Staff Report
Published Oct. 22, 2009

Heavier trucks may soon be traveling South Carolina’s highways.

In an effort to grow the port’s refrigerated container business, the S.C. Department of Transportation is starting a pilot program increasing weight load limits from 90,000 pounds to 100,000 pounds.

The weight limit increase will only apply to trucks with five or more axles carrying 40-foot refrigerated intermodal containers.

S.C. State Ports Authority officials are hoping to capture some of the state’s export poultry business that has been leaving the country via ports in Georgia and North Carolina because of South Carolina’s more restrictive weight limits. The increase could also benefit other refrigerated exports, a lucrative business for the port.

Transportation Secretary H.B. “Buck” Limehouse Jr., who is a non-voting member of the SPA board, said the pilot program is designed to assist the 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.

The SPA recently invested $31 million in new refrigerated container yard capacity.

“The Port of Charleston’s competitive position is greatly enhanced by this action,” said Jim Newsome, the SPA’s president and CEO. “This will be a boon for many of our state’s industries, our container line customers, truckers, brokers and others that serve this business and job opportunities for our citizens.”