Would you like to see 97,000lb trucks on the highway??

[4dsc]

The American Trucking Associations strongly supports the “Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009,” (H.R. 1799) which was introduced by U.S. Reps. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) on March 30. The bill will allow states to authorize the operation of more efficient commercial trucks, resulting in safer highways, cleaner air and less costly freight transportation.



The bill authorizes states to allow the operation of trucks on the Interstate Highway System with a gross weight of 97,000 pounds. Current law limits the weight of 5-axle trucks traveling on the Interstate System to 80,000 pounds. The legislation requires that trucks operating above 80,000 pounds must add a sixth axle to compensate for the extra weight. The extra axle adds two more brakes, preventing an increase in stopping distances, and avoids additional pavement damage.

http://www.truckline.com/pages/article.aspx?id=508%2F{8E1C7279-ED27-4C03-B189-CEEEE26BBB12}

As a truck driver, even I don't support this measure..

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. I don't think it's a good idea.

80,000 pounds is enough. Any further weight increase will hasten the damage to our already beat-up roads and bridges.

[AndyA]

2. I'm not thrilled with the idea of bigger, heavier loads.

Some truck drivers today are bad drivers.

On a trip during the holidays last year, I was cut off by trucks more than once on the interstate. Apparently, they didn't feel they should wait for me (or the cars behind me) to pass them, so they just pulled out in front of me and made ALL OF THE CARS wait for their sorry slow asses to pass. Once, it was so close I had to slam on the brakes to avoid being hit, and so did the cars being me. Can you say MAJOR accident?

Truck drivers used to be courteous, safe drivers. I don't think that's a requirement any longer. If it is, it's not being enforced. :(

No disrespect to your profession, 4dsc...but the truck drivers during this trip were the absolute worst on the road!

[Renew Deal]

4. Most truck drivers I encounter are good.

Once in a while I'll have one going nuts, but it's not common.

[Renew Deal]

3. Would trucks have to be retrofitted or will this only affect newly built trucks.

:shrug:

[Ikonoklast]

5. Bad idea. But that's the ATA.

And adding one set of brakes on one axle will not have a 97K gross vehicle stop anywhere near the length an 80K gross t/t with five axles can.

I was permitted for twin 48' trailers, 112.5' overall length, eight axles, and 127,500K weight.

It took half a mile to stop that rig safely.

[walldude]

6. I have a lot of respect for long haulers

It's a tough gig... Not sure what the point of this bill is. There are already carriers pulling 2 and 3 trailers how is this going to make it any better?

[Soylent Brice]

7. you already do from time to time. they're hauling things like

batteries, concrete construction slabs, etc.

there are tons of overwieght trucks on the road everyday, illegally.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. That's been the limit in the UK since 2001

(44,000kg, to be precise). As a normal road user, I don't actually see a problem with the trucks on the road. The extra axle may well mean no more road damage than a 5 axle, 80,000lb truck (I have heard damage is estimated to be proportional to the 6th power of the per-axle weight).

[ColbertWatcher]

9. I doubt that all it does is require another axel.

I wonder if this is a sneaky way to introduce the triple trailer trucks?

Anything to continue to use petroleum-based/dependent vehicles and not use trains.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

[dkofos]

10. The roads were not designed for 80,000 lb trucks. Our roads were not built

like the autobahn.

[AngryAmish]

11. Definitely not in Illinois

Because of the endemic corruption in this state the roads are awful. The asphalt dealers own both parties and thus our roads are made of asphalts, not concrete with asphalt topper like most sane places (see Wisconsin). 97k on a foot of asphalt would rut our roads in about ten minutes.

[littlebit]

12. Just another stupid idea from the ATA.

I have a hard enough time trying to stop 80,000 lbs. Can't imagine what 97,000 would be like.

[damntexdem]

13. About 20% more weight = about 17% fewer driving jobs?

"Efficiency?"

[corruptmewithpower]

14. We absolutely must end our insane addiction to progress.

[DS1]

15. Implement a KERS like in Formula 1, or even the Prius

You'll save gas

[applegrove]

16. Trucks are what tear up the pavement. If you want your pavement torn up just

add heavier trucks.

[Hekate]

17. My old Public Works boss knew they'd destroy the roadbeds, bridges, etc. Trains are for this...

... kind of hauling. Trucks hauling that enormous weight on mixed-use freeways are inherently hazardous to others as well. This has been known for decades, yet it still comes up.

Hekate