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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.
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