Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023:
A coalition consisting of car haulers, vehicle and trailer manufacturers and more last week penned a letter to members of Congress seeking increased weight limits for car haulers transporting electric vehicles.
The Coalition for Electric Vehicle Transportation (CEVT) said one of the only things Congress did not address in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act related to electric vehicles was the actual transportation of those vehicles.
“In short, electric vehicles are heavier than their gas-powered counterparts and federal truck weight laws -- unchanged in 40 years -- reduce electric vehicle load capacity by as much as 28%,” the coalition said.
CEVT asked members of Congress for targeted legislation that would increase gross vehicle weight limits for stinger-steered auto haulers by 10% (8,000 pounds), while capping single and tandem axle groups at a 10% increase.
“Despite our best efforts and decades of innovation, industry has been unable to resolve this issue on its own,” CEVT said. “Trailer manufacturers have already removed as much trailer weight as they can without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the trailer itself, and automobile carriers have explored different vehicle configurations. In other words, we are coming to Congress as a last resort, not a first step.”
CEVT includes the Auto Haulers Association of America, the Automobile Carriers Conference of the American Trucking Associations, Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, car hauling trucking companies Hansen and Adkins Auto Transport and Jack Cooper Transport, and more.
