Owner-operator truck group opposes bigger trucks

Congress asked to stop any legislation allowing larger and heavier trucks on U.S. highways.    The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which represents the nation’s smaller trucking outfits, asked Congress to oppose any legislation increasing the maximum truck size or weight limits on federal highways.
    OOIDA also called on lawmakers to stop legislation that would allow individual states to conduct “pilot programs” for larger and heavier trucks.
    “Any change overturning current federal weight laws allowing heavier or longer tractor-trailers would have detrimental impacts on our national, county and local infrastructure, costing billions of dollars in additional bridge and pavement costs,” said a Feb. 25 letter to congressional lawmakers, which was signed by OOIDA, along with a half dozen railroad trade associations, including the Association of American Railroads and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, as well public safety and municipal infrastructure groups.
   The letter highlighted the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2016 Final Report to Congress which rejected the necessity to increase truck sizes and weights on the nation’s highways, since it would add “billions of dollars” in infrastructure costs. In addition, the groups pointed out the already significant backlog of repairs to roads and bridges that must be done.