Squabbles about weight limits for trucks rolling through Mississippi were noteworthy staples of past legislative sessions.
I don’t remember a good knock-down, drag-out between lawmakers and Big Trucking taking place at the Capitol over weight limits in years. I wonder who and what took the fight out of these former adversaries?
Perhaps it’s because companies operating vast numbers of 18-wheeler trucks on the roads today, in addition to heavier hauls, are carrying, shall we say, heavier influence among state and federal lawmaking bodies, tending to stymie the weight-limit brouhaha.
I also wonder if the traveling public has noticed that the truck weight scale operations located at major entry and exit points in Mississippi are mostly shut down.
Many, if not most, large trucks today are equipped with “Weigh-in-Motion” electronic devices that are used to gauge their poundage while continuing their trip. Obviously, this reduces the need for states to man and operate the truck weighing stations at most entrances and exits.
While some small trucks do not possess the required technology for weighing them on the move, they apparently are also being given the free pass to keep on rolling.
Mississippi law requires trucks carrying more than 10,000 pounds to stop at truck scales. The lawful maximum weight limit per truck is 80,000 pounds.
Also, adjoining states often have agreements to split the check-weight duties. Mississippi and Louisiana, and perhaps Alabama, have had such a compact for years, lessening the requirement for some scale units.
The State of Mississippi quite possibly can no longer afford to operate the scales. That’s likely the reason why so many welcome center “pit stops” are closed throughout the state.
One of those quick stops for travelers, the large welcome center east of Meridian along Interstates 20/59 and U.S. Highway 80, has been shuttered for several months “due to repairs,” according to signs near the site, traditionally one of our busiest for motorists.
I sent questions to the Mississippi Department of Transportation about this situation, but received no response. I’ve come to not expect a response from them.
I’ve harped on these transportation-welcome center problems for years because Mississippi should treat its visitors and motorists better. Mississippi can never become a Florida, the supreme state for travelers when considering its large number of rest stops and other highway security assets, but we can do better — if we would, and apparently we won’t.
Florida maintains top-flight rest stops every 40 miles along I-10 and other interstate routes. Their truck weight checkpoints are all open for business. Mississippi’s interstate stops are either shuttered or in a not-so-shiny condition.
There was a time, before the coming of the interstates, when the state offered “picnic” rest stops along other highways, but they’re mostly eliminated.
You must also keep an eye out if you are speeding in Florida — and who’s not? — for the high number of state patrol units in the Sunshine State.
On a recent-midweek trip from McComb to Mobile via U.S. 98, I failed to spot a state trooper. I rarely see a highway patrolman on any Mississippi road.
With a precious few days left in the legislative session, transportation and motorists’ got attention from lawmakers through a hike in the gasoline tax. Mississippi’s current gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon is second lowest in the nation.
MDOT welcomed that idea to make road and service improvements. And as taxpayers pay more for fuel, they will see tax relief through a phased-in elimination of the state income tax and a cut in the state’s grievously high grocery tax. Nobody put up much of a fight over that deal.
Mac Gordon, a native of McComb, is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.
