Over 1,000 local government leaders – including mayors, county engineers and public works directors – wrote a letter in April to Congress asking policymakers to oppose any increases in truck size or weight, including longer double-trailer trucks and heavier single-trailer trucks. Click here to read more about the 2019 letter. In addition to the 1,000 community leaders opposed to bigger trucks, a 2018 poll found strong public opposition to heavier and longer tractor-trailers. The national live-operator poll found that 7 out…
Tulsa World (OK): Report ranks Oklahoma third in nation in poor bridges
“Like so many rural communities, my county is hard pressed to find the next nickel to keep up with our road and bridge maintenance,” said Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland. “Let me be clear, we’re nowhere close to being able to keep up now, but bigger trucks would incur such incredible infrastructure costs that I don’t see how we’d recover.” Oklahoma ranked behind Iowa and Pennsylvania in bad bridges, according to the group. The state had nearly 11% of its…
Pekin Daily Times (IL): Heavy truck traffic can mean heavy Pekin and state road deterioration
“If legal weight limits were increased on all highways governed by the State of Illinois, roads would likely deteriorate faster and more severely,” said Decker. “Allowing permitted weight limit increases would likely cause additional deterioration, but that could be offset by the fee charged for each permit that would go toward road repairs.” An opponent of larger trucks, Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel, president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to…
National Organizations Deliver Letter to Congress in Opposition to Bigger Trucks
As the 116th Congress considers solutions for repairing and improving the nation’s transportation infrastructure, national organizations are urging Congress to oppose any legislation that would increase maximum truck size or weight limits on federal highways, as well as any legislative language that would allow bigger trucks in individual states, including any “pilot programs.” Any change overturning current federal weight laws allowing heavier or longer tractor-trailers would have detrimental impacts on our national, county and local infrastructure, costing billions of dollars…
Route Fifty: Making the Case Against Bigger and Longer Trucks on Capitol Hill
“Heavier and longer trucks have impacts on infrastructure and raise safety concerns, due to the additional time and distance needed to stop. “Michigan is already home to some of the heaviest trucks in the nation, but most abide by the national standard due to the inability to travel far out of state at the heavier weight,” Grand Blanc Township Police Chief Ron Wiles said. “But you don’t have to drive far to see the impact these trucks have had on our roads and bridges.”…
WKBW Buffalo (NY): Congress asked to allow larger, longer trucks on U.S. roads
“The coalition was in Washington D.C. today to lobby against the idea and was joined by former president of the New York State Sheriff’s Association, Don Smith. “Troopers, sheriff’s and police chiefs across the country are against this. These longer, heavier trucks are dangerous on our nation’s highway,” Smith told 7 Eyewitness News reporter Ed Reilly.” Read more+…
Central Illinois Proud: Local police chief fights against bigger tractor trailers
“Newer members of congress are pushing for an increase in weight limit and size of 18-wheelers. The maximum allowed weight as of now for trucks is about 80,000 pounds. Lawmakers want to move that limit up to 91,000 pounds. The increase in weight would cause trouble on the roadways, both for infrastructure and motorists. Bartonville Police Chief, Brian Fengel says that would cause issues on the roads. ” I’m looking forward to talking to new members of congress and members…
Peoria Journal Star (IL): Bartonville police chief to lobby against bigger semi trucks
“Some ideas that have gained traction in Congress are to require states to allow longer double-trailer trucks that are 17 feet longer than the current 53-foot single-trailer trucks, according to the Coalition Against Big Trucks, of which Fengel is a member. Another measure is to increase increase national truck weights from the standard 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds. “Some of these trucks cannot clear intersections because their turning radius is too wide, while others have difficulty staying in their lanes.…
Times Observer (PA): Klakamp visits Pa. Congress to address larger trucks on roads
“The National Trooper Association, National Sheriff’s Association, and the International Chiefs of Police oppose longer trailers and heavier trucks,” Warren County Sheriff and President of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association Ken Klakamp said. “The increase of longer trailers and heavier trucks was defeated in the last session of Congress but is expected to be raised with the new Congress. In the last congressional session it was a bipartisan defeat.” On Tuesday, Klakamp addressed members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation and met with Congressmen…
Columbus Dispatch (OH): Police chiefs oppose plans for bigger freight trucks
“Our police chiefs oppose bigger trucks because they must protect the public, law-enforcement officers and others who work in these areas of risk. When law-enforcement officers patrol the highway, they are forced to contend with winter weather just like other motorists. Officers face enough dangers already and do not need bigger trucks in bad weather added to the traffic mix. Then, when working on the roadside for a crash scene or disabled vehicle, officers deal with snow, wind gusts and…