The majority of Americans favor raising truck weight limits, according to a survey by the Coalition for Transportation Productivity - if such an increase would contribute to improvements in safety, fuel economy and congestion
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The survey found that more than half of Americans surveyed support allowing trucks with proper safeguards to carry more weight on U.S. interstates as a way to make roads safer, reduce environmental impact and strengthen the economy.

Such truck weight reform is outlined in The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009, sponsored by Reps. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio). The legislation would give states the option of increasing their interstate vehicle weight limit to 97,000 pounds for trucks equipped with a sixth axle.

The Coalition for Transportation Productivity is a group of more than 100 companies and associations, consisting largely of shippers, agricultural and forestry groups, as well as the National Private Truck Council and the Agricultural Transportation Efficiency Coalition.

"Americans solidly back the same truck weight reform proposed by H.R. 1799 - providing strong support for Congress to responsibly raise the federal vehicle weight limit," said John Runyan, co-chair of the coalition. "With truck traffic already increasing 11 times faster than road capacity and freight expected to double by 2025, H.R. 1799 would make sure America's shipping needs are met in a way that improves highway safety and reduces our carbon footprint."

The survey also found that 66 percent would be more likely to support the legislation if trucks add an extra axle after learning that additional axles would make the tractor-trailers safer and better for road surfaces. Those surveyed were also more likely to favor increasing weight limits when considering the positive impact on the environment. Sixty-three percent said they would support the legislation if it would reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption.

However, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which is against the move to raise the weight limit, questioned the validity of the survey results.

"The conclusion announced by the coalition is a far stretch considering the suggestive nature of the survey questions," said OOIDA spokesperson Norita Taylor. "The wording in the questions make a false claim of safety, forcing the respondent to give an answer assuming the claim is true. Therefore, this cannot be considered a valid survey by any means since the questions were not straightforward."

An example of one of the questions: "Considering the state of our economy, if it could be demonstrated that a reasonable increase in the truck weight limit could contribute to safer roads, greater fuel economy and more productive highway transportation by enabling companies to consolidate loads and deliver products with fewer trucks, would you favor or oppose higher weight limits for properly outfitted tractor-trailers?"

Using live operator telephone calls, pollster Wilson Research Strategies surveyed 1,000 American adults from June 16-22, 2009. The sample was stratified to be demographically and geographically representative of the national adult population.

More info: www.transportationproductivity.org.

For more on the issue, see "Trailer Report" in the June issue of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine.