WV Coal Trucks
...rucks are too big for the narrow and windy coal roads. Coalfield residents got involved and started the issue in terms of safety. They want increased enforcement of the current weight limits (B3). While safety is still a factor, it has since become a job issue. The coal companies have claimed that truckers will be forced out of work and mines will close if the weight limit was not raised. Coalfield residents are against the increased weight limits, fearing for their lives (A3). What Senate Bill 583 States Despite concerns of local residents, and with the support of Governor Bob Wise, backed further by the coal industry, Senate Bill 583 was passed on March 8, 2003 and went into full effect on October 1, 2003. The following is an outline of the major facets of the bill, in no particular order. • Coal truck drivers who wish to haul in accordance to the new weight limits shall do so only on roads within the Coal Resource Transportation System (CRTS) which are designated by the Commissioner of Highways. • The Public Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for patrolling the CRTS and enforcing the coal truck weight limits. • The PSC will issue permits to the owners of the trucks that will be hauling over the CRTS. The permit application fee is $100 for the first truck and $25 for each additional truck. Permit fees will be based on the weight limit for the number of axles on each truck and will be assessed annually as follows: o Trucks with three (3) axles will have a limit of 80,000 pounds and a permit fee of $100. o Trucks with four (4) axles will have a limit of 90,000 pounds and a permit fee of $160. o Trucks with five (5) axles will have a limit of 110,000 pounds and a permit fee of $300. o Trucks with six (6) or more axles will have a limit of 120,000 pounds and a permit fee of $500. All weights have a 5% tolerance. • Shippers and receivers are required to submit daily weight reports to the PSC for all shipments made over the CRTS highways. • The PSC has established a strict penalty system for drivers and owners who violate the permit process, weight limit, and speeding laws. They will be fined as follows: o A shipper in excess of the weight limit will pay a penalty-per-pound fee. o A driver without a permit on the CRTS in violation of weight limits will have his commercial driver’s license (CDL) suspended from 90 days to 1 year. The owner will have his haul permit suspended for the same period. If the owner has no haul permits, the vehicle registration will be suspended for that period. o A driver with a permit on the CRTS in violation of weight limits will have his CDL suspended from 3 days to 6 months. The owner will have his special permit suspended for the same amount of time. o A driver on suspension on the CRTS in violation of weight limits will have his CDL suspended from 6 months to 2 years. The owner will have all state-issued permits either suspended from 12 to 24 months or revoked. o A driver caught speeding on the CRTS will have his CDL suspended from 3 days to 1 year. Enforcement has certainly been heightened, and indeed, the penalties are steep for violating the new laws. Still, the permit fees and penalties will not be sufficient to cover the damage to West Virginia highways or potential safety hazards. Projected Damage to Roadways and Bridges Trucks haul coal on our highways every day. Last year, an estimated 32 million tons of coal was transported over various West Virginia roads (D1). An average two-lane road is designed to handle a load up to 65,000 pounds. Unless the road is improved to handle larger loads, the road will succumb to the pressures of the heavy trucks and begin to deteriorate before it is expected to. One report from Deputy Commissioner Norman Roush estimates that it will take 6.5 billion dollars to improve the state highway system enough to handle the coal truck weight increase. That’s roughly equivalent to $3500 per West Virginia resident (G1). For now, the money doesn’t exist. It can be expected that part of the funding will come from permit fees and violation fines, but most of the money will come from our tax dollars. Another report claims that it may take 2.8 billion dollars to repair damages roads and bridges. Relatively speaking, roads are easy to fix and maintain. Bridges, on the other hand, are not so easily fixed. Bridges are meant to handle certain weights and I WILL MODIFY THIS SECTION IN MORE DETAIL ONCE I GET THE INFORMATION. Effects on West Virginia Residents As stated before, the coal truck weight issues began with safety concerns. With the new laws in place, safety is still very much a factor that needs to be addressed. Coal trucks are too large for many of the narrow roads of southern West Virginia (B3). These trucks simply cannot maneuver or stop as well if heavier loads are placed in them (C4). Not only is this is a valid fear for those who share the highways with the large trucks, it is a consideration that truck drivers must deal with. One truck driver of over 23 years states, There are already enough fatalities due to these trucks. I am not against the trucks...don't get me wrong. I am a driver myself, but I [must] tell you, with the load they put on me, I have a hard time keeping that truck under control, especially on a down hill gra...