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ACTION ALERT: 1/25/12: Truck Size and Weight - 2 Calls Needed Right Away

ACTION NEEDED TO STOP TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT INCREASES
Please Make 2 Calls Now
January 25, 2012
 
UPDATE:
House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Mica is expected to release the multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill (H.R. 7) imminently. We know that trucking interests are lobbying for increases to federal truck sizes and weights as well as a "state option" of allowing states to control size and weight limits on Interstates.  A "state option" is a de facto increase because some states will immediately increase their limits, economically pressuring neighboring states to increase theirs - until the entire country will have 100,000 lb trucks on our roads.
 
TAKE ACTION NOW:
 
Please call T&I Committee Chairman John Mica and T&I Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall NOW and urge them not to include ANY truck size or weight increases or "state option" 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
 
Congressman Nick Rahall (D-3rd WV) 202-225-3452.  If you are a constituent, you can also send an email http://www.rahall.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91§iontree=
 
TALKING POINTS: (You can cut and paste these into an email but please personalize your email as well.)
  • Truck crash fatalities just went up by 9% in 2010.  3,675 people killed is unacceptable – we would never stand for this from airlines nor should we be forced to on our roads.
  • 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