NU Online News Service, April 2, 1:36 p.m.EDT

WASHINGTON–Legislation was introduced in both the Houseand Senate yesterday aimed at expanding limits on heavy trucks'access to major roads.

The measure drew an expression of support from a majorproperty-casualty insurance trade group.

Under the bill, the current limit of 80,000 pounds and maximumlength of 53 feet for tractor trailer trucks on interstate highwayswould be extended to the entire National Highway System.

The primary sponsors are Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Rep.Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

In introducing the bill, they said the legislation would improvesafety and prevent excessive strain on the nation's roads, tunnelsand bridges.

"We have long advocated for truck safety measures such asimproved hours of service rules and are traditionally opposedlonger and heavier trucks because of safety concerns, especially intoday's congested driving conditions," Blain Rethmeier, a spokesmanfor the American Insurance Association, said.

The bill is titled, "The Safe Highways and InfrastructurePreservation Act of 2009."

It would extend the current weight limit and freeze ontriple-trailers to the entire 160,000-mile National Highway System,while still allowing certain exemptions, including for firefightingequipment.

The NHS includes both interstate highways and smaller nationalhighways. Most truck size and weight restrictions (53-foot lengthmaximum and 80,000-pound weight maximum) already apply to the44,000-mile Interstate Highway System.

The bill would extend certain restrictions to the much bigger160,000-mile National Highway System (NHS).

The two sponsors said the bill would also close loopholes thatallow the operation of overweight trucks and would establish anenforcement program to ensure accountability.

"Bigger trucks–both those that are heavier and longer thanstandard trucks–present safety risks, including longer stoppingdistances, increased risks of rollover and of trailers swaying intoadjacent lanes," they said in a statement. "Research shows that a100,000-pound truck with unadjusted brakes travels 25 percentfurther after the driver steps on the brakes than an 80,000-poundtruck," they said.