Comment deadline approaches for study on truck size, weights

Washington – The deadline for stakeholders to comment on the Department of Transportation’s study of truck size and weight limits is approaching.

DOT recently stated that public comments must be submitted by Oct. 13 to be considered for inclusion in the MAP-21 Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study Report, which will be submitted to Congress. The public docket will stay open for a limited time after the deadline, according to a Sept. 10 Federal Register notice, but comments submitted after Oct. 13 will not be included in the report.

The debate about whether DOT should allow longer, heavier trucks on the nation’s roads has existed for years. Proponents say larger trucks are safer and more efficient. Critics claim larger trucks will increase the chances of fatal crashes, as well as damage roads and bridges.

In June, DOT announced that it needed more time to study the possible safety ramifications of larger trucks. Agency officials said they faced challenges conducting the study because of data limitations. For instance, law-enforcement crash reports do not include weight data.

DOT’s report to Congress will mark the conclusion of its truck size study, which was required under a 2012 transportation funding bill known as MAP-21.