LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES

Truck Size and Weight

Truck safety advocates are often in conflict with the trucking industry over the issue of truck weight limits. The trucking industry wants higher weight limits for more profitable operations. Truck safety advocates contend that heavier trucks pose greater risk to the motoring public.

The current weight limit is set at 80,000 pounds and some weight increase advocates want that increased to as much as 97,000 pounds. This idea is opposed by members of the Senate who introduced legislation to prevent any increase of the weight limit, claiming that heavier trucks take longer to stop, cause more damage to public roads, and are more inclined to cause roll-over accidents. The full legislation, titled the Safe Truck Operations and Preservation Act, may be viewed at the Library of Congress here.