Louisiana Doesn’t Need Bigger Trucks

The weight limit on 18-wheelers stands at 80,000 pounds. Trucks that weigh more, or are over the size limitations set by federal and state authorities can only take the road under a permit for a specific duration and on a specific route. The majority of motorists, wary of deadly tractor-trailer crashes in Louisiana, do not want to see these limits lifted to please the motor carrier industry and their lobbyists.

This is, however, precisely what happened recently in Vermont and Maine, where a one-year truck weight exemption has evolved into a permanent ruling allowing trucks on their highways weighing up to 100,000 pounds. This decision was taken without regard to the damage to the infrastructure and the serious safety issues resulting from overweight trucks.

What is the problem with super-heavy trucks?

Oversized and overweight double-trailer trucks create additional hazards that are very serious:

• They take a very long time to get up to speed, need more distance to stop, and require far more space to turn and change lanes;
• When super-heavy trucks do crash, the resulting damage is even worse than that created by regular 18-wheelers;
• For passenger car drivers, passing an oversized truck is even more risky than passing a tractor-trailer. Most of the huge area around a super-heavy truck is a blind zone;
• Double-trailer trucks are difficult to operate, the end-trailer is likely to swing back and forth, and control over the trailers becomes impossible in emergency situations.

Truck drivers often work under great pressure to meet deadlines or make ends meet. Motor carriers often cut corners hiring under-qualified drivers or skipping maintenance work. With super-heavy trucks in their hands, this would be a recipe for disaster.

If you have been hurt in a car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle accident caused by someone else, contact the New Orleans accident attorneys of the Young Firm for a FREE discussion of your case. Order now our FREE lawyer book, "A Guide To Steering Through a Serious Vehicle Accident in Louisiana".