WASHINGTON, D.C.– The U.S. Senate Tuesday voted in favor of a motion that opposes requiring trucks to pull the double 33-foot trailers in 38 states that currently don’t allow them. This effort was lead by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. The motion passed by a vote of 56-31.
“Thirty-eight states say these longer trucks are not safe, and they tell us that they don’t want them on the highways and byways,” Wicker said. “I think we should respect their decision. Today’s vote against this federal government mandate sends a strong signal that we stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans who do not want to contend with these longer double trucks on their roads. I am hopeful that those who are writing the omnibus appropriations bill and the final highway bill have taken note of the Senate’s position.”
“Today’s vote was a victory for public safety,” Feinstein said. “The Senate said loud and clear that twin 33’s are dangerous and we must study their safety before allowing longer trailer trucks on our roads. It’s encouraging that a majority of my colleagues agree with this safety-focused, reasonable approach. Slipping such a sweeping change into an omnibus funding bill without understanding the consequences is not the way this should be handled.”
Earlier this year, the Senate Appropriations Committee okay’d an amendment to the transportation funding bill requiring states to allow trucks with two 33-foot trailers on their highways. A tractor trailer with two 33-foot trailers measures approximately 91 feet in total length, which equals an 8-story office building.
The Department of Transportation and AAA both spoke against the extra long trailers, citing driver safety.
DOT and AAA are not alone in their opposition. Those opposed to twin 33-foot trailers include Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Teamsters Union, the Truckload Carriers Association, the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, several state trucking associations, the National Troopers Coalition, and other law enforcement associations throughout the country.
