Vehicle Size and Weight – The Voice of Change belongs to you
The National Academies of Science, Transportation Research Board meets next week to discuss issues facing all modes of Transportation within the U.S. The Committee on Size and Weight will be discussing what other countries are doing and what the impact would be on our Roads and Bridges.
Some theorists say that Intermodal shipments are the answer and keeping heavier ‘permitted’ vehicles on state roads is the way to solve the issue of congestion and at the same time allow us to avoid costly changes to the Interstate Highway system which still restricts us to 80,000 lbs GVW (20,000 lbs behind other developed and competing countries). Intermodal has not been proven to be effective under 700 miles both in terms of cost, time, and congestion. The required drayage at both ends of the shipment is very costly, does not solve the congestion problem at all, and it is not financially attractive for shipment under 700 miles. Encouraging the movement of heavier ‘permitted’ vehicles across state roads and bridges, through local towns and past schools certainly is a failed concept in terms of safety, fuel efficiency, congestion, and cost, not to mention the wear and tear on state roads.
If you want to create productivity for your companies and at the same time reduce congestion, you need to work with your U.S. Senators and Representatives and insist they not be fooled into thinking that Intermodal is the cure all…While it plays a valuable role in long distance movements, it is not the cure for domestic U.S. movements that begin and end in someone’s home town. We must make improvements to our federal highway infrastructures and be able to move more with less…that makes good sense for the economy, the environment, and safety, a carrier base that struggle to maintain a skilled and safe driver base.
Get involved and help solve this problem!
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