The Weight of Progress
Georgia’s Agribusiness Trucking Industry Prepares for a Legislative Crossroads
Winter 2025
By John Casey
The hum of Georgia’s rural highways is moret han background noise— it’s the heartbeat of an industry that powers the state’s economy. Trucks carrying forest products navigate small towns and country roads, creating lifelines between forests and mills, livelihoods and markets, communities and progress. These vital connections sustain entire ways of life and fuel industries that stretch far beyond the woods. As Georgia’s legislature revisits truck weight limits in the 2025 session, the future of these essential supply chains hangs in the balance.
In 2023, Georgia lawmakers provided a temporary lifeline by raising the allowable truck weight limit on state roads to 88,000 pounds. However, this measure will expire on July 1, 2025, unless new legislation makes it permanent. As the state’s forestry and agribusiness sectors brace for this pivotal decision in the upcoming legislative session, the stakes are clear: maintaining higher weight limits is critical for efficiency, safety and the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s rural economy and communities.
In 2023, Georgia lawmakers provided a temporary lifeline by raising the allowable truck weight limit on state roads to 88,000 pounds. However, this measure will expire on July 1, 2025, unless new legislation makes it permanent. As the state’s forestry and agribusiness sectors brace for this pivotal decision in the upcoming legislative session, the stakes are clear: maintaining higher weight limits is critical for efficiency, safety and the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s rural economy and communities.
A CRUCIAL LIFELINE
For Harry Sanders, a third-generation logger with Sanders Logging based in Cochran, Georgia, the increased truck weight limits have been nothing short of monumental.
“Everything in our business is calculated in tons,” said Sanders. “So, for every load now we’re able to haul two more legal tons, which with the impact of inflation on the cost of goods, diesel, parts and service, those two extra tons help us out tremendously.
”Sanders moves an average of 200 loads weekly. The increased weight capacity has saved his business thousands annually, offsetting rising operating costs in a post-pandemic economy.
The added efficiency also addresses the growing driver shortage, a challenge faced daily by those in the industry.
“I find it easier to recruit gentlemen that might be on career number two than trying to hire somebody that’s 25. It’s getting harder and harder to fill these driving jobs,” said Sanders. “The two extra tons for me play a big part in fighting that.”
John Swain, a tenured driver with Mac44 Trucking, says the drop in the trucking workforce is tangible on the roads.
“I feel like the trucking industry is down. They need more drivers, bottom line. Especially out here in the logging world, right now they could really use about three to four more trucks per logging job, but it’s not available,” said Swain. “I just finished pulling for one crew and had to drive 40 minutes to help another because they didn’t have enough drivers.”
ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY FOR SAFETY
Critics often cite safety concerns as a reason to oppose higher truck weights, but industry experts and operators argue that modern technology has mitigated many of these risks. Disk brakes, electronic stability control and automated emergency braking systems are now standard on many trucks, providing consistent stopping power and reducing the likelihood of accidents.
“They used to say, ‘more weight can’t stop on a dime.’ That’s not the case anymore,” said Sanders, citing modern braking systems.
John Swain of Mac44Trucking, who has extensive experience hauling forest products at weight limits from 80,000 to 95,000 pounds, echoed similar sentiments.
“With these new trailers, with disc brakes, all tires — including all eight of them in the back — everything stops and everything’s in sync. It makes it a whole lot safer and a whole lot easier to stop,” said Swain.
A 2021 Insurance Institute for High-way Safety (IIHS) study found that forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems reduce the rate of front-to-rear crashes by 44%, making Georgia’s roads safer for everyone. Additionally, fewer trips mean less exposure to congested areas, further reducing the likelihood of accidents
KEEPING COMMUNITIES CONNECTED
Rural communities across Georgia thrive thanks to the forestry and agribusiness sectors, which support jobs, infrastructure and economic stability. Increased truck weights directly bolster these communities by lowering transportation costs and keeping goods moving efficiently.
The economic impact extends to local businesses that rely on affordable and timely logistics to remain competitive. “Every load we haul helps keep a small business alive, a family employed,” said Swain.
Higher weight limits not only improve efficiency but also reduce the strain on overstretched transportation networks, ensuring rural areas can meet modern demands. These measures preserve the resilience of Georgia’s rural economy, securing its role as a vital contributor to the state’s prosperity.
FEWER TRIPS, FEWER EMISSIONS
Higher truck weights also play a significant role in advancing sustainability goals. By hauling more per trip, operators reduce total vehicle miles traveled, lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions. For Georgia’s forestry and poultry sectors alone, this equates to eliminating 38,201 tons of CO2 annually — the equivalent of taking 8,306 cars off the road.
“For me, it’s less trips through an area,” said Sanders. “There’s less chance of an accident in some highly congested areas.
"Reducing emissions and fuel consumption is not only an environmental win but also a practical solution for businesses looking to operate more sustainably. These changes help Georgia’s forestry and agribusiness sectors align with broader environmental goals while maintaining their critical role in the state’s economy.
THE ROAD AHEAD
The ripple effects of this legislation extend far beyond the trucking industry. By supporting rural communities and ensuring that agribusinesses remain viable, higher truck weights safeguard thousands of jobs and sustain the fabric of Georgia’s rural economy.
Without action in the 2025 Georgia legislative session, the sunset provision will force operators to revert to the previous 84,000-pound limit, threatening the profitability and sustainability of businesses statewide.
