Increase Truck Size, Weights was Opposed in US

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ALSRRA) issued a statement July 9, 2009 voicing united opposition to legislation to increase truck size and weight limits on the nation’s highways.  Independently, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters) issued a press release also opposing efforts to allow heavier and longer trucks on the road.

The rail industry noted that data collected by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shows that trucks weighing over 80,000 pounds pay only about half of their highway cost responsibility and longer. Heavier trucks — unless accompanied by sharp increases in taxes — would pay an even smaller share and would divert between 100 and 225 million tons of freight annually from rail to highways.

Additionally, moving all that freight by highway would require the consumption of between 500 million and 1.1 billion additional gallons of diesel fuel, producing 1.6 to 3.8 million tons of additional pollutants and 5.6 to 12.3 million tons of additional carbon dioxide each year.

The Teamsters noted in their July 9, 2008 press release that increasing truck size would make the highways more dangerous.  Teamster truck driver Vince Brezinsky, of Dallas. Texas, testified July 9 before the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit about the dangers of allowing bigger, heavier trucks on the road.