Articles
Chassis King produces periodic articles relating to the shipping, trucking, and intermodal transportation industries. Have an article idea? Email us at sales@chassisking.com.
Transportation Bill to Address Truck Weight Limits
Posted 3 days ago
The controversial issue of tractor-trailer weight is part of a transportation bill that the House Republicans unveiled on Tuesday. It would allow the maximum weight of trucks to increase from 80,000 lbs to 97,000 lbs and their length to extend by five feet. Proponents say the increased weight will save on fuel costs while opponents argue that safety and infrastructure wil be compromised.
Under US law, tractor- trailer weight is limited to a maximum of 80,000 lbs on interstate highways. Maine and Vermont are exceptions under a pilot program that allows for 97,000 lbs trucks. According to John Runyan, executive director of CTP (Coalition for Transportation Productivity), states can already set higher weight limits for secondary roads and forty-four (44) do. In addition, twenty-eight (28) states are letting a number of heavier trucks with permits rumble on interstates for shipping containers loaded from ports or for certain essential commodities.
Companies including Kraft and Home Depot say 97,000 lbs trucks are needed to offset higher diesel fuel prices. Kraft claims its trucks would drive 33 million fewer miles a year with higher weight limits nationwide. Safety advocates question not only safety but whether bridges can withstand the added stress. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that 25% of US bridges would not be strong enough. The US is spending about $10.5 billion/year to maintain bridges, and $17 billion is needed to keep up with the ongoing damage.
The five-year, $260-billion surface transportation bill was introduced by House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla).
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Proposal for Higher Weight Limits Gains Momentum
Posted 9 months ago
Legislation for raising tractor-trailer weight continues to gain momentum as the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) was reintroduced to the US Senate. The proposal would give states the option to increase tractor-trailer weight to 97,000 lbs for six axle combinations instead of five. The current limit is 80,000 lbs.
"In the face of a host of costly regulatory initiatives that are raising the cost of transportation to trucking companies and shippers alike, giving the states an opportunity to raise weight limits will help them boost the productivity of their operations", John Runyan, executive director of CTP told Fleet Owner. An example of the regulatory initiative is the so-called regulatory drags mandating electronic onboard recorders, the new Compliance Safety Accountability program, and the impending revision of hours of service.
SETA particulars are expected to be included into the 6th year surface transportation funding bill currently being worked on.
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Production Outlook Varies Among Chassis Manufacturers
Posted 1 year ago
How bright container chassis production looks for this year depends on who you ask. Two major chassis manufacturers shared their views with Transport Topics.
According to Murray Zwickels from a Philadephia based manufacturing company, "We are not up to the same production levels as two years ago". The company expects to build less chassis in 2011 than they did in 2008. This drop is partly due to the uncertainty about who will provide intermodal chassis (i.e, ocean carriers, leasing companies) in the future.
On the other hand, "The change from steamship-owned equipment to drayman-owned equipment is a boost for Chassis King as several intermodal trucking companies are buying" said Donald Pratt from Chassis King, Inc. "We have no shortage of production capacity at this time".
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