News

“The summer automobile travel season is kicking off just as new federal data shows that deadly crashes involving big trucks have surged. New findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show annual fatalities resulting from crashes with large trucks have climbed 50.5% between 2012 and 2022 – 3,944 deaths in 2012 and 5,936 in 2022. A total of 52,252 people across the nation died in collisions with big trucks during that time. NHTSA data compiled for 2022 is the…

“The national trend tracks with big increases in states as geographically diverse as Missouri, where deadly crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022; Alabama, up 45% during the same time period, with California up 67%, Texas up 41% and Georgia up 73%. But as troubling as the new figures are, yearly fatalities are likely to grow even more if some in Congress have their way. Lawmakers are currently debating at least three legislative proposals promoted by…

“The national trend tracks with big increases in states as geographically diverse as Missouri, where deadly crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022; Alabama, up 45% during the same time period, with California up 67%, Texas up 41% and Georgia up 73%. But as troubling as the new figures are, yearly fatalities are likely to grow even more if some in Congress have their way. Lawmakers are currently debating at least three legislative proposals promoted by…

“Thanks to a unanimous vote by the Colfax County Commission during the meeting of May 28, bigger trucks carrying heavier loads will not be rolling over Raton Pass any time soon. The commission voted with the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, taking a strong position against any possibility of contributing to greater danger on the road, even if, at this time, the trucks would be tested.” Read More+…

“Trustee May Albrecht requested the items about the proclamation for Anti-Human Trafficking Month and a letter regarding federal legislation allowing larger trucks on roadways. The motion to pass the consent agenda without these items was approved unanimously…For the item involving the letter for trucks on roadways, Trustee Albrecht wanted clarification on how the town would classify certain trucks as being too large for roadways. This comes after the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks reached out to the town board about authorizing…

“Leaders in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, are reaffiriming their position on two bills that would allow heavier trucks on highways across the country. The county commissioners say the bills would force New Jersey and localities to allow heavy tractor-trailers on their roads due to the multi-state pilot project. The new allowed weight would be 91,000 pounds (45.5 tons), up from 80,000 pounds (40 tons), the board said in a news release. The commissioners say many of the small and historic…

“The Hunterdon County Commissioners on April 16 renewed their opposition to two bills in the U.S. House of Representatives that would, if signed into law, allow heavier and longer trucks on U.S. interstate highways and potentially local roads….At the time the board took that action two county bridges were damaged by trucks.” Read More+…

“Congress is contemplating increasing truck weights to 91,000 pounds from the current national standard of 80,000 pounds. As mayor of Kentwood and a professional engineer, I am deeply concerned about the surge in heavier trucks that would likely reduce the service life of the country’s already crumbling infrastructure if proposed legislation like H.R. 3372 passes.” “To address these concerns, the state and federal government must invest in rigorous testing protocols for both concrete and asphalt pavements and ensure the safety…

“Proposed legislation would create a “pilot project” to allow trucks to operate at 91,000 pounds, an increase of 5.5 tons. Increasing truck weights will make these already dangerous vehicles even more dangerous for all of us. It’s just common sense that bigger trucks carry extra risk on the road and are likely to cause more crashes.” “We do not need to raise the weights to see the danger these vehicles are having on our roads. There are safer methods of…

“Federal lawmakers are attempting to impose massively larger trucks on Georgia roads following similar attempts last year by state lawmakers….Allowing any weight increase on tractor-trailers would be a step in the wrong direction, especially considering GDOT is taking steps towards creating a “truck-only” lane to provide a safety benefit by eliminating the interaction between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. These heavier trucks would not only be traveling on interstates – they would be traveling in town on local roads to…