the Cooperating Committee may recommend that the participating jurisdictions seek Congressional approval of MHTA as an interstate compact specifically for the vehicle size and weight standards set forth in the law.
Such an approval would override the Federal Freeze and allow the states to consider adopting federal truck size and weight standards. With Congressional approval of MHTA as an interstate compact, the ability to increase truck size and weights would be returned to the MHTA States notwithstanding the Federal freeze. They could be encouraged, under the MHTA objectives, to adopt the gross vehicle weight standard of an uncapped Federal bridge formula as provided for in MHTA statutes. Under the provisions of the compact, each MHTA would remain flexible and maintain their sovereign right to decide the issue.
The current federal law inhibits the ability of states to work together to achieve common transportation goals and special regional needs. Transportation needs vary greatly among the different regions of the country, and States should be encouraged to cooperate to address regional issues and to implement existing long-range planning goals. By empowering the States to enter into interstate compacts, Congress ensures that regional transportation issues are dealt within a safe and efficient manner by those most directly impacted.
Vehicle Size and Weight – A Federal Issue Clearly, truck size and weight regulations are a matter of federal concern. In 23 U.S.C. 127, Congress explicitly asserted the national importance of uniform size and weight regulation. Congress established specific limits for commercial vehicles operating on interstate highways and required that states grant reasonable access to trucks operating off interstate highways.
The federal legislation passed in 1956, 1974, 1982 and 1991 defined limits for commercial vehicles and allowed numerous grandfather exemptions for state laws. Current federal regulations establish the following limits:
(1) 20,000 pounds for single axles on interstate highways; 34,000 pounds for tandem axles on interstate highways;
(2) Application of "Bridge Formula B" for other axle groups up to the maximum of 80,000 pounds GVW on interstate highways (permitting authority in western states can allow for an uncapped formula;
(3) 102 inches for vehicle width on the national highway network;
(4) 48-feet (minimum) for semi-trailers in a semi-trailer combination on the national highway network;
(5) 28-feet (minimum) for trailers in a twin-trailer combination on the national highway network; and
(6) States cannot deny reasonable access to motor vehicles traveling from interstate highways.
No federal highway funds can be appropriated to states that do not adhere to these size and weight standards. The limits, however, are altered considerably by state grandfather rights and special permit procedures. Congress expressly granted states the authority to exceed federal standards through "grandfather" provisions.
MHTA states assert these grandfather rights and permit vehicles that are larger than the maximum allowed by federal law on interstate highways. State and federal courts have consistently affirmed state rights to use grandfather provisions and it is well settled that some truck size and weight regulations are within the scope of state authority.
Objective – Resolve Regional Transportation Issues An important objective of MHTA is to recommend solutions of problems in highway transportation, to provide communication and information sharing among participating members, and to recommend changes in laws or policies with emphasis on compatibility and uniformity of administrative rules or regulations. MHTA is to provides a regional forum that allows participants to meet and discuss individual state laws regarding a myriad of highway transportation issues including truck size and weight. The goal is to promote effective governmental action in the respective jurisdictions and coordination for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
Over the years since the adoption of MHTA statutes, there have been major innovations in highway transportation. For example, changes in safety regulations and transportation of hazardous materials are of concern to MHTA member states. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), environmental issues, border crossings between Canada and the U. S. and international transportation corridors are other topics which would benefit from MHTA attention. MHTA has a role in ensuring that the western United States have uniform regulations in these areas.
MHTA Action Directed at Resolving Issues MHTA helped promulgate legislation that brought the trucking industry highly productive options like Longer Combination Vehicles. MHTA provides the foundation for base-state permitting of over-dimensional loads and on western regional procedures for pilot cars and the movement of manufactured housing. The MHTA, for example, was instrumental in the development of joint ports of entry between western states, eliminating duplicative state facilities while improving highway enforcement and encouraging harmonious standards.
Similarly, the MHTA has endorsed the western regional truck size and weight guidelines developed by the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) for compatibility among the states which choose to adopt those standards. MHTA supports the adoption of the standards set out in the "Guide For Uniform Laws and Regulations Governing Truck Size and Weight Among the WASHTO States" developed by the WASHTO Highway Transport Committee.
Resolutions Adopted by MHTA 1999 Through 2002 MHTA adopted a number of resolutions aimed at resolving highway transportation issues which include:
(1) Supporting the continuing effort to determine necessary and appropriate congressional approval of MHTA as an interstate compact;
(2) Reaffirming MHTA policies, goals & objectives;
(3) Supporting the Western Governor Association’s Regional Highway Transportation Policy in developing a western roundtable to address truck operating and highway issues, including the harmonization of truck sizes and weights;
(4) Continuing support of WASHTO uniform truck size and weight laws and regulations among the MHTA states;
(5) Supporting uniform diesel vehicle smoke testing;
(6) Supporting HAZMAT registration and permitting among MHTA states; and
(7) Supporting quality of life choices and opposing federal programs which discourages quality of life choices by eliminating government investment in growth oriented infrastructure, such as schools, highways and sewer systems;
(8) Supporting the deployment of ITS by its member states and other western states, where it is voluntary and cost beneficial for both the state and its motor carrier industry, and is consistent with the provisions of this resolution;
(9) Supporting the conclusions and actions of the WASHTO Western Transportation Trade Network (WTTN) objectives and recommendations in the pursuit of freight mobility solutions in the planning process of the western states, including MHTA states;
(10) Acknowledging the conclusions and recommendations outlined in the paper, "Barriers to Mid-continent International Trade Corridor: ISTEA Freezes and Truck Regulations;"
(11) Supporting of the uniform hazardous materials registration and permitting program adopting uniform
diesel smoke testing procedures and opacity standards in MHTA states;
(12) Supporting the highway watch program;
(13) Supporting Congressional adoption of productivity benefits to trucking industry;
(14) Establishing a study group for uniform protocol and standards for liquid deicers in MHTA states;
(15) Supporting for implementing new federal requirements for the commercial drivers licenses;
(16) Support repealing nine axle cap limitation on longer combination vehicles in MHTA states;
(17) Supporting 20 ‘best practices’ presented to the WASHTO Committee on Highway Transport by WTAEC;and
(18) Supporting implementation of federal pilot studies of commercial motor vehicle size and weight limits.