A recent highway bill approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would allow a 91,000-lb., six-axle configuration for the trucking industry to accommodate additional weight. According to David Heller, SVP of safety and government affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), in a recent column for the July issue of FleetOwner’s magazine, this is a step in the wrong direction.

Potential effects of the proposed bill

Heller claims raising the federal maximum weight from 80,000 lb. to 91,000 lb. would negatively affect safety on the roads, the country’s infrastructure, and costs.

• Safety: The heavier the truck, the more difficult it is to maneuver and stop. When crashes do occur, the damage from the force of the crash will be greater.
• Infrastructure: Heller claims that the U.S. already has an infrastructure problem with old bridges and maintenance-heavy roads. Heavier trucks would cause more wear and tear, especially off highways.
• Costs: When more maintenance is needed to compensate for the damage heavier trucks will do to infrastructure, both trucking and taxpayers will be paying more.

Takeaways for fleet maintenance teams

Heavier trucks wouldn’t just cause more wear and tear to infrastructure but also to themselves. For technicians, this could mean more repairs as brakes, tires, and other truck parts experience more stress. In this scenario, preventive maintenance would become more important than ever. 

You can read the full article from Heller and FleetOwner, a Fleet Maintenance affiliate publication, here.