In an effort to reduce the negative impacts of large-truck traffic on local communities, many in Maine’s law enforcement community helped to spearhead efforts in 2011 to direct heavier trucks off local roads and onto interstate highways. Reducing the interaction between commercial-truck traffic and the motoring public was, and is, of utmost priority.

That progress is in danger of being reversed because of another piece of legislation under consideration by Congress.

At issue is a provision in a congressional spending bill that would require Maine and every other state to allow trucks hauling two 33-foot trailers on their highways. These new trucks would measure up to 91 feet in length – 17 feet longer than the single-trailer trucks we have now.

One problem is that this legislation would mandate that Maine allow these longer trucks.

Another problem is that this proposal means these trucks would not just operate on the interstates; they would travel on many of our local roads, and essentially undo the benefits of earlier legislation.

We would have, in effect, removed heavier trucks from local roads and replaced them with even more dangerous, double-trailer trucks.

If the thought of driving alongside these longer double-trailer trucks makes you uneasy, you’re not alone. The Maine Chiefs of Police Association opposes them, and even the experts at the U.S. Department of Transportation recently recommended that Congress not increase truck lengths.

Fortunately, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is in a position of influence to deal with this issue because this provision has been inserted in a bill before her subcommittee.

That is why I have called upon our senator to put the brakes on this proposal. If you agree, I ask that you do the same.

Edward Googins

chief, South Portland Police Department

South Portland

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