Coalition Against Bigger Trucks

As Congress shapes the next highway bill, Police Chief Ed Kinney of the Medina Police Department in Ohio, is sharing his firsthand law enforcement perspective with members of Congress, joining CABT at our Capitol Hill fly-in earlier this month: “We talked about the safety issues that could be created by the increase,” Kinney said. “When a full-size truck crashes here in Medina, it is not a fender bender. It is a significant event that ties up resources and the last thing we need is bigger, heavier trucks coming through Medina. We urged members of Congress to put safety ahead of special interest. Sure, larger trucks might save a few companies some money, but it can also cost communities lives, infrastructure and resources.” Read more in cleveland.com here: #nobiggertrucks https://lnkd.in/eseNrees

Watch here as Sid Wordell, former Police Chief of Little Compton, Rhode Island, and Executive Director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association, underscores law enforcement’s concerns about congressional bills which could increase the weight tractor trailer trucks carry on the highway. Chief Wordell joined CABT at our recent Washington, D.C. fly-in to discuss legislative threats that would increase truck size and weight limits. #nobiggertrucks https://lnkd.in/euw7-BDW

To former Buffalo Grove and Cary, Illinois Police Chief, Steve Casstevens, the formula is obvious: bigger, heavier trucks equal more crashes. Chief Casstevens joined CABT’s recent Capitol Hill fly-in with 12 other law enforcement, local government, and truck driver volunteers to spread the word about the dangers of heavier trucks with Members of Congress. “There’s never been a study by anyone saying higher weights are safer,” said Casstevens, who also served as president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. “Common sense, engineers and truck drivers will tell you higher weights mean more crashes. Everything tells us it’s a bad idea.” Read more in the Daily Herald: https://lnkd.in/ex-rS2jp

Today’s op-ed in The Hill from Jeff Krueger, Executive Director of the Minnesota Townships Association underscores the high stakes for our local communities’ roads and bridges if bigger truck proposals pass through Congress: “The vast damage to infrastructure is bipartisan -- red and blue states would get hammered. The states with the highest potential bridge replacement costs include Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, the report found. None of the various proposals to increase truck size includes additional funding for infrastructure.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/e6raqWrc

Land Line Media - The Official Media of OOIDA: “Local communities unite against increase in truck size and weight” “Local communities and our residents are what drive this country,” the letter states. “We work every day to make sure the needs and safety of our residents are met. Allowing heavier and longer trucks will most certainly set us back in our efforts. Much of our transportation infrastructure that connects people to jobs, schools and leisure is in disrepair, in part because local and rural roads and bridges are older and not built to the same standards as interstates. Many of us are unable to keep up with our current maintenance schedules and replacement costs because of underfunded budgets.” #nobiggertrucks https://lnkd.in/g7EHvJEe

CABT is proud to stand with truck drivers against heavier and longer trucks. Listen here as experts in the industry testify to Congress that a bigger truck is a more dangerous truck for everyone on the roads. Follow us as we tell Congress #nobiggertrucks!