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“During the proposed pilot program, the Department of Transportation would track crashes and determine whether heavier trucks cause more injuries and fatalities – effectively turning other drivers into “guinea pigs,” according to the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks. That group comprises law enforcement, independent truck drivers, engineers, elected officials and rail freight interests that compete with the trucking industry. Hawkins’ daylong visit to the Capitol to lobby Arizona lawmakers was organized by the group. He and counterparts from Louisiana and Illinois highlighted concerns…

“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 large shipping companies that would allow heavier and…

“Fatalities involving large trucks on Kansas and Missouri roads have spiked dramatically over the last decade, according to recently released federal data, underscoring why area lawmakers must fight renewed efforts in Washington, D.C., and our state capitols to allow even bigger semitrucks on the nation’s highways. New findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that annual fatalities in Missouri resulting from crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022, from 92 fatalities to 146. In…

“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 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…

“Policymakers and lawmakers have known for years about the dangerous and deadly relationship between safety and truck weight. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study final report to Congress. The report recommended against any increases in the size or weight of trucks. It documented serious safety problems, finding a 47% to 400% higher crash rate for heavier trucks when compared to standard 80,000-pound trucks, in limited state testing. The report concluded…

“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 most recent. The national trend tracks with big increases in states as geographically diverse as Missouri, where deadly crashes with large trucks…

“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…

“In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its final Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study report to Congress. The report recommended against any increases in the size or weight of trucks. It documented serious safety problems, finding a 47% to 400% higher crash rate for heavier trucks when compared to standard 80,000-pound trucks, in limited state testing. The report concluded that heavier trucks have a higher out-of-service violation rate and an 18% higher brake violation rate when compared…