Heavy Trailer Plan Splits Carriers, Customers

In one corner are the truckers and their customers who believe they can improve their economic productivity by increasing the capacity of a trailer for additional cargo weight or more cubic space.

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In the other corner are truckers who feel pressured by shippers to buy new trailers without earning a penny more to move their freight.

And in the middle of the ring is the new Congress, which will again be asked to consider a proposal to establish a federal truck weight limit of 97,000 pounds on six axles for use on the Interstate highway system. Under current law, the maximum allowed weight is 80,000 pounds on five axles for the entire federal-aid road system, although states may exercise their historical authority to set higher limits and issue permits.

American Trucking Associations has remained aloof from this conflict of business interests because it has members on both sides of the argument.

For the full story, see the Nov. 20 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.