Increased federal weight limits: Voices against

user-gravatar Headshot

highway road

Owner-operator Cary Goodman joined others in commenting on October news about Congressional hearings on the notion of raising the weight limit on federal highways to 97,000 lbs. with the addition of a third trailer axle. It’s been a perennial subject of discussion led by shipper interests, among others — find in this linked post mention of reporting on the issue from the year 2007, when the collapse of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge put a halt to the discussions.  

More weight? No way
As an owner-operator I am totally against this for several reasons. I run a lot out west and am dwarfed by all the heavy haulers that are based out there and have had several conversations with a few of them. They say it isn’t paying for them to haul the extra weight. They feel it has been more or less forced on them as they have to compete for freight. Another thing is: look at the road conditions of the states that allow this extra weight. They’re terrible and in constant repair. And what about the truck manufacturers, who are soon to have minimal fuel mileage standards forced upon them? Where is the line to be drawn? If there is to be a happy medium, let the standard 80,000 lbs. stand but with special provisions in each state to go the 97,000 lbs. properly equipped and permitted on a per-load basis. –Cary Goodman  

Other readers weighed in — no pun intended — on the story, too, in comments here. Here’s a standout: 

Dan Gerster: More damage [would be the result]. We can barely fix the problems we have now. Look at Michigan’s roads — they fix them and they’re worn out in five years. Why give in. 80,000 lbs. is enough. Need more freight moved, hire another driver.

What do you think?