News From ASET - May 21, 2010

NTTC SUPPORTS TRUCK WEIGHT INCREASE FOR THE FIRST TIME

As first reported by Transport Topics yesterday, the National Tank Truck Carriers for the first time has formally endorsed the use of trucks heavier than the current 80,000-pound weight limit for the Interstate System.

"We're trying to take some of the electricity out of the third rail of association politics," NTTC President John Conley told Transport Topics during the group's annual meeting.

Under the new policy, NTTC has endorsed a 10% increase over the current weight limit, according to Stephen Rush, president of Carbon Express Inc., Wharton, N.J., who is the new NTTC chairman. Rush said the NTTC will also support dropping the federal freeze on size limits to allow states to set their own rules.

NTTC also endorsed conducting studies of how much weight could be added, using the existing tank trailer fleet, and what a new generation of heavier tanks might need to look like to conform to the federal bridge formula that is presently used to limit truck size.

This is certainly a very positive step in the right direction in the view of ASET and could take some of the sting out of the internal debate some trucking companies have had in the past about the cost to utilize more productive vehicles. ASET welcomes NTTC into the growing number of companies and associations that see a need to increase our trucking productivity in this country especially during these difficult economic times.

NHTSA RELEASES REPORT ON TRUCK WEIGHTS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released their report this week titled, Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, that was requested by Congress to assess ways in which the trucking industry can reduce greenhouse emissions.

Among the many findings and recommendations, the NHTSA reviewed the issue of truck size and weight restrictions and found that fuel and emissions savings could be found if trucks were allowed to haul heavier weights with a sixth axle, even mentioning the "Safe and Efficient Transportation Act" by name.

Inside the report under Finding 7-8, it says, "Increasing size and weight limits offers potentially significant fuel savings..." Most importantly, under Recommendation 7-2, the report concluded that "Congress should give serious consideration to liberalizing weight and size restrictions..."

The entire report can be viewed on the National Academies web site at: http://www.nationalacademies.org/morenews/20100331b.html

If you cannot access the web site by clicking on the link, simply copy and paste it in your web browser to view the entire report. You will find the section discussing truck weights beginning on page 310 within Chapter 7.

This is certainly good news and once again shows how the issue of truck weights continues to draw attention and interest from both the private and public sectors. If we can reduce our carbon footprint while reducing accidents and saving money in the process it truly is a win-win for all involved.

ASET ADDRESSES THE AASHTO

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO as they are commonly known as, asked ASET to come in and discuss the congressional reauthorization bill's status and specifically where we felt H.R. 1799 stood in Congress currently.

Executive Director Jake Jacoby gave an overview of the bill's merits and discussed why increasing truck weights with a sixth axle makes sense for their association. Of particular interest to AASHTO was that H.R. 1799 has a funding mechanism attached for bridge enhancements and that it would decrease the amount of truck travel on state highways and bridges.

ASET has asked AASHTO to take a pro-active stance in favor of increased trucking productivity as a way to combat congestion, infrastructure wear, emissions, and unfavorable international competition. AASHTO said that they will consider taking a position in the next few months during their internal deliberations.

TRB APPOINTS JACOBY TO ANOTHER TERM ON TS&W COMMITTEE

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) annouced that it would appoint Jake Jacoby, Exeuctive Director of ASET, to another term on their Truck Size & Weight Committee.

We continue to enjoy a good working relationship between ASET and the TRB and its officials. Having a constant dialogue with academics and engineers who specialize in truck size and weight is a key element in our ability to build a strong coalition of support for H.R. 1799.