I-40 is one of the most heavily traveled of a handful of east-west corridors across the United States. That means detours around the bridge that collapsed Sunday when a barge hit it in eastern Oklahoma will mean increased costs
for trucking companies.
At least nine people died during the bridge collapse. (See "I-40 Bridge Collapses In Oklahoma," 5/28/02.)
Two trucking industry spokesmen warned the general media that the 43-mile detour down two-lane highways required for eastbound traffic could eventually result in price increases being passed on to consumers. (The westbound detour is only about 5 miles.)
David McCorkle, owner of Oklahoma City-based McCorkle Truck Line and chairman of the American Trucking Associations, told The Oklahoman that “the trucking industry will try to take it in stride.” Shippers will be asked to help offset the cost, he told the paper, but eventually that cost could be passed on.
McCorkle said he is encouraged by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s pledge to rebuilt the bridge in six months, and told the paper that the trucking industry will help by bringing in construction equipment at bargain prices.
Lane Kidd, president of the Arkansas Trucking Assn., said that I-40 handles a high percentage of the commercial truck traffic, especially fresh produce out of California and Oregon bound for the eastern half of the country. Kidd said Monday that truckers reported traveling 25 to 30 mph on the eastbound detour, which would cause about a two-hour delay of goods destined for Memphis.
Like McCorkle, Kidd also predicted that delays could mean increased shipping costs passed on to consumers.