“Heavier trucks could start using the nation’s highways and bridges if a bill to increase tractor trailer weights from 40 to 45 tons passes Congress.
The measure, which was voted out of a congressional committee in May 2023, is being supported by a coalition of shippers, manufacturers, agribusinesses and trade groups that contends allowing heavier trucks would make those industries more productive.
Opponents, which include several members of the New Jersey congressional delegation and Hunterdon County commissioners, are concerned about what heavier trucks would do to worsen the condition of aging bridges and highway pavement and about highway safety.
The bill would allow these 45-ton tractor-trailers to be allowed on roads, voluntarily, in 10 states. Roughly 28 states, predominately in the North and Midwest, permit these tractor-trailers on interstate highways. New York, and most New England states except Connecticut are among them. New Jersey is not.
U.S Rep. Tom Kean Jr, R-7th Dist., opposed the bill. He and the late U.S. Rep Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist., voted against it in May 2023 when it was before the house Transportation and Infrastructure committee which they are members of, according to congressional records.
“Congressman Kean is concerned with the safety of our drivers in passenger cars sharing the roadways with these larger trucks,” said Dan Scharfenberger, a Kean spokesperson. “Heavier trucks mean more wear-and-tear on our roadways, which is maintained by the NJDOT and local governments. This means more taxpayer dollars spent on maintaining roadways.”