Lawmakers Propose Higher Truck Weight

OntarioVanMan · Aug 9, 2010

Lawmakers Propose Higher Truck Weight | Journal of Commerce
In the article it says it would create more driving jobs?
If the end result is to lessen the amount of trucks?
Is it my thinking?

William B. Cassidy | Aug 6, 2010 6:21PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story

Bill would allow states to raise limit from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds

Senators Thursday introduced a bill that would let states decide whether to allow tractor-trailers as heavy as 97,000 pounds on Interstate highways.

The legislation, known as the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, mirrors a bill introduced in the House last year backed by shippers and trucking companies.

It's the latest action in a long-running battle over the freeze on federal truck size and weight limits Congress imposed in the surface transportation law of 1991.

LDB · Aug 9, 2010

I hope my senators both oppose this. I will be calling to suggest they do.

OntarioVanMan · Aug 9, 2010

97,000 lbs hurtling down the highway at 70 mph, driven by some of the most irresponsible drivers ever.....imagine...

Moot · Aug 9, 2010

The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act is just what this country needs to cure all of it's problems. It will create more jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, lessen trucking's carbon foot print, increase tax revenues and be more efficient.

This bill has all the proper buzzwords. How could anybody be against it? If passed it should guarantee President Obama a second term and and all who sign it into law a win at the polls on election day.

The only piece of new legislation that could possibly be better for this country is The Sustainable Alternative Wind-Slot Act. This act will allow operators of wind farms to open mini casinos in the base of wind generation towers. Each tower would house 6 to 12 slot machines and one ATM. The mini casinos' electrical needs would be supplied by extra energy generated from each windmill.

Much like The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act; The Sustainable Alternative Wind-Slot Act will create more jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce the carbon foot print of large casinos, increase tax revenues and keep our roads intact.

moose · Aug 9, 2010

When you call your senator please point to this :

*this will not make our roads safer : as it is today the over weight trucks are fuewers and are driven by the most experienced trucker out there .this law will allow every CDL holder to drive an over weight truck regardless of driving experience .

*this law will hardly reduced truck volume on the HWY ,as most of the added weight will be used by extra axles and truck & trailer buddy ,needed to carry the extra loads .
that extra buddy weight will be transited on the HWY regardless of if the truck is loaded to full weight capacity .

this law will force most of all the trucks & trailers to be replaced ,to stay competitive in the market place .while only a few of the loads are heavy up to gross .most loads are large ,not heavy .
as it is today ,most trucks & trailer can carry the allowed 80,000 ,though they very rarely do so .

*This law will reduced the life span of the bridges and Hwy's . all of most of the bridges on interstate and state routs will have to be reinforced to withstand the extra heavy weight .
it will cost all of us a lot of money in Hwy's bills.

*this law will not increased driver pay .the drivers that are currently carrying the heavy loads ,are ,for the most part ,being well compensated for their professionalism .this law will allow carriers to reduced the driver pay ,pocketing the difference and inslaving the drivers .

*This law will not help American shippers and goods manufacturers in the global market .it will increace the cost of shipping within the us .as well as the tax costs of doing business .

I'm still waiting for my OOIDA call to action...

cheri1122 · Aug 9, 2010

The only beneficiaries of this asinine idea are [surprise!] the big trucking companies, with "lower operating costs".
Heavier trucks will consume more fuel themselves, create more slow motion parades on upgrades, [with attendant efforts from everyone else to get around them], present far more risk on downgrades, cause more damage to roadways, and more fatigue for the drivers - not a good tradeoff, IMO.
Whose best interests are these 'representatives' looking out for?

Turtle · Aug 9, 2010

If you're a driver who gets paid by weight, there ya go.

Jefferson3000 · Aug 10, 2010

There is a bill in Florida where they are trying to raise the in-state weight used on non-interstate highways to 88,000. Already called Charlie Crist's office and asked him to veto it. It may help a few large shippers keep from calling a second truck, but what about the wear and tear on public roads and vehicles, as well as the safety hazard?

OntarioVanMan · Aug 10, 2010

Michigan is a prime example of allowing heavy trucks....

I just went thru Atlanta ...and the thought of a 97,000 lb gas tanker is a scary thought!!!

layoutshooter · Aug 10, 2010

OntarioVanMan said:
Michigan is a prime example of allowing heavy trucks....

I just went thru Atlanta ...and the thought of a 97,000 lb gas tanker is a scary thought!!!

Michigan's roads are not bad ONLY due to heavy trucks. They are bad because they are not built right, not fixed right, and those who build them and fix them are controlled by a corrupt government and unions.

OntarioVanMan · Aug 10, 2010

also not built to those rigourous standards....and there ya go....pot holes...

The Gov before G should be taking the blame...he did nothing...for the road system except build even more sub standard roads....