Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 10, DeMotte, Jasper County, 4 February 1949 — State Truckers Ask Longer And Heavier Trucks [ARTICLE]

State Truckers Ask Longer And Heavier Trucks

Maintain Restrictions By Indiana Create Barriers Which Burdens Industry, Consumers Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 31. Indiana’s trucking industry today proposed to the General Assembly longer and heavier trucks. The action followed reports that the legislators will seek to increase badly needed funds. However, the Indiana Motor Truck Association issued a brochure maintaining that Hoosier restrictions on truck transportation are creating barriers against state and interstate commerce which burden businesses and the ultimate consumer. The brochure states that limitations on heighth and length of trucks are greater than in any other state. It adds that weight restrictions are so severe in comparison with Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio that the smaller loads permitted here increase the cost of interstate commerce in the Midwest. The reporter said that 1,580, or--49 per cent of Indiana’s communities depend entirely on the motor truck for daily necessities since they have no other form of commercial transportation. Sixty-five per cent of the livestock received at stockyards comes by truck and 75 per cent of the largest cities, including Indianapolis, receive all the milk for 25 millions by truck. The Association answered claims that trucks damage roads by saying that if a highway is properly constructed for passenger cars and other light vehicles, it need not be constructed any wider or thicker to support trucks. The Association’s statement holds that scientific design of trucks has eliminated the threat of road damage through spreading weights over a number of

axles and the use of balloon tires, with improved springs and shock absorbers being additional protection factors. ’ The House this afternoon is scheduled to hold a public hearing on workmen’s compensation bills and tomorrow afternoon jobless insurance measures. Later this afteroon the House Military and Veterans Affairs committee will hold a veterans’ bonus hearing and tonight the House Committee on Legislative Apportionment will hold a public hearing on reapportionment measures. The House Aviation Committee tomorrow afternoon will hold a public hearing on a House bill dealing with city aviation boards and city councils.