H.R. 5773House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Freight Restriction Elimination for Safer Hauling Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 10:42 AM UTC

The Freight Restriction Elimination for Safer Hauling Act of 2019 amends Title 23 to let states waive federal vehicle weight limits for trucks carrying perishable commodities or products. It applies to commercial motor vehicles hauling items such as fresh agricultural goods, unhardened concrete, live poultry, raw forest products, livestock feed, or other time‑sensitive goods, provided they meet state weight rules, distance limits, and are equipped with speed‑limiting technology. The bill affects those vehicles and the state agencies that regulate them.

Key Provisions

Allows a state to waive any federal vehicle weight limit for a "covered vehicle" hauling perishable commodities or products.
Defines a "covered vehicle" as one carrying specified perishable items that meets state weight tolerances and point‑of‑origin distance requirements.
Requires the vehicle to have active speed‑limiting technology set no higher than the posted speed limit or 65 mph, whichever is lower.
Defines speed‑limiting technology as a system that prevents the vehicle from exceeding a pre‑programmed maximum speed.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

February 7, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 6, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

February 6, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

February 7, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 6, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5773

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 6, 2020

Mr. Woodall (for himself and Mr. Bishop of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to vehicle weight limitations for certain vehicles hauling perishable commodities or products, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Freight Restriction Elimination for Safer Hauling Act of 2019.

Vehicle weight limitations-Interstate System

Section 127 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(v)

Vehicles hauling perishable commodities or products

(1)

In general

A State may waive the application of any vehicle weight limit established under this section with respect to a covered vehicle hauling a perishable commodity or product.

(2)

Definitions

In this subsection:

(A)

Covered vehicle hauling a perishable commodity or product

The term covered vehicle hauling a perishable commodity or product means a vehicle that—

(i)

is carrying—

(I)

a perishable agricultural commodity (as defined in section 1(b)(4) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a(b)(4));

(II)

concrete in an unhardened state;

(III)

live poultry;

(IV)

raw or unfinished forest products, including logs, pulpwood, biomass, or wood chips;

(V)

livestock feed; or

(VI)

other products or commodities that could be deemed not useful after a specified amount of time in accordance with industry standards and practices, as defined by a State;

(ii)

meets the weight tolerances (or weight limits) and vehicle configurations of the State in which the vehicle is operating and, if applicable, point of origin radius distances within the State boundaries in which the vehicle is operating; and

(iii)

is equipped with speed-limiting technology that is turned on and set at a speed not greater than the lesser of—

(I)

the posted speed limit; or

(II)

65 miles per hour.

(B)

Speed-limiting technology

The term speed-limiting technology means a technology that prevents a commercial motor vehicle from exceeding a preprogramed maximum speed.