Sec. 32801. COMPREHENSIVE TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS STUDY

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## SEC. 32801 COMPREHENSIVE TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS STUDY ###

(a)Truck Size and Weight Limits Study Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with each relevant State and other applicable Federal agencies, shall commence a comprehensive truck size and weight limits study. The study shall— ####

(1)provide data on accident frequency and evaluate factors related to accident risk of vehicles that operate with size and weight limits that are in excess of the Federal law and regulations in each State that allows vehicles to operate with size and weight limits that are in excess of the Federal law and regulations, or to operate under a Federal exemption or grandfather right, in comparison to vehicles that do not operate in excess of Federal law and regulations (other than vehicles with exemptions or grandfather rights); ####

(2)evaluate the impacts to the infrastructure in each State that allows a vehicle to operate with size and weight limits that are in excess of the Federal law and regulations, or to operate under a Federal exemption or grandfather right, in comparison to vehicles that do not operate in excess of Federal law and regulations (other than vehicles with exemptions or grandfather rights), including— #####

(A)the cost and benefits of the impacts in dollars; #####

(B)the percentage of trucks operating in excess of the Federal size and weight limits; and #####

(C)the ability of each State to recover the cost for the impacts, or the benefits incurred; ####

(3)evaluate the frequency of violations in excess of the Federal size and weight law and regulations, the cost of the enforcement of the law and regulations, and the effectiveness of the enforcement methods; ####

(4)assess the impacts that vehicles that operate with size and weight limits in excess of the Federal law and regulations, or that operate under a Federal exemption or grandfather right, in comparison to vehicles that do not operate in excess of Federal law and regulations (other than vehicles with exemptions or grandfather rights), have on bridges, including the impacts resulting from the number of bridge loadings; ####

(5)compare and contrast the potential safety and infrastructure impacts of the current Federal law and regulations regarding truck size and weight limits in relation to— #####

(A)six-axle and other alternative configurations of tractor-trailers; and #####

(B)where available, safety records of foreign nations with truck size and weight limits and tractor-trailer configurations that differ from the Federal law and regulations; and ####

(6)estimate— #####

(A)the extent to which freight would likely be diverted from other surface transportation modes to principal arterial routes and National Highway System intermodal connectors if alternative truck configuration is allowed to operate and the effect that any such diversion would have on other modes of transportation; #####

(B)the effect that any such diversion would have on public safety, infrastructure, cost responsibilities, fuel efficiency, freight transportation costs, and the environment; #####

(C)the effect on the transportation network of the United States that allowing alternative truck configuration to operate would have; and #####

(D)whether allowing alternative truck configuration to operate would result in an increase or decrease in the total number of trucks operating on principal arterial routes and National Highway System intermodal connectors; and ####

(7)identify all Federal rules and regulations impacted by changes in truck size and weight limits. ###

(b)Report Not later than 2 years after the date that the study is commenced under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a final report on the study, including all findings and recommendations, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.