The U.S. Transportation Department has set a public hearing for May 29to get input for its Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study.

The current federal highway funding authorization, known as MAP-21, mandates the department evaluate and compare the differences between trucks loaded at or below current federal truck size and weight limits to those operating in excess of those limits. Once the study is completed the department will report its findings to Congress, most likely next year, before the current highway funding authorization expires.

The department says the study will produce findings on highway safety and truck crash frequency and severity, pavement and bridge infrastructure service life impacts, the cost and effectiveness of enforcement and implications for the national transportation system if federal truck size and weight limits were to change. The USDOT will also solicit comments on alternative truck configurations to be evaluated in the study, such as triple trailers, among others.

The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will be held as an in-person workshop. Webinar access is available for those unable to attend in person. Three hearings will be held over the next year and a half.

More details on the meeting, including how to participate either in person or via the web, are available from the Federal Highway Administration.