The Hill reported that the U.S. Senate voted against provisions for increasing the length of twin-trailer trucks allowed on U.S. roads.

According to The Hill, the current limit on length for double-trailer rigs is 28 feet, with the trucking industry pushing for an extension to 33 feet.

With a 56-31 vote against, the Senate will instruct negotiators of the highway bill to oppose such an extension, which is already illegal in 38 states, noted The Hill.

The outcome of the vote was a disappointment for trucking groups such as the American Trucking Associations.

“It is unfortunate the Senate has chosen to give up on what could be a very beneficial change in policy,” said ATA CEO Bill Graves in a statement. “This modest increase in tandem trailer length would reduce the number of truck trips needed to move an increasing amount of freight while making better use of a dwindling pool of drivers. This common sense solution holds the potential to ease congestion, reduce emissions and improve the efficiency of the supply chain.”

In his statement, Graves maintained that the benefits of an extension to double-trailer rig lengths make it inevitable.

“There are so many upsides to the use of twin 33s that it is inevitable this change will come to pass. Decision makers cannot continue to embrace unsafe and unproductive strategies, and expect to have this nation’s freight continue to get delivered,” said Graves. “Ultimately the economy will win this debate.”