Wouldn increasing the weight limit damage bridges and increase road wear?
The user fee for 97,000-pound, six-axle trucks would fund accelerated bridge repair and maintenance, while individual units would hold the same average weight per tire as lighter trucks. Additionally, the higher weight limit would cut the number of trucks needed for shipments-saving $2.4 billion in pavement restoration costs over 20 years, according to a U.S. DOT study. Because fewer trucks would satisfy America’s shipping needs, less overall weight would be put on our nation’s roads and bridges. For example, the full implementation of H.R. 1799 would allow CTP member International Paper to eliminate more than 5 million pounds of weight on roads and bridges traveled weekly from one facility alone.
