As I read both sides of the argument for heavier weight limits on trucks, I can honestly see pros and cons on both.
So, the primary question comes into play; which has greater merit, the pros or cons?
On the pro side of the argument, we have some key points that make a lot of sense, and, at the same time, some points that can be shot down very quickly.
For example, more weight (in this case 17000 lbs more) could take a few trucks off the road. I do mean a few! For the small amount of companies who get regular HEAVY shipments such as Con-Agra who gets large totes bags of flour and oats on a daily basis, they could eliminate 1 out of every 4 trucks essentially saving them money on shipping charges which could be (even though we all know it wouldn’t be) passed on to the consumer.
Now they proponents of this argument would scream that this would save fuel and reduce emmissions as well. Let me shoot that one down real quick. A truck hauling 97000 lbs will average 1.4 mpg less in fuel. That times 3 = 4.2 mpg. The same amount of fuel that the additional truck would use. The only savings is to the trucking company who no longer has to employ that driver or have that additional piece of equipment.
Now someone inevitably will want to know where I get my figures from. Questioning my education and engineering degree or whatever. It’s real life experience! I’ve ran loads that grossed 97000+, so I know what it does to MY Fuel milage, and I am a conservative driver. Meaning I keep my foot out of it, progressive shift, and do whatever else I can to squeeze a extra tenth of a mile out of each gallon of fuel.
In the above argument, let us also look at this factor. Trucks grossing that much will have to run on special routes. Our infastructure is not sound enough to support this weight. US 63 up through Arkansas to Missouri is a very popular truck route. Going from Memphis to Kansas City, it is the logical way to go, not to mention the shortest. This route has several bridges on it that have been posted at 15 tons or less. They are starting to write tickets for trucks exceeding that limit. To my knowledge, these bridge limits are fairly new since I don’t recall seeing them that low in the past.
Someplace I have read that this limit will only apply to trucks with “Special” Brakes. The article I read did nothing to define “Special,” so I will guess the big companies will want it defined as “attached to truck in a way that assists stopping the vehicles motion”. In layman's terms, normal brakes.
What are some of the benefits I see from heavier limits on trucks? Well, loads that pay by the hundred weight (melons and potatoes) suddenly become more profitable. However, I am going to say with pretty much a certainty that they will want us to do it for the same money, and lower the per hundred weight rate to make that number.
Another advantage would be for people like me who have heavy trucks. I currently can’t haul many loads that I use to be able to haul for the simple reason that my truck is too heavy. At 36500 tare weight I am pretty much limited to 43,000 or less.
Not that I mind being limited, but I have missed a couple of very good paying loads because of weight restrictions.
Personally, I think if you want something that heavy moved, put it on a train. Since the Government seems to be pushing for more freight moving on the rails, let them have the heavy stuff that would require extra weight limits. They’re bridges are already built to handle the weight and it can be busted down at the rail yards to truck limits for the last 100 miles or so.
This would reduce the emissions of the trucks they want to reduce, save wear and tear on our highway infrastucture, and create some local jobs for people.
To Possibly be continued.
So, the primary question comes into play; which has greater merit, the pros or cons?
On the pro side of the argument, we have some key points that make a lot of sense, and, at the same time, some points that can be shot down very quickly.
For example, more weight (in this case 17000 lbs more) could take a few trucks off the road. I do mean a few! For the small amount of companies who get regular HEAVY shipments such as Con-Agra who gets large totes bags of flour and oats on a daily basis, they could eliminate 1 out of every 4 trucks essentially saving them money on shipping charges which could be (even though we all know it wouldn’t be) passed on to the consumer.
Now they proponents of this argument would scream that this would save fuel and reduce emmissions as well. Let me shoot that one down real quick. A truck hauling 97000 lbs will average 1.4 mpg less in fuel. That times 3 = 4.2 mpg. The same amount of fuel that the additional truck would use. The only savings is to the trucking company who no longer has to employ that driver or have that additional piece of equipment.
Now someone inevitably will want to know where I get my figures from. Questioning my education and engineering degree or whatever. It’s real life experience! I’ve ran loads that grossed 97000+, so I know what it does to MY Fuel milage, and I am a conservative driver. Meaning I keep my foot out of it, progressive shift, and do whatever else I can to squeeze a extra tenth of a mile out of each gallon of fuel.
In the above argument, let us also look at this factor. Trucks grossing that much will have to run on special routes. Our infastructure is not sound enough to support this weight. US 63 up through Arkansas to Missouri is a very popular truck route. Going from Memphis to Kansas City, it is the logical way to go, not to mention the shortest. This route has several bridges on it that have been posted at 15 tons or less. They are starting to write tickets for trucks exceeding that limit. To my knowledge, these bridge limits are fairly new since I don’t recall seeing them that low in the past.
Someplace I have read that this limit will only apply to trucks with “Special” Brakes. The article I read did nothing to define “Special,” so I will guess the big companies will want it defined as “attached to truck in a way that assists stopping the vehicles motion”. In layman's terms, normal brakes.
What are some of the benefits I see from heavier limits on trucks? Well, loads that pay by the hundred weight (melons and potatoes) suddenly become more profitable. However, I am going to say with pretty much a certainty that they will want us to do it for the same money, and lower the per hundred weight rate to make that number.
Another advantage would be for people like me who have heavy trucks. I currently can’t haul many loads that I use to be able to haul for the simple reason that my truck is too heavy. At 36500 tare weight I am pretty much limited to 43,000 or less.
Not that I mind being limited, but I have missed a couple of very good paying loads because of weight restrictions.
Personally, I think if you want something that heavy moved, put it on a train. Since the Government seems to be pushing for more freight moving on the rails, let them have the heavy stuff that would require extra weight limits. They’re bridges are already built to handle the weight and it can be busted down at the rail yards to truck limits for the last 100 miles or so.
This would reduce the emissions of the trucks they want to reduce, save wear and tear on our highway infrastucture, and create some local jobs for people.
To Possibly be continued.
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