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“The Oklahoma Nurses Association (ONA) has been keeping a close eye on key public safety issues for all Oklahomans — especially the efforts by the trucking and shipping industry to allow both bigger and heavier trucks on state roads. Some of the country’s largest corporations have been lobbying Congress to increase the allowable size and weight of trucks on roads. These corporations are working to convince their supporters in Congress that it is necessary, and they have persuaded lawmakers to…

“As leaders in local law enforcement, our duty is to serve and protect the people of Pennsylvania, which is why we cannot remain silent when bills such as H.R. 3372, which threatens the safety of our residents and those who are visiting our great commonwealth, by creating a 10-year pilot project allowing 91,000-pound trucks. One of the first responsibilities of our elected officials is public safety. We strongly urge our elected officials throughout the commonwealth to oppose the measure and…

“Pennsylvania is no stranger to truck traffic, especially since we have major routes such as I-95, I-80 and I-79, which all experience a high amount of commercial truck traffic already. And Pennsylvania police departments are already stretched thin responding to accidents involving trucks that are not as heavy as 91,000 pounds. Once you add more weight onto semi-trucks, police departments can expect crashes and injuries to climb. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) found that heavier trucks have…

“Pennsylvania’s police chiefs and their departments every day witness the dangers that tractor-trailers pose to motorists and our communities both big and small. Our collective experience as first responders to accidents has led us to the very rational conclusion that heavier trucks are more dangerous to motorists. That’s why over the years we have battled efforts by legislators in Congress to allow heavier trucks on our interstates. But some in Congress are now back at it again, with lawmakers weighing…

“The weight limit for large vehicles on Jefferson County-maintained roads has been reduced from 85,000 pounds to 68,000. County Judge Gerald Robinson confirmed the change Thursday, adding he posted the new weight limit on county roads going into the jurisdiction. The change also comes at a time when citizens have voiced their opinions about the condition of their roads, feeling Jefferson County isn’t doing enough to keep them up. “The road construction of a county road is not the same…

“Just how much damage heavy trucks cause to roadways is a hotly debated issue. One major trucking support group contends that “properly designed” roads don’t suffer any more damage from heavy trucks than from passenger cars. But if you’ve tried avoiding potholes with your trailer, or bumped your motorhome over washboarded off-ramps, you may think differently.” Read More+…

“In their letter opposing HR3372, stakeholders reminded House leadership that previous attempts in Congress to allow heavier trucks have consistently failed. A 2016 U.S. Department of Transportation report found that heavier trucks would lead to billions of dollars of additional costs to highway infrastructure. That report recommended that Congress not approve any increase in truck weight. Although the pilot program is for trucks operating on interstates only, the coalition pointed out that heavier trucks would affect local roads and bridges,…

“Congressional proposals to increase truck size and weight limits are out of touch with the reality of the 2022 NHTSA data and the findings of the 2016 Department of Transportation’s Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study, which called for no increases in relevant truck size and weight laws due to a lack of data. This study found that heavier trucks had anywhere from 47% to 400% higher crash rates in limited state testing. That finding should be enough to…

“Despite the dangers already on the roads, corporate interests are working with members of Congress to find a way around the 80,000-pound federal weight limit, seeking to put far heavier semi-trucks on our roads. In February, lawmakers introduced the MOVE Act. This bill would grant governors the broad, unprecedented authority to raise interstate weight limits for emergencies and “other unusual conditions, including an open-ended definition of “supply chain disruptions.” This removes congressional authority over interstate commerce, allowing states to raise…

“The highways of Arkansas will become much more dangerous and deadly for state motorists if a federal proposal currently under consideration becomes law. The proposed federal legislation would increase the limits for tractor-trailer weights and sizes, creating unnecessary additional safety risks for the traveling public. From a safety perspective, the U.S. Department of Transportation found in their 2016 study that heavier trucks had higher crash rates. This proposal is being marketed in the form of a 10-year “pilot project” that…