Longer Combination Trucks

Under state regulations that predate federal size and weight laws, 20 states allow limited operation of longer and heavier trucks, generally referred to as longer combination vehicles. The safety and the expanded use of these trucks have been hotly debated. GAO found that with few exceptions, states have not compiled data on the safety and the operation of these trucks on the western highways and eastern turnpikes where they are now permitted. As a result, many of these states lack the information needed to spot problems that might arise from increases in traffic density or from the use of the vehicles by less-experienced drivers and companies. Only three states do special inspections of longer combination truck equipment. Other states rely largely on trucking companies and drivers to ensure that equipment meets state requirements and is in safe operating condition. Longer combination trucks are included in roadside inspections but have not been singled out for special attention. The states allowing longer combination trucks have widely differing controls and levels of enforcement. Many states have yet to adopt rules on drivers' experience and safety records. Factors that may account for the low accident rate among longer combination trucks include the low traffic density on many routes they commonly travel and the operation of triple trailers mainly by large companies with good safety records.

GAO found that: (1) states do not have adequate information on LCV operations to identify existing or emerging highway safety problems because they do not compile sufficient data to monitor LCV safety and operation; (2) states do not collect sufficient LCV accident data to calculate accidents-per-mile, differentiate between LCV-trailer types, or monitor LCV-driver performance and compliance with permit requirements; (3) although three states perform special LCV equipment inspections before issuing permits, most states rely on trucking companies and drivers to ensure that LCV equipment meets state safety requirements; (4) although double and triple LCV are included in roadside inspections, these LCV are underrepresented and as likely to fail inspections as other types of combination trucks; (5) states that allow LCV operations have various controls and levels of enforcement; and (6) although eastern states have been able to achieve low accident rates by requiring LCV drivers to have good experience and safety records, western states have not taken sufficient actions to control LCV operations.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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