Harrisburg, PA – July 11, 2022– Senator Lisa M. Boscola’s (D-Northampton) Senate Bill 1171 was signed into law today by Governor Wolf, as Act 91 of 2022.
Act 91 make an adjustment to the statutory language regarding heavy hauling permits on pulpwood and wood chips. It fixes a flaw in current law that restricts permit holders to the use of tractor-trailers with limited axles. When enacted, the provision contained in this bill will enable heavy haulers the option to choose equipment with additional axles. This is important for public safety because additional axles can provide increased braking power while spreading the vehicle’s weight over a larger surface area, reducing the impact of the load on road surfaces, reducing roadway maintenance costs, and improving a hauler’s ability to come to a controlled stop.
Senator Boscola said on her bill, “I am proud to get this bipartisan issue done and across the finish line. We worked closely with the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association to ensure this adjustment for permitted haulers resulted in safer transport of their forestry products on our Commonwealth’s highways.”
Pennsylvania’s forest products industry employs about 64,000 Pennsylvanians across nearly 2,100 establishments and produces over $36 billion in total economic impact.
The bill was co-prime sponsored by Sen. Boscola (D-Northampton) and Sen. Hutchinson (R-Butler). The provisions of the act become effective in 60 days.
###