April 10, 2018
The Honorable Susan Collins, Chairman
The Honorable Jack Reed, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Reed:
Ahead of tomorrow’s hearing to review the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), our broad and diverse coalition of consumer, health, and safety groups, families of truck crash victims and survivors, law enforcement, first responders, truck drivers, rail labor, short lines and regional railroads, and railway suppliers and contractors urges you to reject any attempts to increase or circumvent current truck size and weight limits. Riders that would diminish safety and wreak havoc on infrastructure should not be added into a funding bill. We respectfully ask that this letter be included in the hearing record.
Bigger trucks will undermine investments in infrastructure. America’s roads are already in bad shape, having consistently received a “D” grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers. One of every five miles of highway pavement is in poor condition and there is a significant and increasing backlog of rehabilitation needs. Additionally, one in eleven of the Nation’s 615,000 bridges in the National Bridge Inventory is structurally deficient. Increasing the weight of a heavy truck by only 10 percent increases bridge damage by 33 percent. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the nation’s investment backlog for bridges to address all cost-beneficial bridge needs is $123.1 billion. The U.S. would need to increase annual funding for bridges by 20 percent over current spending levels to eliminate the bridge backlog by 2032. In addition, the U.S. DOT Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study found that introducing double 33-foot trailer trucks, known as “Double 33s,” would be projected to result in 2,478 bridges requiring strengthening or replacement at an estimated onetime cost of $1.1 billion. This figure does not even include the additional, subsequent maintenance costs which will result from longer, heavier trucks. Allowing bigger, heavier trucks would run counter to the goal of improving this dire state of our infrastructure.
Increasing truck size and weight threatens public safety. Truck crashes, deaths and injuries have been on a dangerous upward trend. From 2009 to 2015, large truck crashes rose by 45 percent and injuries skyrocketed by 57 percent (up to 415,000 and 116,000, respectively). Moreover, large truck crashes kill 10 people and injure over 300 more each day on average. In 2016 alone, 4,317 people were killed in truck crashes – a stunning 28 percent jump in fatalities since 2009. These needless, preventable crashes also come with a massive price tag. In 2015, crashes involving commercial motor vehicles amounted to an estimated $118 billion in economic costs to society. This is clearly a major and expensive public safety crisis that demands proactive solutions, not further degradation of truck safety rules.
Trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds have a greater number of brake violations, which are a major cause of trucks being placed out-of-service. In fact, a North Carolina study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), found that trucks with out-of-service violations are 362 percent more likely to be involved in a crash. Tractor-trailers moving at 60 mph are required to stop in 310 feet – the length of a football field – once the brakes are applied. Actual stopping distances are often much longer due to driver response time before braking and the common problem that truck brakes are often not in top working condition. In 2016, violations related to tires and/or brakes accounted for five of the top 10 most common vehicle out-ofservice violations. And, double trailer trucks have an 11 percent higher fatality rate than single trailer trucks. They also require more stopping distance, take more time to pass, have bigger blind spots, cross into adjacent lanes and swing into opposing lanes on curves and when making right angle turns.
Allowing bigger trucks will not result in fewer trucks on our roads. Despite misleading claims to the contrary, bigger trucks will not mean fewer trucks. When Congress last increased the gross vehicle weight limit in 1982, truck registrations have more than doubled. The U.S. DOT study also addressed this assertion and found that any potential mileage efficiencies from use of heavier trucks would be offset in just one year. Increasing truck size and weight would also lead to a diversion of freight off the railroads and onto the highways – putting more trucks, more wear-and-tear, and more safety risk on the road.
Increases to truck size and weight have been consistently and strongly rejected. In a recent nationwide poll, 7 in 10 respondents opposed longer and heavier trucks. Earlier this year, over 1,000 local government officials signed a letter to Congress urging rejection of any attempts to increase truck size and weight. Also, as recently as 2016, the U.S. DOT recommended that no changes be made to federal truck size and weight laws. Further, during the last Congress, both the House and Senate voted down efforts to allow bigger and heavier trucks in strong bipartisan votes.
We strongly urge your Subcommittee to reject any and all efforts to increase truck size and weight in the FY 2019 U.S. DOT Appropriations bill. As Congress and the Administration set out to make needed improvements to the Nation’s infrastructure, allowing bigger and heavier trucks would thwart progress and jeopardize safety.
