OPINION — In the coming Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, Congress is considering relaxing the size and weight limits on the current fleet of trucks, opening the door to those that are 14% heavier and up to 17 feet longer.
For conservatives who care about conservation, stewardship and market-based environmental progress, increasing truck size and weight limits is a problematic move for our economy, communities and climate.
Freight transportation is already among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and heavy-duty trucks account for a disproportionate share. These vehicles rely almost entirely on diesel fuel, operate around the clock and travel long distances.
