Winter Milk Hauling Bill Passes Pennsylvania Senate Committee

A Pennsylvania Senate panel has approved a bill to let milk trucks use highways during winter storms.

The Transportation Committee approved the measure April 26 despite some no votes from Democrats.

The state can ban commercial vehicles from highways during winter storms to reduce the risk of lengthy, life-threatening closures during blizzards.

Milk haulers have said their trucks are better equipped than other tractor-trailers to handle winter driving. Interstates often have better conditions than secondary roads and offer the best routes to certain milk plants.

But if tractor-trailers have to stop, state officials have said, the rigs often need to be dug out by special equipment, protracting the closure.

Travel restriction violators can be fined $300 plus fees.

Source: lancasterfarming.com