* Texas - Road safety questioned in fight for bigger trucks
... Both sides claim to have the safety of the motoring public at heart. The railroaders say bigger, heavier trucks - particularly longer double trailers - will make the roads more hazardous for everyone... The truckers, though they're split over heavier weight limits, say the longer trailer sizes would mean fewer trucks, and therefore fewer accidents... The Obama administration wants to leave the current size and weight restrictions alone. But it faces opposition from some in Congress who want to relax the trucking regulations... The most contentious proposal is one that would allow trucks to pull twin 33-foot-long trailers, up from the current federal limit of two 28-foot trailers. That's an additional 10 feet per rig. Also of concern is a proposal to lower the minimum age of interstate truck drivers from 21 to 18... Divisions in the trucking industry partly reflect the different needs of industrial transporters of heavy loads, as opposed to shippers of lighter, bulkier products - like FedEx and UPS - whose businesses have benefitted from the increase in online shopping... Some studies have shown that double-trailer trucks have an 11 percent higher fatality rate than single-trailer trucks. At the same time, some research suggests that the longer wheel bases of 33-foot doubles make them more stable than the 28-foot doubles currently allowed now...
° Comment from drivers: -"Impetuous/Rank 646": "Based on the junk science logic put forth by the trucking industry we shouldn't slow down with just 2 33ft trailers. Why not 3, 4 or even 5 trailers reducing fuel consumption to near zero and increasing safety by 40% or better. Going up I 40 across Arkansas will become a joy to driving. Can you imagine how much fun it will be when you have 3 of these rigs passing each other on the crowded freeways of Houston..."
(Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle: A set of industry proposals could allow bigger, heavier trucks on the roads) -- Houston, TXS, USA - The Houston Chronicle, by Kevin Diaz - 16 Sept 2015Labels: Longer Heavier Vehicles (LHVs)
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