Local reps seek to keep heavier trucks off highways
Posted on : 09-06-2009 | By : Truckdriversnews | In : Political News, Thoughts from a trucker, truck driver Industry
0
State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr. said today that he will try to block federal legislation that would pave the way for heavier trucks on the nation’s highways.
Mr. Casorio, D-Irwin, said he will propose a resolution urging Congress to pass a pending bill that would prohibit states that have not already done so, including Pennsylvania, from allowing trucks over 80,000 pounds to travel on the national highway system. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, and John Murtha, D-Johnstown.
A separate measure sponsored by Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine would allow states to increase the weight limit to 97,000 pounds.
“The large trucks traveling Pennsylvania’s highways now already present a significant safety hazard,” Mr. Casorio said. “They also cost the state and local governments millions of dollars a year in damage to highways and bridges.”
The trucking industry contends that allowing heavier trucks would increase productivity by making it possible to transport more goods with fewer trucks, and that the larger trucks would be no less safe than current trucks.
Mr. Casorio said such claims have been refuted by safety groups including the Truck Safety Coalition and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
“Every time Congress has increased truck weight and size limits in the past, the number of trucks on the road and the number of miles they log has increased, not decreased,” he said, pointing to statistics compiled by the groups. “The same thing would likely happen again.”
Full Story
© 2009, Truck Drivers News. All rights reserved.
2. Right-Click then Copy
3. Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Loading ...