OOIDA opposes size and weight provision in highway bill
Posted February 4, 2012
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) — which represents small-business truckers across the United States — spoke out against a provision in the proposed highway bill that would increase truck size and weight limits.
According to OOIDA, those increases included in a draft legislation released by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would not only compromise highway safety and infrastructure, but also lead to significant new cost increases for 90 percent of the trucking industry which is made up of small-business truckers.
Members of OOIDA are reaching out to lawmakers asking them to be wary of the proposal to raise truck weight limits from 80,000 lbs to at least 97,000 lbs and increasing the use of longer-combination vehicles (LCVs).
OOIDA contends that in many situations the proposed change in law — which they feel is designed solely to profit big business at the expense of highway safety and small businesses — will require a small-business trucker to spend up to $100,000 on new equipment.
J. J. Keller's Vehicle Sizes and Weights Handbook features an overview of tractor-trailer sizes and weights compliance requirements for all 50 states and Canada.
J. J. Keller's FREE Transportation SafetyClicks™ email newsletter brings quick-read safety and compliance news right to your email box.