BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Moncks Corner Mayor William W. Peagler III is one of the latest South Carolina officials weighing in on the re-authorization of The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century highway funding act, otherwise known as MAP-21. This act would allow larger trucks to carry freight on national highways. Congress has debated on whether or not to allow truckers to pull three trailers nationwide for decades.
The issue recently resurfaced earlier this week when David Latimer, executive director of the South Carolina Troopers Association, announced he was headed for Washington to campaign against such measures.
Those in the camp of Latimer and Williams are saying that the re-authorization of the bill is a play by big trucking companies that could threaten the safety of everyday motorists in the Palmetto State.
“If these large trucking companies have their way, South Carolina motorists would travel our highways flanked by big rigs weighing as much as 97,000 pounds—more than eight tons heavier than today’s semi-trailers,” said Peagler.
Peagler, in tune with advocacy groups like Commission against Bigger Trucks (CABT), attributes large trucks to deadly roadway accidents.
“There were more than 2,300 large-truck crashes in this state in 2012 and, unfortunately, 82 fatalities. That same year, there were 77 large-truck crashes and four fatalities in my county alone,” said Peagler. “If we were to allow longer or heavier trucks on our highways, those numbers would undoubtedly take a turn for the worse.”
Peagler says he has talked to local law enforcement and says they share his concerns. Last week, the mayor met with Congressman Mark Sanford as well.
“I have talked with local police officers, and many of them tell me the same thing: Bigger trucks would bring bigger problems,” he said. “In fact, a four-university study published last year found that 95 percent of law enforcement officers surveyed believed heavier and longer trucks would be more dangerous.”
The research Peagler is referring to is Marshall University study conducted last year by the Multimodal Transportation and Infrastructure Consortium (MTIC) that has stirred some controversy in “pro-trucker” circles. Critics cite the report’s own recognition that data about crash rates is statistically invalid.
Rick Todd the President and CEO of the South Carolina Trucking Association (SCTA) relayed that, although the SCTA is remaining neutral on this issue, most of the excitement regarding the recent controversy are exaggerations potentially spawned by trucking industry competitors.
“There is no issue,” Todd commented. “This is the normal rhetorical cycle every time these issues are open in Congress.”
In regards to the alleged braking issues of big trucks, Todd contends that as long as the trucks are fitted with an extra axle, the trucks are just as safe as any other.
“97,000 pound trucks on 6 axles—not the current 5—are OK weight and braking-wise. With the extra axles, they are fine. And they have excellent safety records,” Todd commented.
Regardless, Todd confirmed there is no chance that we’ll see any 97,000 pound trucks in South Carolina, or anywhere remotely close to here.
“Triple-trailers are not coming to this side of the Mississippi anytime soon.”
MAP-21, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, is a bipartisan bill signed into law in 2012. It is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005. According to the Federal Highway Administration, it is intended to provide funds and programmatic framework for investments to guide the growth and development of the country’s vital transportation infrastructure.
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