This Letter to the Editor appears in the July 30 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today. Heavier Truck Debate
The debate does go on, and getting everyone in the industry to agree on weight regulations will be as easy as getting the highway bill passed and signed.
Being from the auto transport industry, which only has 9,000 to 10,000 trucks, weight and dimension are of paramount importance. Our freight pay is based on a per-vehicle mileage formula, and load factor, or the number of vehicles you haul, is a difference-maker.
Admittedly, weight may send some political heads spinning with a proposed jump from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds, but the truth for auto transport is that a 10% variance will make a difference.
More vehicles per load should produce fewer trucks on the road, reducing carbon emissions and burning less fossil fuel.
Maybe specialized carriers should have some allowances not shared by others. After all, one shoe doesn’t fit everyone. Let’s not get hung up on the 97,000 pounds because it may never come.
Richard Binkley
President
GST Transport Systems and Alaplex Auto Transport
Houston
