AAA Continues to Oppose any Change in Truck Size or Weight Limits

AAA issued the following letter to the Congressional panel on 21^st Century Freight Transportation urging that its members reject any proposal to increase truck size and weight standards due to significant safety concerns:

The Honorable John J. Duncan
Chair
Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Jerrold Nadler
Ranking Member
Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Duncan and Ranking Member Nadler:

AAA appreciates the commitment of the Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation to look for solutions to help facilitate efficient freight movement on the nation’s multi-modal transportation infrastructure network.   As you prepare to finalize the panel’s recommendations, I would like to share AAA’s concern with one of the recommendations discussed at the October 1 hearing on the subject.

During the hearing, one of the industry groups recommended endorsement of the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA), H.R. 612, which would allow states to permit 97,000 pound trucks on its roadways including the Interstates.  AAA strongly urges the panel to forego any action  to raise the federal truck size and weight limits until federal research authorized in “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century” (MAP-21) is completed.

As you know, MAP-21 included a focus on establishing a stronger national freight program.  It included a two-year research project to assess the implications  of allowing longer, heavier trucks on the nation’s roads and bridges and a safety analysis of different configurations, including the 97,000 lb. GVWR, six-axle truck configuration.  This USDOT research must be completed before any recommendations are considered relative to changing current federal regulations.

A look at the most recent NHTSA data shows fatalities in crashes involving large trucks increased nine percent, from 3,380 in 2009 to 3,675 in 2010.  Of the fatalities in crashes involving large trucks during 2010, 76 percent were occupants of other vehicles.  Based on these data alone, we believe that any proposals to increase truck size and weight are premature and misguided until the research is concluded and reviewed.

Until key questions about the impact of bigger and heavier trucks on infrastructure and on highway safety are addressed, AAA will continue to oppose any change in current truck size or weight limits.

CC:  Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation members