This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released its technical study on federal truck size and weight after two years of analysis on the issue. The congressionally-mandated study was included in the transportation bill, MAP-21, which became law in 2012. The study is inconclusive on whether the federal government should change federal truck size and weight limits due to a lack of sufficient data, according to the DOT. The DOT goes on to recommend that Congress make no changes to the current truck size and weight limits. A final report is due to be released to Congress this November after DOT consults with an independent review board and seeks public comment on the issue.

Ready mix industry stakeholders and advocates of changing the federal truck size and weight limits are outraged with the timing of the release of the DOT study because of the upcoming House vote on the Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill on June 9. The THUD bill includes a policy provision exempting some states from the current truck size and weight limits.

 

Increased truck weights is a continuing issue of concern to the ready mixed concrete truck industry, as the current federal limitations frequently prevent mixer drivers from hauling a full payload; subsequently forcing them onto state and local roads. After many objections from NRMCA, DOT refused to consider mixer truck type configurations in its study (3- and 4-axle single-unit trucks). Unfortunately, the June 5 study only reviews 5-axle or more, tractor-trailer truck configurations. NRMCA made the arguments to DOT that such a limited focus on truck size and weights would not produce an accurate picture of how current limitations impact our nations roadways.

For more information, contact Jill Landry at jlandry@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.