DOT Cites 'Profound' Data Limitations in Size, Weight Study
Rogoff wrote to congressional leaders that the research “revealed very significant data limitations that severely hampered the Federal Highway Administration’s efforts to conclusively study the effects of the size and weight of various truck configurations.”
The technical report had aimed to address the effects on safety, infrastructure and law enforcement that differing vehicle combinations have.
The limitations included the “profound absence” of weight data in crash reporting, the lack of models to predict bridge deck deterioration over time and difficulty separating truck weight enforcement program costs from overall truck safety enforcement costs, Rogoff wrote.
“At this time, the department believes that the current data limitations are so profound that the results cannot accurately be extrapolated to predict national impacts,” Rogoff wrote. “As such, the department believes that no changes in the relevant truck size and weight laws and regulations should be considered until these data limitations are overcome.”
“Given the timing of the release of this study, it is an obvious attempt to promote administration policy, rather than give Congress the unbiased information it requested," said American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves. "It is appalling that after years of saying the study would not make recommendations, DOT officials would release this report – and recommend no change in current law – just days after the White House came out opposing truck productivity increases.”
He added: “Our experience as an industry, as seen by the safe and efficient use of twin 33-foot trailers in the states of Florida and North Dakota, shows the obvious benefits of this configuration. As flimsy as this report is, it at least acknowledges these more productive combinations will improve efficiency, saving American consumers billions of dollars.”
