ACTION ALERT: 11/17/11: ACTION NEEDED TO STOP TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT INCREASES

ACTION NEEDED TO STOP TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT INCREASES

Please Make 2 Calls Now

November 17, 2011

UPDATE:

House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Mica is expected to release the multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill (H.R. 7) in the near future. We know that trucking interests are lobbying for increases to federal truck sizes and weights as well as special interest exemptions.

Unfortunately the House just passed HR 2112, the "Minibus" Appropriations FY12 bill and it included a 20-year weight exemption for Maine and Vermont.  Thank you very much for all your calls and emails to stop this provision.  It was really a tremendous effort and we were up against powerful Senators who made getting this exemption their top priority. Congressman McGovern (D-MA) spoke in strong opposition to the exemption on the House floor today.  The small upside is that it isn't permanent and we are continuing to voice our opposition on the Hill and in the media.

Now more than ever we need to remain vigilant in stopping any additional increases!

TAKE ACTION NOW:

Please call T&I Committee Chairman John Mica and Highways & Transit Subcommittee Chairman Jim Duncan and urge them not to include ANY truck size or weight increases in H.R. 7.

Chairman John Mica  (R-7th FL) 202-225-4035. If you are a Floridian, you can also send an email http://mica.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm

Chairman Jim Duncan (R-2nd TN) 202-225-5435.  If you are a constituent, you can also send an email http://duncan.house.gov/services/zip-auth.shtml

TALKING POINTS: (You can cut and paste these into an email but please personalize your email as well.)

• The chances of a large truck crash resulting in death and serious injuries increase with each extra ton of weight over the 80,000 lbs. GVW limit in federal law.
• Heavier trucks take longer to stop and roll over more frequently.
• Overly heavy trucks, particularly 100,000 lbs. trucks, dramatically underpay their fair share of taxes and user fees for the repair of U.S. roads and bridges.  States and Congress are already struggling to find funds to address the backlog of road and bridge needs across the country.
• More than 26%, or 1 in 4, of our nation's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
• Poor road conditions cost Americans $67 billion in repairs and operating costs. (ASCE)
• One third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. (ASCE)
• The "states rights" argument that each state should be allowed to set its own limits is disingenuous and will lead to larger truck limits whether roads and bridges are able to accommodate them or not. If all states bordering one state have higher limits, that one state will not be able to withstand the resultant economic pressures. Allowing states to individually decide weight limits on federal highways ignores the critical role of the federal government to facilitate interstate commerce and avoid a patchwork quilt of limits in interstate commerce.

Heavier Trucks Mean Bigger Safety Problems

For More Information, contact the Truck Safety Coalition, 703-294-6404