Sincerely,
Catherine Chase, President
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
Joan Claybrook, Chair
Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH)
and Former Administrator, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
Jeff Solheim, 2018 President
Emergency Nurses Association
James P. Hoffa, General President
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director
American Public Health Association
John Risch, National Legislative Director
SMART-TD (UTU)
Dominick Stokes, Vice President for Legislative Affairs
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
Steve Owings, Co-Founder & President
Road Safe America
Dawn King, President
Truck Safety Coalition
Brad Roseberry, Vice President
Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
Dave Tennent, Executive Director and CEO
Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association
Jennifer Tierney, Board Member
CRASH Foundation
Chuck Baker, President
National Railroad Construction and Maintenance
Association
E. Michael O’Malley, President
Railway Supply Institute
Jack Gillis, Director of Public Affairs
Consumer Federation of America
Linda Bauer Darr, President
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
Andrew McGuire, Executive Director
Trauma Foundation
Jason Levine, Executive Director
Center for Auto Safety
Daphne Izer, Co-Chair
Parents Against Tired Truckers
Janette Fennell, Founder and President
KidsAndCars.org
Steve Izer
Lisbon, ME Board Member, PATT
Father of Jeff Izer
Killed in a truck crash 10/10/93
Christina Mahaney
Jackman, ME Volunteer,
Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 7/19/11
Mother of Liam Mahaney
Killed in a truck crash 7/19/11
Lisa Shrum
Fayette, MO
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Daughter of Virginia Baker, Step-daughter of
Randy Baker
Killed in a truck crash 10/10/06
Julie Branon
Magnan South Burlington, VT
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 01/31/02
Wife of David Magnan
Killed in a truck crash 01/31/02
Randall Higginbotham
Memphis, TN
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Father of Michael Higginbotham
Killed in a truck crash, 11/18/14
Kate Brown
Gurnee, IL
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Mother of Graham Brown
Injured in a truck crash 5/2/05
Cindy Southern
Cleveland, TN
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Wife of James Whitaker, sister-in-law Anthony
Hixon and aunt of Amber Hixon
Killed in a truck crash 9/18/09
Jackie Novak
Hendersonville, NC
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Mother of Charles “Chuck” Novak
Killed in a truck crash 10/24/10
Laurie Higginbotham
Memphis, TN
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Mother of Michael Higginbotham
Killed in a truck crash, 11/18/14
Laurie Higginbotham
Memphis, TN
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Mother of Michael Higginbotham
Killed in a truck crash, 11/18/14
Tami Friedrich Trakh
Corona, CA
Board Member, CRASH
Sister of Kris Mercurio, Sister-in-Law of Alan
Mercurio, Aunt of Brandie Rooker & Anthony Mercurio
Killed in a truck crash 12/27/89
Jane Mathis
St. Augustine, FL
Vice President, TSC
Board Member, PATT
Mother of David Mathis
Mother-in-Law of Mary Kathryn Mathis
Killed in a truck crash 3/25/04
Tina Silva
Ontario, CA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Sister of Kris Mercurio,
Sister-in-Law of Alan Mercurio,
Aunt of Brandie Rooker & Anthony Mercurio
Killed in a truck crash 12/27/89
Michelle Novak
Delevan, NY
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Aunt of Charles “Chuck” Novak
Killed in a truck crash 10/24/10
Michelle Lemus
Los Angeles, CA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 4/10/14
Peter Malarczyk
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 12/29/15
Son of Ryszard and Anita Malarczyk
Killed in a truck crash 12/29/15
Paul Badger
Davidson, NC
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Son of Bill Badger
Killed in truck crash 12/23/04
Kim Telep
Harrisburg, PA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Wife of Bradley Telep
Killed in a truck crash 8/29/12
Alan Dana
Plattsburgh, NY
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Son of Janet Dana,
Uncle of Caitlyn & Lauryn Dana,
Brother-in-law of Laurie Dana
Killed in a truck crash 7/19/12
Amy Fletcher
Perrysburg, OH
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Wife of John Fletcher
Killed in a truck crash 1/24/12
Beth Badger
Columbus, GA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Daughter of Bill Badger
Killed in truck crash 12/23/04
Debra Cruz
Harlingen, TX
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 8/8/08
Vickie Johnson
Hartwell, GA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Wife of Curt Johnson,
Step-mother of Crystal Johnson
Killed in a truck crash 10/1/09
Wanda Lindsay New
Braunfels, TX Volunteer,
Truck Safety Coalition
Wife of John Lindsay
Killed in a truck crash 5/7/10
Warren Huffman
Odessa, MI
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Brother of Tim Huffman
Killed in a truck crash 5/6/13
Marc Johnson
Hartwell, GA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Brother of Curt Johnson
Killed in truck crash 10/1/09
Tammy Huffman
Odessa, MI
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Sister-in-law of Tim Huffman
Killed in a truck crash 5/6/13
Linda Wilburn
Weatherford, OK
Board Member, PATT
Mother of Orbie Wilburn
Killed in a truck crash 9/2/02
Bruce King
Davisburg, MI
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Son-in-law of Bill Badger
Killed in truck crash 12/23/04
Nancy Meuleners
Bloomington, MN
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 12/19/89
Ron Wood
Washington, D.C.
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Son of Betsy Wood,
Brother of Lisa Wood Martin,
Uncle of Chance, Brock,
and Reid Martin
Killed in a truck crash 9/20/04
Melissa Gouge
Washington, D.C.
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Cousin of Amy Corbin
Killed in a truck crash 8/18/97
Morgan Lake
Sunderland, MD
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Injured in a truck crash 7/19/13
Ed Slattery
Lutherville, MD
Board Member, PATT
Husband of Susan Slattery
Killed in a truck crash 8/16/10
Sons Matthew & Peter Slattery critically injured
in a truck crash 8/16/10
Marchelle Wood
Falls Church, VA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Mother of Dana Wood
Killed in a truck crash 10/15/02
Larry Liberatore
Severn, MD
Board Member, PATT
Father of Nick Liberatore
Killed in a truck crash 6/9/97
Sandra Lance
Chesterfield, VA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Mother of Kristen Belair
Killed in a truck crash 8/26/09
Ashley McMillan
Memphis, TN
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Girlfriend of Michael Higginbotham
Killed in a truck crash 11/18/14
Frank Wood
Falls Church, VA
Volunteer, Truck Safety Coalition
Father of Dana Wood
Killed in a truck crash 10/15/02
cc: Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations