Truck weight and length limits continue to be debated

A recent vote by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ruled in favor of greater truck driving safety, when it decided to get rid of a proposal that would allow increased truck weights and lengths on roads throughout the United States, reported Land Line magazine.

"Today’s vote was a difficult one for many members of Congress because of the well-organized special interest groups advocating for bigger and heavier trucks," Laura O’Neill, director of government affairs for Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, told the magazine. "We applaud those members of Congress for their courage in standing up for safety, road quality, and for the small business drivers who would be hurt by these increases."

Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the OOIDA, told the magazine that the safety statistics of longer and heavier vehicles remain unknown, which is why the legislators made the right choice in scrapping the recent proposal. However, heavier and longer trucks could still be seen on the nation's highways because the subject could still be discussed on the House floor.  

According to The Tennessean, many big shippers are still pitching ideas to Congress for heavier truck weights, which would allow them to ship larger loads and make it easier to meet the needs of their clients.

Truck weight and length limits continue to be debated

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012