Expressing Concern About Congressional Action to Change Truck Size and Weight Laws

 

WHEREAS, proposals to alter federal truck weight limits and safety standards, including requirements for additional axles, are now being debated in Congress; and

WHEREAS, increased truck weights accelerate damage to highways and adversely impact highway safety; and

WHEREAS, additional axles have little, or no, effect on weight distribution affecting long span bridges; and

WHEREAS, states generally have less than adequate funds for maintaining transportation systems; and

WHEREAS, states have varying levels of available highway funding, making some states more able than others to maintain and upgrade roads and bridges; and

WHEREAS, individual states have extensive knowledge of their specific bridge conditions and their ability to handle weight and size loads; and

WHEREAS, increases in truck weights absent increases in funding can result in an unsustainable highway deterioration rate; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. fatal truck-related accident rate declined by 45% between 2000 and 2010 under current federal standards, and is thus moving in the right direction; and

WHEREAS, increased legal truck weights results in increased posting of bridges due to weight restrictions, thus having a negative impact on mobility for many industries and individuals; and

WHEREAS, a USDOT study of truck size and weight impacts, mandated by MAP-21, is not yet completed.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials does hereby recommend that AASHTO oppose any legislation that increases damage to the nation’s highways. Increases in truck size and weights will lead to significant damage and a significant number of posted bridges particularly on Interstate and National Highway Systems.

 

Approved by the SASHTO Board of Directors
on August 27, 2013 in Asheville, North Carolina