Will raising GVW ceilings on federal highways for raw agricultural and forest products haulers create new safety hazards?
With the addition of a sixth axle, braking distances would not be affected, since extra traction would balance out the extra mass. Since higher GVWs would have the effect of consolidating loads, the number of trucks on the entire road system – federal and local – would decline, reducing congestion throughout, as well as reducing total truck-miles traveled. With federal highway bypasses available to trucks loaded to the state-legal limit, trucks will be able to bypass urban centers avoiding any vulnerabilities there. In 2001, the UK increased GVW limits for six-axle vehicles from 90,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds, and the UK Department for Transport documented an immediate downward trend in accident, injury, and fatality statistics. Please see AgTEC’s Q&A “Trucking Safety Facts” at this link.
Related Questions
- What are the benefits to agricultural commodity and forest products transportation of increasing federal Gross Vehicle Weight limits from 80,000 to 97,000 pounds, with the addition of a sixth axle?
- Will raising GVW ceilings on federal highways for raw agricultural and forest products haulers create new safety hazards?
- Why seek special treatment for unprocessed agricultural and forest products?
