What size and weight limits do Midwestern states have for trucks?
After the difficult winter that much of the region has faced, the poor condition of many roads is a subject of concern, and finding the money to fix them is an issue for many states. Policymakers are taking a look at many of the factors, in addition to the weather, that may have an impact on road conditions. One of these is truck weight limits. More than half the states in the region have an 80,000-pound limit (see table below), although three of those states have higher limits for trucks that stay on the toll roads while passing through the states. Four other states have higher weight limits. While these heavy loads have an impact on pavement conditions, so do automobiles. Any move to reduce truck weight is likely to put more trucks on the road and increase congestion. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the use of large trucks improves the productivity of the trucking industry and reduces the costs of commodities and other products for consumers. These saving
