ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Increases in truck weight and length would have a direct beneficial effect on the challenges facing businesses, while boosting the overall U.S. economy and improving the environment, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute for the National Private Truck Council.

The study’s findings implied that significant improvements could be achieved in fuel consumption, cost, congestion, improved distribution efficiency, and driver availability by increasing the gross vehicle weight up to 97,000 pounds on a six-axle tractor-semitrailer from its current 80,000-pound maximum while at the same time boosting cubic capacity through the use of LCVs (specifically, two 53-foot trailers, aka "turnpike doubles").

"For more than a decade, NPTC has supported modification of federal truck size and weight restrictions in a manner that will improve shipper and carrier productivity," said Gary F. Petty, NPTC president and CEO. "While there has been ample anecdotal evidence in the private fleet community that larger trucks would mean greater productivity for the businesses operating them, there has not been, until now, a study that helps support the case for changes in the law based on an independent research analysis of a sample group of companies." 

NB has been running an LCV pilot for months,
and so far, officials like what they see.

The final report, "Analysis of the Potential Benefits of Larger Trucks for U.S. Businesses Operating Private Fleets," estimates a reduction in truck loads of 10 percent if the allowable weight was increased and 6 percent if LCV’s were permitted in the U.S.. If both strategies were implemented, then the estimated reduction in truck loads from the members surveyed would be 16 percent.

The anticipated gains from increases in weight and length would be primarily from the cost of operations and vehicle miles traveled, though some companies will also gain from improved customer service, product mix, and reduced time to market, according to the study.

"The major potential operating cost benefit of increased tractor-trailer weight or length would be reduced diesel fuel consumption from needing fewer shipments, either because a trailer that now weighs out could carry more cargo, or a company whose trailers frequently cube out could add a second trailer," reads the UMTRI report. "The reduction in miles per gallon due to heavier or longer trucks would be greatly offset by the significant improvement in transport efficiency (amount of fuel used per cargo unit transported) and the reduction in total miles driven from making fewer shipments."

Finally, the study concluded that fewer shipments would result in less traffic congestion, less fuel consumption and fewer emissions — particularly carbon dioxide (CO2 ) — resulting from fewer truck trips, less congestion and fewer hours of idling.

At the same time, various Canadian jurisdictions are forging ahead with LCV combinations. Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan allow to varying degrees combined length of the configuration exceeding normal limits, while B.C., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia are running special pilot projects. Most recently, Ontario said it would launch a specialized LCV pilot this summer.