Coming from a bridge inspector...


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Posted by Alex J [216.54.94.2] on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 09:11:02 :

In Reply to: please let me know what the real cost of truck damage is posted by mannyc [96.224.210.179] on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 08:41:55 :

I inspect bridges for a living, and design repairs for older bridges that instead of being replaced, are crutched to survive as long as possible. All I can speak for is a bridge structure as I don't do pavement design work, but the fatigue impact on a bridge from one single loaded HS20 truck is equivelant to 500 passenger vehicles in both energy and fatigue. The deterioration of bridge structures resulting from truck loading cycles is on par as well. Traffic inventory is managed for every bridge in the country. If that inventory number is more than 5% truck traffic then the bridge recieves more attention under inspection duration than a structure with less than 5% simply because of the abuse it sees. Trust me, when cars go over the bridges I am hanging from you can't even tell. When a loaded truck goes over, its a neat little ride.. when and overloaded truck goes over a bridge you better hang on because you are going to be bouncing for a while.

Additionally, trucking companies fall right in line with the utility companies. The roads were built with public funds, and then the trucks are using them to earn a profit. Some public funds for a utility install goes a long way to expand businesses and homes, that development relates to tax income for the city, state, etc. Takes money to make money.

I totally understand that trucking is your income and I do see a lot of crooked laws passed that target trucks as an income and thats not fair I agree. My father and I have had many long drawn out converstations regarding trucks, highways, and regulations as he ran a trucking company for years.

However, just like speed limits, tolls and fees for trucks help prevent overloading of bridges and actually keep a lot more people safe than the average person understands.

The fuel tax income to distribution is a crock on both a federal and state level. It is correct that the money is spent in all of the wrong places all of the time.



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