Group forms to protest new bill allowing heavier truck weights

Trucking safety measures could take a hit if the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passes a bill eliminating safety precautions aimed at protecting truckers from health risks, according to a group of protesters who gathered recently in Washington, D.C.

Protesting the bill at a recent press conference was a group including representatives from labor, law enforcement, local government, AAA, safety groups and families of truck crash victims, as well as Democratic U.S. Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.

"Unfortunately, Congressional leaders are tone deaf to public concerns when special trucking interests come around," said Joan Claybrook, chair emeritus, public citizen and chair of the Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways. "They ignore the truth that a state option will produce more profits for the trucking industry and more obituaries for innocent families and truck drivers."

Some of the regulations that could be passed would allow 97,000-pound six-axle singles on Interstate highways and 126,000-pound trucks on 25-mile Interstate segments by permit. 

The Association of American Railroads also staunchly opposes the new bill, believing it would lead to the acceleration of damage to the nation's roads and bridges, while also increasing the rates for taxpayers.

Group forms to protest new bill allowing heavier truck weights

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012