Now more than ever, it’s critical that members of Congress see beyond the special interests to understand why the SAFE Trucking Act (H.R. 3488) makes sense. As a longtime leader in law enforcement, I’ve seen first-hand the power of these vehicles to reduce highway congestion and improve safety.

First, it’s important to remember that the higher weight limit allowed by the SAFE Trucking Act would only apply to trucks with six axles rather than the usual five. Without changing the size of the truck, this bridge formula compliant configuration adds four additional tires to better displace the weight (and significantly reduce pavement wear). But more importantly, it adds additional braking capacity. Federal tests show that the SAFE Trucking Act configuration actually stops one foot faster than today’s typical 18 wheelers loaded to 80,000 pounds.

And by giving all states the option to safely utilize these trucks on their Interstate highways, the SAFE Trucking Act would allow the entire country to benefit from the same scenario that has made highways in my home state of Maine both safer and more productive.

Like many states, Maine has long utilized heavier, six-axle trucks on state roads, and in 2011, Congress gave our state the ability to integrate our state and Interstate truck weight limits, allowing these trucks on Interstate highways –the safest place for truck traffic. As a result, Maine’s roads have never been safer. Highway fatalities have reached a 70-year low, and our state’s manufacturers are benefiting from a more efficient logistics network that optimizes our already tight highway repair budget.

With passage of the SAFE Trucking Act, other states would be able to see these same safety and productivity benefits. The reality is that heavier trucks are already traveling on state and local roads in many states— often at weights far greater than those proposed in the SAFE Trucking Act and often on five axles, which are far less capable and take longer to stop than the six-axle SAFE Trucking Act configuration. These states need the flexibility to do what Maine did and transition heavier traffic to more capable Interstate highways.

Perhaps even more significant from a safety standpoint, the SAFE Trucking Act allows the U.S. Department of Transportation to require additional safety technology before these heavier trucks are authorized on roads. Such a safety boost could come in the form of forward collision avoidance technology that automatically brakes the truck if it is closing too fast on an object ahead, roll stability control, or even disc brakes.

I’m calling on Congress to overlook the industry shouting match and look at the facts. Just take it from Maine: The SAFE Trucking Act is a win-win for public safety and cash-strapped state governments. And from a safety perspective, we can no longer afford not to have this legislation in place.