Weight Legislation
Questions & Answers

Question:   "What would ASET's weight legislation do exactly?"
Answer:   The legislation would allow individual states the right to increase the weight on their Interstates up to 97,000 pounds from the current ceiling of 80,000.
     
Question:   "Are there any requirements for this bill to be adopted?"
Answer:   Every trailer would be equipped with a sixth axle for better braking and load handling capabilities.
     
Question:   "If adopted, would every state have to allow heavier weights on their Interstates?"
Answer:   No, each state would have the right to review their own needs and adopting higher weights would be solely up to them. This is not a federal mandate.
     
Question:   "What kind of safety statistics would a 97,000-pound six axle tractor trailer have compared with the existing 80,000-pound five axle tractor trailer?"
Answer:   The Department of Transportation and others have run several different tests, including stopping distance, static rollover, load transfer ratio, and rearward amplification. The 97,000-pound truck has nearly identical results in all of these tests to that of a five-axle 80,000-pound truck. In addition, the DOT has stated that most accidents involving heavy trucks occur on non-Interstate, secondary roads, meaning that by moving more heavy trucks onto the National Highway System would lead to fewer accidents.
     
Question:   "Don't trucks cause many serious accidents with passenger cars each year?"
Answer:   In 71% of all accidents involving a truck and passenger vehicle, police officers on the scene assigned one or more crash factors to the passenger vehicle driver and none to the truck driver. In addition, the vehicle crash-rate for large trucks is 2.16 per million miles. This compares to 5.53 for cars and 4.33 for light trucks.
     
Question:   "How would this legislation help with highway congestion?"
Answer:   With fewer vehicle miles traveled needed to haul the same goods, the number of trucks on the road would decrease. DOT estimates an 11% reduction in VMT which would lead to an easing of highway congestion. Currently, congestion has resulted in waiting periods on average of 36 hours per motorist per year - 3 times the level in 1982. In 1999, congestion costs nationwide totaled $78 billion. In addition, the DOT anticipates an 87% increase in the amount of freight that will be moved by the year 2020 and existing infrastructure is not equipped to handle this increase.
     
Question:   "Are there any environmental consequences if this legislation is adopted?"
Answer:   Environmental impacts include less air pollution and fossil fuel emissions. There would be estimated annual savings of 1.9 billion gallons in fuel consumed resulting in the prevention of 6.5 million tons of criteria pollutants emitted into the atmosphere each year.
     
Question:   "Will this have any impact on our dependency on foreign gas and oil?"
Answer:   This legislation would allow truck companies to decrease their need for diesel fuel. According to one test, operating more productive trucks would allow a fuel savings of 163 gallons per trip on deliveries between New York and San Francisco.
     
Question:   "What kind of productivity benefits are expected once this legislation is adopted?"
Answer:   Estimates range in the billions with the Department of Transportation predicting over 14 billion saved annually by shippers, motor carriers and their customers.
     
Question:   "Who would benefit most from the 97,000-pound weight legislation?"
Answer:   This will help both shippers and motor carriers, particularly those hauling heavier products. Struggling industries such as agriculture, steel, and paper and forest commodities would benefit most from this legislation.
     
Question:   "How would this proposal help motor carrier companies specifically?"
Answer:   Two of the biggest problems facing the trucking industry are the ever-growing driver shortage and the fluctuation of diesel fuel prices. This legislation would addresses both by allowing truck company owners to spend less money on fuel, long-term equipment allocations, and the recruitment of drivers.
     
Question:   "What do other countries allow on their national highways?"
Answer:   This legislation would increase America's competitiveness. Great Britain recently increased its allowable weight threshold to 97,000 pounds. Canada currently operates six-axle trucks at approximately 96,000 pounds and Mexico allows vehicles over 106,000 pounds.
     
Question:   "Wouldn't the nation's highways be negatively affected by the heavier weights?"
Answer:   There actually would be 20-year pavement restoration costs savings of nearly $2.5 billion dollars, according to the DOT. The sixth axle creates a "softer footprint" on the pavement, which enhances Interstate conditions.
     
Question:   "Opponents say your proposal would cause damage to bridges. How do you respond?"
Answer:   While it is true that adding more weight to a vehicle does cause more damage to bridges, there are several reasons why this shouldn't deter this legislation. For one, bridges built utilizing the Interstate Highway System are stronger, better maintained, and can easily withstand the extra weight. Secondly, with a sixth axle, the weight across the trailer is better distributed and therefore the effect will be much less than allowing more weight on the existing five-axle trucks. Lastly, while nationwide bridge reinforcement may be somewhat costly, it is a one-time payment. The huge savings, both in terms of fewer accidents and shipping costs, more than make up for any losses that would incur from strengthening several bridges.
     
Question:   "Why should Congress pass this legislation now?"
Answer:   Never before has productivity legislation been more needed. Companies have been hurt by the recent diesel fuel crisis and constant driver shortages, and other anticipated problems exist on the horizon. Potential hours-of-service regulations, ergonomics, and growing highway congestion will create an even greater problem for many companies. Weights have been frozen at 80,000 pounds on the National Highway System for 20 years. Technology improvements in vehicle manufacturing as well as stronger roads and bridges make it compelling for Congress to adopt this legislation in the upcoming highway reauthorization bill.
     
Question:   "What can I do to help?"
Answer:   Contact your Member of Congress and others who serve on the House or Senate Transportation Committees. Let them know the benefits of this legislation to your business. Lastly, contact ASET and we'll let you know what other ways you can help.