AAR, other groups urge Congress to reject heavier truck bills

As lawmakers prepare legislation setting transportation priorities for the next several years, a coalition of 20 national organizations is asking Congress to oppose measures that would allow larger tractor trailers on the nation’s roads, highways and bridges.

Increasing truck weight limits would accelerate damage to road infrastructure, according to the coalition, which includes the Association of American Railroads, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, GoRail, the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, the Railway Supply Institute, SMART-TD and the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT).

“As the 119th Congress continues its work on surface transportation reauthorization, we urge you to oppose any legislation that would increase maximum truck weight or length limits on federal highways,” said the group in a Jan. 28 letter to the leaders of the House and Senate committees responsible for transportation legislation. “Our opposition extends to any legislation that would raise truck weight limits as part of a ‘pilot program,’ any state or commodity exemptions or waivers of current federal limits, or provisions that would allow states to regulate truck weight limits for interstate commerce,” said the coalition, which also includes organizations representing local governments, organized labor, motorists and the trucking industry.

The opposition comes as Congress fields various proposals that would raise allowable truck weight limits from the current 80,000 pounds to as much as 156,000 pounds. Lawmakers have consistently rejected such proposals, which are promoted by shipping companies aiming to improve profits, according to a CABT press release.

The groups singled out the impact of heavier trucks on local bridges. They cited a 2025 CABT analysis that found over 68,600 local bridges are not rated to safely accommodate 91,000-pound trucks. The report found that the bridges would have to be replaced, should Congress approve heavier trucks, costing taxpayers over $78.7 billion, according to CABT.

The House and Senate committees responsible for setting transportation priorities are due to draft their respective transportation bills by March.