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Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Executive tells Congress it would reduce traffic, emissions and fuel use
Published on Thursday, Jul 10, 2008
Bloomberg News
Allowing states to raise commercial-truck weight limits by 21 percent would save fuel and reduce traffic and emissions, boosting profits for freight haulers, an executive of the largest U.S. trucking company told Congress.
''Reform of size and weight regulations can, if employed responsibly, improve highway safety, relieve congestion, lower freight rates, alleviate the driver shortage, reduce energy use and improve air quality,'' Mike Smid, president of YRC Worldwide Inc.'s North American Transportation, said Wednesday in Washington.
Smid gave the testimony on behalf of YRC, the parent corporation of Akron-based Roadway, and the American Trucking Associations, an Arlington, Va., trade group pressing for the changes so truckers can ship more cargo in fewer trips. Proponents of heavier and longer rigs on U.S. roads have to convince skeptics including House transportation committee Chairman James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat.
Bigger trucks are ''far more difficult to maneuver safely,'' Oberstar said at the hearing. Such trucks require greater stopping distances, don't handle as well on highway ramps designed for smaller vehicles and can't keep up with traffic going uphill, Oberstar said.
The U.S., with some exceptions, prohibits commercial trucks of more than 80,000 pounds on federal highways. Smid said that should be raised to 97,000 pounds. Congress in 1991 froze limits on so-called longer-combination vehicles, which include those with three trailers and some with double trailers.
Consumer advocates Public Citizen said weight increases would make the vehicles more difficult to drive and put more wear and tear on roads.
Railroads, which compete with trucks for some freight, also oppose bigger trucks.
Overland Park, Kan.-based YRC is the nation's largest trucker by sales.
Get the full article here.
