The Alabama Senate substantially changed a bill sought by the forestry industry on Tuesday, approving a compromise version that does not affect weight limits on log trucks.

The bill as originally written would have allowed log trucks to carry more weight per axle on Alabama highways.

The Alabama Department of Transportation opposed that change, saying the higher axle loads would damage roads and bridges and increase maintenance costs.

The Association of County Commissions of Alabama also opposed the change.

The amended bill did not change the axle load limits.

Instead, it addressed what the sponsor said was another concern of the logging industry – time lost by truck operators who are waiting on roadsides to be inspected and weighed on portable scales.

The bill, which had been in the works for weeks, came to the Senate floor Tuesday as lawmakers returned after a week off for spring break.

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The amended bill, by Sen. Jack Williams, a Republican from Mobile County, says state inspectors cannot have more than five trucks pulled over for weighing and inspection at any one time.

The current law has no limit on how many trucks can be pulled over to wait for inspection.

Williams said he knows of times when 20 or more trucks were pulled over, which he said was dangerous.

Williams said loggers cannot afford the delays because they generally need to haul four loads a day to make money.

“Three loads they break even. The fourth load is their profit,” Williams said.

Williams said the bill streamlines the process for a truck operator or owner to get a ticket dismissed in cases when a weigh-in by permanent scales shows that the portable scales were inaccurate.

Williams said the change could help keep the truck driver or owner from having to take a day off work to appear in court to get a ticket dismissed.

Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, worked with Williams on amending the bill.

Chambliss, a civil engineer, was opposed to the increased axle loads in the original bill.

“That was the major concern with the bill,” Chambliss said. “We’ve already increased tandem axle weights above what the engineering data says. That was done a long time ago.

“The request was to go above that. And I just felt strongly that was going to do significant damage to our roads and bridges.”

The Alabama Transportation Institute at the University of Alabama reviewed ALDOT’s findings that the increased axle loads would damage roads and agreed.

The ATI said heavier axles put more stress on bridges, potentially exceeding design limits and requiring more bridges to have weight restrictions or be strengthened.

Heavier axles can cause increased deflection, or bending of bridges, increasing the chances of cracked concrete bearings and misaligned bearings, especially on older bridges, the ATI said.

Repeated exposure to higher axle weights could shorten the lifespan of steel and concrete bridge components, the ATI said.

Chambliss said the amended bill, setting the limit of five trucks in line for weighing and inspection and streamlining the appeal process, was a logical compromise.

“That’s beneficial to everybody,” Chambliss said. “Not only for the traveling public but also to the loggers who are trying to make a living.

“It keeps those on the side of the road doing the weighing, keeps them safer. It’s just better for everybody to do it that way. So I was glad we came to a real logical conclusion on that part.”

Williams, the bill sponsor, called the compromise a “win-win.” He also said he expects to try again with legislation to increase axle loads.

Williams said if log trucks are hauling 40-foot logs, they will exceed the axle limit unless they carry no more than about half of a full load.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 32-0. It moves to the House.