Georgia’s House Bill 189 looks at increasing the weight limit of tractor trailers and loads from 80,000 pounds to up to 95,000 pounds with a special waiver. The proponents of the bill say the weight increase will help with supply chain issues and make Georgia’s weight limits on par with neighboring states and that fewer trips needed for transport will help reduce emissions.
Here’s the Problem: Raising the weight limit is dangerous for Georgians.
Current federal law prohibits trucks carrying more than 80,000 pounds from traveling on federal highways. This means the weight increase will lead to more trucks on Georgia’s state roads and bridges.
- Georgia maintains 80 percent of the roads in the state and more than 8,000 bridges. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, 1,400 bridges cannot handle the increased weight limit.
- The new bill would mean trucks that are too heavy for U.S. highways (I-75, I-85, I-20 and more) would be forced to travel on state roads through indirect routes which would lead to extra time on the road and an increased exposure to residential traffic.
Wear and tear on the road could lead to more gas tax to repair the roads, but the higher weights also mean more danger to motorists. Heavier trucks will no doubt lead to more serious and deadly accidents. The Truck Safety Coalition found big rigs carrying close to the current federal limit (up to 80,000 lbs) are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as trucks carrying less than 50,000 lbs. The Georgia legislation would increase the current federal limit by up to 15,000 lbs.
Heavier tractor trailers also wear at an increased rate of damage. A US Department of Transportation study found trucks over the 80,000 pound federal limit have a 47 to 400 percent higher crash rate. Those with higher rates of damage are also likely to have higher accident rates.
HB189 will be voted on before the end of the legislative session. We at Penn Law hope our legislators think of the safety of Georgians when casting their vote.
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