Teamsters Support Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act

[Omaha Steve]

http://sev.prnewswire.com/transportation-trucking-railroad/20090401/DC9276701042009-1.html

Larger Trucks Cause Safety Issues, Accelerate Damage to Highways & Bridges

WASHINGTON, April 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives from the Teamsters Union joined Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and safety advocates at a press conference today to voice their support for the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act (SHIPA), legislation that would extend the current restrictions on the size and weight of trucks that travel the U.S. highways.

Currently, limitations on size and weight are enforced on interstate highways while states are allowed to set the limits on all other roads. SHIPA would extend the restrictions to cover the entire National Highway System.

"The Teamsters strongly support the bill sponsored by Sen. Lautenberg and Rep. McGovern," said LaMont Byrd, Teamsters Safety and Health Department Director. "Large trucks are more dangerous to drive and damage highways and bridges; the safety, highway design and operating issues involved in allowing bigger trucks are not worth the negligible gains in productivity they might realize."

States and federal government agencies don't have enough funds to properly repair, maintain and expand our infrastructure to meet growing transportation needs, let alone build out the reinforced infrastructure necessary to operate longer and heavier vehicles on the current system.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Website: http://www.teamster.org/