“The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Truckload Carriers Association all oppose efforts to increase truck size and weight. Meanwhile, the Shippers Coalition and American Farm Bureau Federation supported heavier trucks.

With Congress in the early stages of drafting a new highway bill, the hearing served as an opportunity for the groups to make their pitches to members of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

The current weight limit is 80,000 pounds. In recent years, there have been efforts in Congress to increase the limit to 91,000 pounds.

“Some shippers, large carriers and specific industries continue to claim increasing truck size and weight is good for trucking,” OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh said in his testimony. “Make no mistake, these are losing propositions for truckers and highway safety. I want to especially caution new members of the committee about supporting these controversial proposals – one vote to increase today’s limits will have every group that wants special treatment expecting you to support their specific carve-out for the rest of your tenure.”

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