DETROIT—There is a push in Washington DC to allow more weight in semi-trucks. But Roseville Police Chief James Berlin hopes to lead the fight against heavier truck loads hitting the highways and streets. “Last year in the state of Michigan we had 107 people killed in truck crashes,” said Berlin. “That was a 47 percent increase from the year before. You add bigger, heavier trucks and that’s only going to go up.” Now there is an effort to increase the…
WKOW-TV (ABC 27 Madison, WI): Local Police Chief heads to D.C. to oppose proposal to increase weight and size of trucks
MADISON, Wis.—Congress is considering legislation to increase the size and weight limits for trucks. Companies like FedEx and UPS are lobbying to require every state to allow longer double-trailer trucks, also called “Double 33’s or Pups,” which are 17ft longer than typical 53ft trucks. The proposal also seeks to increase national truck weights from 80,000 pounds to 91,000. Stoughton’s Chief of Police Gregory Leck is heading to Washington on behalf of the state to encourage lawmakers to oppose it. “The…
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star: State troopers union president opposes larger trucks proposal
LINCOLN, Neb.—The president of the State Troopers Association of Nebraska will travel to Washington this week to express opposition to legislative proposals to increase the size and weight limits for trucks that are allowed to travel on the nation’s highways. “As trucks get bigger, so do the public safety risks on our roadways,” State Trooper Brian Petersen said. “There’s no place on our roadways these longer and heavier trucks can safely operate,” he said. While the concern of state troopers…
The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS): Congressional proposal would tear up Mississippi roads, bridges
JACKSON, Miss.—Prosperity rides on good roads. The first question a new industry asks when evaluating potential location sites, is, “how do I get raw materials in and how do I get finished products out.” That brings me to why I wrote this piece. Congress has debated for years whether to increase the weight and lengths of tractor-trailer trucks on our Interstates, which would impact roads across Mississippi and the nation. They are lobbying for longer double-trailer trucks — sometimes called “Double…
WCAV-TV (CBS 19 News Charlottesville, VA): IIHS Emphasizes Safety Concerns with Bigger Trucks
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says allowing more weight on vehicles will increase the potential for more accidents. Earlier this month, Delegate Scott Garrett of Lynchburg (R-23rd) proposed legislation asking the Virginia Department of Transportation to form a work group to study the impacts heavier trucks would have on Virginia roads. The study would primarily focus on safety, efficiency and infrastructure impacts. Allowing the study would permit Virginia to be eligible to partake in future federal pilot programs.…
The Hill: Local officials warn Congress against bigger trucks
WASHINGTON—Local officials are urging members of Congress to steer clear of any provisions that would allow longer or heavier trucks to operate on roads. A group of 1,000 local leaders, including current mayors and county officials, argued in a letter to lawmakers that allowing heavier or longer trucks on roads will destroy infrastructure that their governments cannot afford to repair. “Allowing heavier and longer trucks will most certainly set us back in our efforts,” the letter reads. “Longer and heavier…
1,000 Community Leaders Deliver Letter to Congress Opposing Bigger Tractor-Trailers
Over 1,000 local government leaders – including mayors, county engineers and public works directors – wrote a letter this week to Congress asking policymakers to oppose any increases in truck size or weight, including longer double-trailer trucks and heavier single-trailer trucks. The letter, entitled “Bigger Trucks: Bad for America’s Local Communities,” was delivered on Thursday, Feb. 22, to Capitol Hill offices. Click here to read the letter. “The letter sends a powerful message to lawmakers in Washington to maintain commonsense…
Bill to explore heavier trucks on Va. roads gets another green light
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia is exploring the option of bringing heavier trucks to its roads. Right now, most tractor-trailers can weigh in at a maximum of 80,000 pounds. Lawmakers want to know what would happen at 91,000 pounds. Del. T. Scott Garrett (R-Lynchburg) introduced HB1276. It calls for VDOT to form a work group to study the impact of heavier trucks. The workgroup would examine things like safety, congestion and road wear and tear. It’s all in case Virginia opts to…
Bill to study heavier trucks on Virginia roads gets rolling
RICHMOND — Members of the House Transportation Committee approved a plan Thursday to study allowing heavier trucks on Virginia’s roads. Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg, proposed legislation for Virginia’s Department of Transportation to convene a work group to examine safety, efficiency and infrastructure issues involved with allowing heavier tractor-trailers on state roads. Garrett’s proposal would gather stakeholders to study the impact to the commonwealth if Virginia were to participate in a federal pilot program that would allow six-axle trucks weighing up…
Could ‘Super Trucks’ be hitting our roads soon?
Lawmakers in Virginia are considering allowing a vehicle called “Super Trucks” onto I-81. These Super Trucks would be able to carry 90,000 pounds of cargo or more, and that could mean being able to tow not one, not two, but three trailers behind them. Driving along side of tractor trailers is an everyday situation while traveling on I-81. “I’ve had many times where I’ve had one infront of you, one behind you, and one on the side of you,” said…