WASHINGTON – Individual states would be able to boost interstate weight limits to 97,000 pounds for six-axle tractor-trailers if a new bill before the Senate is passed.

The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act — introduced by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — would allow shippers to transport extra cargo per trailer, while reducing fuel consumption, trucking and shipping advocates say.

An identical companion bill is also being considered in the House of Representatives.

"Many trucks now hit the federal weight limit with space left in their trailers," said Crapo.

Increasing the weight limit and the number of allowable axles from five to six would reduce shipping costs and make U.S. goods more competitive with Canada and other countries with higher weight limits," he added.

The American Trucking Associations also supports the bill

"More efficient trucks, like those allowed under this legislation, will significantly reduce the trucking industry’s carbon output," said ATA President Bill Graves.

If weight restrictions don’t change, in the future the economy would require 18 percent more trucks driving 27 percent more miles than they do now, says ATA.

A handful of New England states recently approved pilot projects that increase the load limit on certain highways up to 100, 000 lbs.

The move places states like Maine and Vermont closer in line with bordering provinces New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec.