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SIZE AND WEIGHT

Wisconsin Action Alert

TRUCK SAFETY COALITION LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
Wisconsin
February 3, 2006

ISSUE: On January 26, the Assembly Transportation Committee unanimously passed AB 678 which would allow trucks hauling logs and “intermediary lumber” to carry 98,000 pounds. Current law caps the permissible truck weight at 80,000 pounds. The bill is scheduled for consideration by the Assembly Rules Committee.

•   To view the home page of the Wisconsin Legislature: www.legis.state.wi.us

TAKE ACTION NOW:
•   Contact the members of the Assembly Rules Committee and voice your opposition: www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asmco.html --

Rep. Michael Huebsch: 608-266-2401; fax 608-282-3694; rep.huebsch@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. John Gard: 608-266-3387; fax 608-282-3689; rep.gard@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Stephen Freese: 608-266-7502; fax 608-282-3651; rep.freese@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Jeff Fitzgerlad: 608-266-2540; fax 608-282-3639; rep.fitzgerald@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Daniel Vrakas: 608-266-3007; rep.vrakas@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Mark Gottlieb: 608-267-2369; rep.gottlieb@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Carol Owens: 608-267-7990; fax 608-282-3653; rep.owens@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. David Travis: 608-266-5340; fax 608-282-3681; rep.travis@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Robert Turner: 608-266-0731; fax 608-282-3661; rep.turner@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. James Kreuser: 608-266-5504; fax 608-282-3664; rep.kreuser@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Jon Richards: 608-266-0650; fax 608-282-3619; rep.richards@legis.state.wi.us
Rep. Gary Sherman: 608-266-7690; fax 608-282-3674; rep.Sherman@legis.state.wi.us

•   Contact the bill sponsor, Rep. Don Friske, and tell him you oppose the bill, www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm35/asm35.html. If you don’t have internet access: Send a letter to: Rep. Don Friske, Room 312 North, State Capitol, PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708, or call him at 608-266-7694.

TALKING POINTS:
•   Since 1994, 1,117 people in Wisconsin have died in truck crashes. In 2004, there were 107 truck crash deaths an increase from 2003. (U.S. DOT).
•   The chances of a big truck crash resulting in death and serious injuries increase with each extra ton of weight over the 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit in federal law. A big truck weighing even a legal 80,000 pounds is more then twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a truck weighing about 50,000 pounds (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 1988).
•   One legal 80,000 pound GVW tractor-trailer truck does as much damage to road pavement as 9,600 cars. (Highway Research Board, NAS, 1962).
•   According to the recent Wisconsin DOT report, “The bill would allow weights exceeding the acceptable level of stress on a large number of bridges on the state highway system.” In a worst-case scenario it would cost about $1.75 billion dollars to replace about 1,400 state bridges that aren’t built for such heavy loads, the report stated. One-quarter of county-owned bridges – 771 – would fall into that category, with a replacement scenario of about $400 million.
•   Overweight trucks chronically underpay their fair share of taxes and user fees for the repair of U.S. roads and bridges. By damaging roads, large trucks further degrade highway safety. (U.S. DOT, 1997).
•   Increases in truck size and weight will not decrease the number of trips, result in fewer miles traveled, or improve safety by reducing the number of trucks on the highways. The number of trucks on U.S. highways has consistently grown, even after increases in both the sizes and weights of large trucks.
•   By an 88 percent majority, the American public is opposed to allowing bigger and heavier trucks on the highways. (Lou Harris Poll, 1996).

For more information, contact the Truck Safety Coalition, 202-232-4358.