“If it were to get taken away from us, it could potentially make people not hookup to a log trailer anymore,” said Sanders. “We need this to be able to be efficient and help our bottom line to make this even worth it.”
For Georgia’s forestry and agribusiness sectors, the decision isn’t just about economics — it’s about survival. The increased truck weights have proven their safety and sustainability, and the industry is united in its message to lawmakers: let’s keep Georgia moving forward.■
John Casey is a strategic communications professional who supports clients through the art of storytelling. In his downtime, John can be found hunting and fishing on his family’s centennial farm in Northwest Georgia.
For Harry Sanders, a third-generation logger with Sanders Logging based in Cochran, Georgia, the increased truck weight limits have been nothing short of monumental.
“Everything in our business is calculated in tons,” said Sanders. “So, for every load now we’re able to haul two more legal tons, which with the impact of inflation on the cost of goods, diesel, parts and service, those two extra tons help us out tremendously.
”Sanders moves an average of 200 loads weekly. The increased weight capacity has saved his business thousands annually, offsetting rising operating costs in a post-pandemic economy.
The added efficiency also addresses the growing driver shortage, a challenge faced daily by those in the industry.
“I find it easier to recruit gentlemen that might be on career number two than trying to hire somebody that’s 25. It’s getting harder and harder to fill these driving jobs,” said Sanders. “The two extra tons for me play a big part in fighting that.”
John Swain, a tenured driver with Mac44 Trucking, says the drop in the trucking workforce is tangible on the roads.
“I feel like the trucking industry is down. They need more drivers, bottom line. Especially out here in the logging world, right now they could really use about three to four more trucks per logging job, but it’s not available,” said Swain. “I just finished pulling for one crew and had to drive 40 minutes to help another because they didn’t have enough drivers.”
ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY FOR SAFETY
Critics often cite safety concerns as a reason to oppose higher truck weights, but industry experts and operators argue that modern technology has mitigated many of these risks. Disk brakes, electronic stability control and automated emergency braking systems are now standard on many trucks, providing consistent stopping power and reducing the likelihood of accidents.
“They used to say, ‘more weight can’t stop on a dime.’ That’s not the case anymore,” said Sanders, citing modern braking systems.
John Swain of Mac44Trucking, who has extensive experience hauling forest products at weight limits from 80,000 to 95,000 pounds, echoed similar sentiments.
“With these new trailers, with disc brakes, all tires — including all eight of them in the back — everything stops and everything’s in sync. It makes it a whole lot safer and a whole lot easier to stop,” said Swain.
A 2021 Insurance Institute for High-way Safety (IIHS) study found that forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems reduce the rate of front-to-rear crashes by 44%, making Georgia’s roads safer for everyone. Additionally, fewer trips mean less exposure to congested areas, further reducing the likelihood of accidents
KEEPING COMMUNITIES CONNECTED
Rural communities across Georgia thrive thanks to the forestry and agribusiness sectors, which support jobs, infrastructure and economic stability. Increased truck weights directly bolster these communities by lowering transportation costs and keeping goods moving efficiently.
The economic impact extends to local businesses that rely on affordable and timely logistics to remain competitive. “Every load we haul helps keep a small business alive, a family employed,” said Swain.
Higher weight limits not only improve efficiency but also reduce the strain on overstretched transportation networks, ensuring rural areas can meet modern demands. These measures preserve the resilience of Georgia’s rural economy, securing its role as a vital contributor to the state’s prosperity.
FEWER TRIPS, FEWER EMISSIONS
Higher truck weights also play a significant role in advancing sustainability goals. By hauling more per trip, operators reduce total vehicle miles traveled, lowering fuel consumption and carbon emissions. For Georgia’s forestry and poultry sectors alone, this equates to eliminating 38,201 tons of CO2 annually — the equivalent of taking 8,306 cars off the road.
“For me, it’s less trips through an area,” said Sanders. “There’s less chance of an accident in some highly congested areas.
"Reducing emissions and fuel consumption is not only an environmental win but also a practical solution for businesses looking to operate more sustainably. These changes help Georgia’s forestry and agribusiness sectors align with broader environmental goals while maintaining their critical role in the state’s economy.
THE ROAD AHEAD
The ripple effects of this legislation extend far beyond the trucking industry. By supporting rural communities and ensuring that agribusinesses remain viable, higher truck weights safeguard thousands of jobs and sustain the fabric of Georgia’s rural economy.
Without action in the 2025 Georgia legislative session, the sunset provision will force operators to revert to the previous 84,000-pound limit, threatening the profitability and sustainability of businesses statewide.
“If it were to get taken away from us, it could potentially make people not hookup to a log trailer anymore,” said Sanders. “We need this to be able to be efficient and help our bottom line to make this even worth it.”
For Georgia’s forestry and agribusiness sectors, the decision isn’t just about economics — it’s about survival. The increased truck weights have proven their safety and sustainability, and the industry is united in its message to lawmakers: let’s keep Georgia moving forward.■
John Casey is a strategic communications professional who supports clients through the art of storytelling. In his downtime, John can be found hunting and fishing on his family’s centennial farm in Northwest Georgia.
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Georgia Forestry Magazine is published by HL Strategy, an integrated marketing and communications firm focused on our nation's biggest challenges and opportunities. Learn more at hlstrategy.com
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