The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will begin a twelve-month pilot program to assess the feasibility of increasing the permitted load limit for intermodal container trucks from the current Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 90,000 pounds to 100,000 pounds.

The pilot program will be limited to a small segment of the container truck industry. It will apply to trucks with five or more axles carrying 40-foot refrigerated intermodal containers.

South Carolina Secretary of Transportation H.B. “Buck” Limehouse Jr. said the pilot program is an effort to assist the South Carolina State Ports Authority in developing new business and jobs for the state.

“One of the roles of the state’s transportation system is to enhance and promote the economic development of South Carolina,” Limehouse said. “By implementing this pilot program, we are glad to assist the Ports Authority in developing business and job opportunities for our citizens.”

 The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA), which has invested more than $31 million in new refrigerated container yard capacity, thanked SCDOT for implementing the pilot program.

“The Port of Charleston's competitive position is greatly enhanced by this action,” said Jim Newsome, president & CEO of the SCSPA.  “This will be a boon for many of our state's industries, our container line customers, truckers, brokers and others that serve this business.  We greatly appreciate the efforts of Secretary Limehouse and SCDOT, as well as the cooperation of the South Carolina trucking community.”

The pilot program duration will be from Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2010, with an option to extend the test period further with the approval of the Deputy Secretary for Engineering.

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