Strengthening Indiana’s position as the Crossroads of America
STATEHOUSE – State Representative Hal Slager (R-Schererville) joined Gov. Pence today as he signed House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1481 into law. HEA 1481 authorizes the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to grant a single route permit for transporting overweight divisible loads, lessening the impact on our highways. “The transportation industry is crucial to our state’s economy, and this bill will help alleviate regulations that have burdened businesses in Indiana,” said Rep. Slager. “Indiana is the Crossroads of America. Strengthening our infrastructure to continue to attract businesses and people here is a top priority.” Before HEA 1481, trucks carrying oversized loads were required to off-load product into multiple trucks to come through Indiana because they did not have divisible load permits. This bill allows trucks with overweight loads to bring their loads through Indiana while allowing Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), or the appropriate local authority depending on the road, time to adopt rules for the issuance, fee structure and enforcement of permits for such loads. HEA 1481 also requires INDOT to study the impact of overweight divisible loads on Indiana's transportation infrastructure and economy. INDOT will then consider the results of the study for the adoption of rules to establish fees for overweight divisible load permits and report the results of the study to the General Assembly. "By allowing permits to be used in moving overweight loads through Indiana, the process for transporting goods will be streamlined. The number of loads will be reduced meaning less fuel consumption and lower emissions. The proposed regulations will put Indiana under the same regulations that neighboring states abide by, including Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky,” said Rep. Slager. The bill was co-authored by Reps. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler), Vernon Smith (D-Gary) and Matt Lehman (R-Berne). -30-
Rep. Slager (R-Schererville) represents portions of Lake County. Rep. Slager serves on the Ways and Means Committee and the Select Committee on Government Reduction.
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