Safety group opposes federal truck weight, size increases

Washington – The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has announced its opposition to any increases in federal truck size and weight limits due to concerns about alleged flaws in an upcoming government study on the increases.

A surface transportation funding bill signed into law in July 2012, known as MAP-21, required the Department of Transportation to conduct research within a 24-month period on the safety and infrastructure impacts of allowing heavier and larger trucks on highways. At press time, the study was scheduled for release in November.

During an April 9 press conference, Advocates – which was joined by trucking industry stakeholders and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) – questioned whether the study would provide accurate data after a peer review concluded that the study’s research methodology was flawed. That report, from the National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board, stated that DOT selected inappropriate data analysis methods and truck configurations to study and asserted that the 24-month time constraint did not allow enough time for adequate planning.

The press conference attendees requested that DOT address the study’s alleged flaws before Congress makes any conclusions on whether the limits should be increased.