A bill that would permit heavier tractor-trailers on some Missouri highways is winding its way through the Missouri General Assembly.
The bill, SB761, would allow semis weighing as much as 85,500 pounds to use U.S. 65 and U.S. 36 highways. Currently, trucks can weigh no more than 80,000 pounds in order to use the roadways.
Sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, SB761 would permit certified local law enforcement officers to conduct random roadside inspections to ensure tractor-trailers comply with weight and size limit laws.
In addition, the bill would ban indemnification clauses in motor carrier transportation contracts that state carriers must be indemnified for any damages arising out of a negligent or intentional act.
On April 28, the Senate approved the bill and moved it to the House Transportation Committee. On May 6, that committee voted to pass the legislation. This appears to me to be putting special interests over the interests of public safety on the highways. With the price of gas getting higher and higher cars are going to get smaller. We don’t need bigger and heavier trucks on our highways.
