New polling in key House Districts shows widespread opposition to bigger trucks

As Congress ramps up debate on whether to allow huge tractor trailers on the nation’s highways, polling of voters in five key House districts has found widespread opposition due to safety and infrastructure concerns.

The survey assessed voter attitudes in five districts of members who sit on the Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, the committee that is considering proposals to raise truck weight limits from the current 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds and beyond.

The individual polls surveyed the districts of: Rep. Rob Bresnahan, PA-8; Rep. Mike Kennedy UT-3; Rep. Emilia Sykes, OH-13; Rep. Tom Barrett, MI-7; and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, MI-8.

In all five of the districts, voters overwhelmingly rejected increasing truck weights to 91,000 pounds and decisively said no to a proposal that would give individual states authority to test a pilot program of heavier trucks.

Lawmakers have consistently rejected such proposals due to documented safety concerns to motorists and the serious damage to roads and bridges. Heavier trucks are more dangerous to motorists and more damaging to infrastructure.

Depending on the district, the reasons for the overwhelming opposition reflected concern about vehicle crashes caused by heavier trucks, increased road and bridge damage and higher maintenance costs.

The key finding of the polls, whether respondents supported Congress raising the weight of semi-trucks, was an emphatic “NO”. Below are the responses for each district:

Tom Barrett (MI-07) – 75% oppose an increase while 9% support

Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) – 74% oppose an increase while 8% support

Emilia Sykes (OH-13) – 73% oppose an increase while 13% support

Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) – 77% oppose an increase while 9% support

Mike Kennedy (UT-03) – 66% oppose an increase while 13% support

“The results show an unusually broad consensus among voters,” said Ryan Munce, president of polling company co/efficient. “Across party lines, age groups and demographics, voters consistently oppose allowing heavier trucks on America’s highways.”

Local law enforcement leaders experience the risks of bigger trucks firsthand. “It is impossible to ignore the unsafe condition of America’s highways today, with thousands of roadway deaths touching every corner of our nation,” said Chief Steve Casstevens (Ret.), past president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and member of CABT’s Law Enforcement Board. “Congress must heed our warning that all available evidence clearly shows that bigger trucks will lead to more and worse crashes.”

The findings echo widespread opposition around the nation. For example, more than 2,200 state and local government officials from all 50 states joined together last year to register their opposition to bigger truck proposals. In their letter to congressional members, the officials stressed that localities are already struggling to keep up with the backlog of roadway maintenance due to lack of funds.

And just this past January, a coalition of 20 national organizations sent a joint letter to Congress opposing measures that would allow larger trucks. Signatories included the National Association of Counties, the National Association of County Engineers, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Automobile Association, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Truckload Carriers Association.

As lawmakers weigh transportation legislation in the months ahead, the message from local voters is clear: protect highway safety and our infrastructure and reject heavier trucks.