CABT opposes the increase of weight limits for commercial trucks

Transportation industry vs. increased weight limits for commercial trucks

The transportation industry has repeatedly voiced its opposition to increasing weight limits for commercial trucks. In 2023, organizations such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), and the Teamsters Union opposed H.R. 3372 a bill that proposed a 10-year pilot program allowing trucks to operate at weights of up to 91,000 pounds. Although states could choose whether to participate, the initiative did not advance in the House of Representatives.

This year, those same groups reaffirmed their stance during testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Nevertheless, CABT states that transportation companies are currently pushing several proposals to raise the federal weight limit. These include a pilot program for 91,000-pound trucks to assess crash rates, a provision allowing logging trucks of up to 154,000 pounds, and a measure that would give governors the authority to set interstate weight limits within their states, potentially fragmenting federal regulation and harming interstate commerce.

A CABT study published this year warned that such increases could endanger up to 82,457 local bridges, with estimated replacement costs reaching $98.6 billion. In response, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York voiced his concern, noting that trucks ultimately rely on local infrastructure, not just the interstate system.