ACTION NEEDED TO PREVENT HEAVIER TRUCKS ON OUR ROADS
September 21, 2015
BACKGROUND:
Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI) introduced a bill to increase
the federal weight limit for large trucks from 80,000-lbs. to
91,000-lbs. Based on a letter he sent to Department of
Transportation (DOT) Secretary Foxx detailing his eagerness to see the
results of the Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study
(Study), it is surprising that Rep. Ribble ignored the results. The
DOT concluded that there should be no increase to truck size and
weight due to a lack of data.
There was so little national data regarding six-axle
91,000-lbs. trucks that the DOT could only use one state,
Washington, to study this configuration. In that state, these heavier
trucks experienced a 47 percent increase in crash rate. Moreover,
the Technical Report of the Study found that truck configurations
operating over 80,000-lbs. had 18 percent more brake violations and a
higher number of brake violations per inspection.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS EITHER BY PHONE OR EMAIL, AND URGE HIM/HER TO OPPOSE H.R. 3488.
TALKING POINTS:
- Every year on average 4,000 people are killed in truck crashes in the U.S. and another 100,000 are injured.
- According to 2013 U.S. DOT data, fatality figures have increased for the fourth year in a row - a 17 percent increase in truck crash deaths since 2009.
- Public opinion polls are clear and consistent - Americans strongly oppose bigger trucks.
- In addition to a wide coalition of safety advocates, leading trucking groups, including the Truckload Carriers Association and the Trucking Alliance, oppose this measure.
- The annual cost to society from crashes involving Commercial Motor Vehicles is estimated to be over $99 billion
- Big rigs carrying loads close to the current Federal Limit (65,000 to 80,000 lbs.) are already twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as trucks carrying less than 50,000 lbs.
- Overweight trucks disproportionately damage the already
deteriorated roads and bridges. An 18,000 lb. truck axle
creates over 3,000 times more damage to pavement than a
passenger vehicle axle.
Congress Must Do All It Can To Improve Truck Safety And Keep Our Roads Safe
Increasing Truck Weights Will Not Do That!
