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Innovative solutions are required to address our pressing transportation and infrastructure needs. But allowing heavier and longer trucks on our roadways – as many are pressing Congress to do – is not one of them. This would create an urgent threat, indeed. Read More+…

“When I see proposals that will directly impact law enforcement’s ability to protect the public, I feel a necessity to speak out. One such issue involves proposals at the state capital and in Washington that would permit heavier trucks on our roads. Not only do bigger trucks cause more damage to roads and bridges, but they also threaten the safety of the public.” Read More+  …

As an environmentalist and local elected official in Hamden, I am deeply concerned about renewed efforts underway that would allow massive trucks on the roads, which would increase pollution, undermine motorist safety and damage roads and bridges. Current proposals in Congress include increasing the weight limit of trucks from 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds and the length of double trailer trucks from 81 feet to 91 feet. Members of the Connecticut congressional delegation even supported at one point increasing truck…

In North Texas, we need innovative solutions to address our pressing transportation and infrastructure needs. As we return to more in-person work, school and leisure, we will get back on the road, and our frustrating traffic and road infrastructure problems will return, too. One thing that will not solve this problem is allowing heavier and longer trucks on our roadways — as many are pressing Congress to do. Read More+…

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The poll, commissioned by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks and conducted by McLaughlin and Associates, showed a strong majority of respondents (57 percent to 27 percent) oppose legislation currently under consideration in the Indiana General Assembly that would increase the maximum weight of trucks from 80,000 pounds to 120,00 pounds. When asked whose opinion they trusted most on this issue, 52 percent of respondents said law enforcement and safety groups followed by truck drivers at 24 percent – two groups…

Smaller truck owners say this is going to be dangerous for the trucks and the drivers. Adding that many won’t be able to maneuver the trucks if they get longer, AND THAT the roads may not be able to handle the weights. “When the maximum weight and length of a vehicle exceeds our infrastructure capabilities, that’s when we have safety and infrastructure issues,” said Arik Spencer of the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association. Read More+…

“Heavier trucks cause more damage to roads,” Hanwell said. “Heavier trucks take longer to stop and cause more damage when involved in crashes. Trucks using our square have difficulty with turning radius of existing corners going up over curbs or handicap accessible sidewalks. To permit those trucks to be longer would further (exacerbate) these problems. The sidewalks and corners of our square are used daily by schoolchildren going to Garfield Elementary and Claggett Middle schools.” Read More+…

“Trucking already suffers from overcapacity – too many trucks, trailers and drivers,” Pugh wrote in a recent letter to Pressel. He said his point is reflected by wages, working conditions, and rampant driver turnover. “Rather than address real trucking issues, you are leading the charge on a bill that will hasten the deterioration of Indiana’s already crumbling infrastructure, reduce margins of safety, and ultimately give a competitive advantage to the largest economic interests in trucking,” Pugh wrote. Read More+…

Public safety officials are concerned because heavier trucks could cause more devastating crashes and decrease a truck driver’s ability to come to a safe stop.  Some are also concerned about whether a weight increase would damage roads. Read More+…