During Tuesday's legislative floor period, State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, and State Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, pushed through a bill which will ensure that area loggers will be able to compete in today's global marketplace.
"The logging industry is the number two industry in our state and the linchpin of our manufacturing base. Since 2000, over 15,000 jobs have been lost due to global competition and increased fuel costs. For example, Smart Papers in Park Falls was forced to close its pulping operation and may be cutting back further. In just that one mill, over 300 area jobs are at risk. We need to take action before it becomes too late," explained Jauch.
Assembly Bill 678, on which Jauch and Sherman have worked for two legislative sessions, passed the Senate in its final hurdle before reaching Gov. Jim Doyle's desk. The measure increases the weight logging trucks may carry if they add an additional axle and obtain a permit.
Under current law, trucks can carry 98,000 pounds of cargo for four winter months each year. This measure allows logging trucks to carry that weight limit year-long if the trucks are equipped with an extra set of brakes and one additional axle. Adding the axle will significantly help to distribute the weight of the truck more evenly, actually making hauling heavy loads easier on our roads and safer than before. Moreover, industry representatives estimate that the changes will save approximately 26,600 logging truck trips each year.
"It has been a long haul," Sherman said, "But we are finally nearing the end." Sen. Jauch and Rep. Sherman collaborated on the bill with their colleague on the other side of the aisle, Rep. Donald Friskem R-Merrill, who shares their commitment to maintain a healthy logging industry in Wisconsin. "With the virtual disappearance of railroads in the north," Sherman continued, "increased trucking capacity is essential for the forest products industry to remain economically viable."
To ensure compliance within the industry, the bill doubles overweight penalties. Both Jauch and Sherman lobbied for even stricter penalties, which the industry supported. The amounts reached were the result of weeks of compromise among legislators, state and county officials, and industry representatives. But all agree that the issue of penalties may be revisited in the future.
AB 678 will also allow the affected counties to keep the forfeitures for penalties in exchange for providing enforcement of the new requirements.
The measure has been sent to Gov. Doyle and it is expected that he will sign it into law.Ironwood Daily Globe
