Why Raise the Vehicle Weight Limit?
America’s transportation infrastructure is facing significant challenges and is on the verge of becoming overwhelmed over the next decade. Congress must address this issue now to safely and efficiently keep our economy running.
Freight hauled by trucks in the U.S. is expected to nearly double by 2035, and truck traffic is growing 11 times faster than road capacity. If current vehicle weight limitations remain in place, even more trucks will have to take to the road to ship these goods.
Raising the interstate weight limit would make roads safer and less congested as America's needs grow - allowing for more efficient shipping with reduced environmental impact.
The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (H.R. 1799 / S. 3705) would safely raise truck weight limits without making trucks larger.
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Under SETA, the federal vehicle weight limit would be 97,000 pounds—but only for vehicles equipped with an additional (sixth) axle.
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The required sixth axle would maintain braking capacity and the current distribution of weight per tire without changing the size of the truck.
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While the additional axle maintains vehicle safety performance and minimizes pavement wear, a user fee for six-axle units would fund vital bridge repair.
Raising vehicle weight limits for six-axle tractor-trailers would effectively:
SAFER ROADS
Tractor-trailers are traveling more miles than ever to keep up with rising demand.
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Truck traffic has grown with the needs of the U.S. economy and population—increasing 11 times faster than road capacity.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that by 2020, the amount of freight shipped throughout the U.S. will increase 87 percent from what it was in 1998.
The 80,000 pound limit set in 1982 is outdated and will compromise public safety as freight continues to increase and requires more trucks on the road. Consolidating freight on fewer trucks would further reduce collisions between trucks and passenger vehicles.
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The biggest single factor in the number of vehicle/tractor-trailer accidents is vehicle miles traveled. Tractor trailers are traveling twice as many miles as they were in 1982. More trucks must travel more miles to meet demand, increasing the chances of collision. Reducing the number of trucks needed to deliver a specific amount of freight would reduce vehicle miles traveled and therefore make roads safer.
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Under full implementation of SETA, CTP member MillerCoors would need 2,000 fewer trucks each week—eliminating more than one million weekly vehicle miles.
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Anti-lock brakes, training requirements and other safety improvements have cut fatal accident rates in half since 1982—making the proposed weight increase a safe alternative to putting more trucks on the road.
Academic studies have shown, and empirical evidence proves, that raising the federal weight limit to 97,000 pounds for six-axle trucks would improve highway safety and maintain current road standards.
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Since the United Kingdom raised its gross vehicle weight limit to 97,000 pounds for six-axle vehicles in 2001, fatal truck-related accident rates have declined by 35 percent. More freight has been shipped, while the vehicle miles traveled to deliver a ton of freight has declined.
CLEANER ENVIRONMENT
Vehicle weight limit reform will benefit the environment by requiring fewer trucks to ship goods, which saves fuel and reduces greenhouse emissions.
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Six-axle trucks carrying 97,000 pounds get 17 percent more ton-miles per gallon than five-axle trucks carrying 80,000 pounds, according to a 2008 study by the American Transportation Research Institute.
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The U.S. DOT estimates that raising the federal weight limit would save 2 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually and result in a 19 percent decrease in fuel consumption and emissions per ton mile.
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Under full implementation of SETA, CTP member Kraft Foods would save 6.6 million gallons of fuel and eliminate 73,000 tons of carbon emissions each year.
- The San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, responsible for air quality management in California’s largest agricultural production region, supports increasing the federal vehicle weight limit for its positive environmental and economic impact.
STRONGER ECONOMY
Raising weight limits will help U.S. businesses improve their competitive edge.
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Once the economy recovers from the current recession, a shortage of long-haul truck drivers will return and likely quadruple by 2014 from 2004 levels. Even with increased weight limits, the driver shortage (and available trucking jobs) will still exist.
IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE
The user fee for 97,000-pound, six-axle trucks will fund accelerated bridge repair and maintenance, while these trucks will collectively inflict less wear on our nation’s roads.
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