We Need to Support Eco-friendly Transportation Solutions

By: Leticia Rodriguez

Our country is more reliant than ever on shipping due to the e-commerce boost we saw during the pandemic, but antiquated regulations hinder the shipping industry from transporting more packages in a safer, more efficient, and most importantly, more sustainable way. Lawmakers now have the opportunity to enact much-needed legislation that modernizes regulations governing one of America's most important industries that's completely different than it was a decade ago.

While online shopping might seem like a simple press of a button, we must remember that the trucks on the road are the hardworking middlemen that are responsible for transporting nearly 70 percent of U.S. freight each year.

As the shipping industry is adapting to keep up with the uptick in e-commerce, there is a simple fix to make the delivery process more environmentally friendly and efficient, and that’s the federal adoption of “Twin 33” trailers. Twin 33s, which are two thirty-three-foot trailers attached to a truck cab, are a mere five-feet longer than the twenty-eight-foot trailers that are currently allowed federally. The difference, however, is that Twin 33s carry e-commerce goods at a higher capacity, deliver them far more efficiently, while also contributing substantial environmental benefits.

Among the long list of their benefits, Twin 33s have been shown to significantly lower CO2 emissions and reduce gas consumption. In fact, Americans for Modern Transportation estimated that if Twin 33s could operate in 2018, they would have reduced CO2 emissions by 3.12 million tons and saved 274 million gallons of fuel. Given the increase in e-commerce shipping, it stands to reason that Twin 33s would have reduced CO2 emissions by significantly more over the past few years.

Adding five feet to trailers would not add any additional weight to deliveries, as Twin 33 operators still have to abide by the current law limiting freight to an 80,000 pound weight limit. E-commerce packages are different from the standard pre-made box sizes, they are lighter and come in varying shapes and sizes, which means a Twin 33 truck will fill to capacity well before reaching the maximum weight limit. The subtle increase in length would instead increase cargo capacity by 18 percent, resulting in less trips and fewer hours spent on the road. Between the capacity increase and the substantial savings on gas and CO2 emissions, Twin 33s help foster incredible environmental gains.

Thankfully, Arizona is one of 20 states that allows Twin 33s to operate in-state, but federal regulations restrict trailers to twenty-eight-feet in length. We are fortunate to have lawmakers like Senator Kyrsten Sinema who understands the important role the cargo shipping industry plays in our economic recovery, and advocates for better sustainable shipping practices in Arizona.

Though our state allows Twin 33s, these trailers are still not yet legalized federally, leaving them unable to cross state lines. The inability of Twin 33s to cross state lines holds back Arizona’s opportunities for successful interstate commerce and holds back the rest of the country from reaching a new level of environmental sustainability and economic growth. In order for the country to move forward, we need lawmakers in Congress to recognize our modern transportation needs and fight for the federal legalization of Twin 33s.

Leticia Rodriguez is Carrier Development Manager with an international logistics firm and a proud Arizonan.