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Public Opinion Does Not Support Bigger Trucks

FOR OVER 15 YEARS PUBLIC OPINION IS CLEAR --
“NO” TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT INCREASES
 
2011
  • 74% of Americans oppose the trucking industry’s efforts to have Congress change the current law and allow heavier trucks on the roads.
Source: Lake Research Partners Poll, April 2011
  • Nearly three quarters of registered voters oppose increasing the national cap on truck size from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds.
Source: Hart Research Associates, April 2011
 
2008
  • 66% of Americans oppose changing the current law and allowing trucks carrying heavier loads on U.S. highways. “Support for the measure is anemic (only 16% favor the efforts.) Opposition is deep and transcends gender, age, political identification, and region.”
  • Eight out of ten (82%) Americans feel trucks pulling double or triple trailers are more dangerous than those pulling just a single trailer.
Source: Lake Research Partners Poll, May 2008
 
2004
  • By 77% to 16%, the public opposes increasing truck weight limits.
  • 80% of Americans believe that trucks with two or more trailers are less safe than trucks with a single trailer.
Source: Lou Harris Poll, June 2004
1998
  • By 71% to 21%, a majority of the American people are willing to pay higher prices for goods in exchange for tougher truck safety standards.
Source: Lou Harris Poll, April 1998
 
1996
  • 88% of Americans oppose allowing bigger and heavier trucks on the highways.
  • 80% are fully convinced that “trucks pulling two or more trailers are less safe than trucks pulling only one trailer.”
Source: Lou Harris Poll, May 1996
 
The facts are clear—for over a decade, the public has consistently and convincingly opposed big trucks. Stand with your constituents and stand up for trucking safety by opposing any increase to truck size and weight or “state option” in the surface transportation bill.