AAR opposes proposal for heavier trucks

In a letter to congressional leaders, the Association of American Railroads has made clear its objections to proposals increasing truckweight limits on Northeast U.S. highways to 100,000 pounds. The exemption is included in the Obama Administration’s continuing resolution proposal.

AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger (pictured at left) said such increases, particularly onInterstate highways in Maine and Vermont, could provide enough momentum to trucking interests to lift the federal truck weight ban elsewhere.

“Not only do extremely heavy trucks today exact a serious wear and tear toll on America’s already overextended highways, but much of the costs to repair roads and bridges damaged by heavy-load trucks is paid by taxpayers and not thetrucking companies responsible for the damage,” said Hamberger.

 “The U.S. Department of Transportation has determined that trucks weighing 80,000 to 100,000 pounds pay just half of the cost of the damage they do to the nation’s highways,” Hamberger said.  “This huge heavy truck underpayment means that the remainder of these costs is paid for by the general public.”

Hamberger also said that in addition to the serious infrastructure damage and truck underpayment concerns, 100,000 pound trucks will siphon a significant percentage of freight traffic from the country’s railroads.  “This will rob the railroad industry of revenue needed for reinvestment and add congestion to the nation’s highways.”