Latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks

Counties across the nation face pressing challenges as proposed legislation threatens to increase the size and weight of heavy trucks beyond the current 80,000-pound federal threshold. As owners of nearly half of all public road miles and one in four bridges in America, this issue significantly impacts county budgets and the safety of our residents.  

County Concerns

At their current weight, heavy trucks already cause substantial damage to local roads and bridges with no corresponding funding to offset costs for more frequent road repairs, bridge reinforcements and maintenance projects. According to a local bridge study by county engineers and our coalition partners, upgrades to accommodate weights being proposed in Congress would cost nearly $80 billion. This figure does not include the additional, immense costs to repair local and state roads and highways.  

For most of the nation’s counties – particularly rural and underserved areas – this financial burden is unmanageable with our already constrained budgets, limited resources and competing priorities. Most significantly, however, is the reality that local taxpayers will not only bear the burden of increased infrastructure costs, but our residents will also face the safety hazards associated with putting heavier trucks on county roads and bridges.  

NACo Advocacy

Recognizing these impacts, NACo is at the forefront of opposing this legislation, working diligently with our partners to educate Capitol Hill members and staff on our concerns ahead of key pieces of legislation, such as Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations. Notable advocacy milestones include:

• August 17, 2023: Local government letter to various committees of jurisdiction strongly opposing congressional proposals to increase heavy truck size and weight
• November 16, 2023: Letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees urging Congress to reject any proposals that would increase truck weight or length  in the Farm Bill
• March 18, 2024: Letter to opposing H.R. 7496, the MOVE Act, a bill that gives governors unilateral authority to increase truck weights  
• June 25, 2024: Letter urging lawmakers to reject any provisions in the FY 2025 Transportation appropriations bill that would increase truck weight or length limits
• August 8, 2024: Letter to House leadership to reject a request for a vote on H.R. 3372, which proposes increasing federal truck weight limits to 91,000 pounds through a 10-year “pilot program”

Take Action: Urge your congressional leaders to oppose legislation to increase the size and weight of heavy trucks and prioritize the safety of our local roads and bridges.