12/28/05-Rep. Nelson Cole, D-Rockingham, wants to do something to lessen the damage and recoup costs from overweight trucks in the state.
Cole commissioned a study from the North Carolina Department of Transportation that determined trucks weighing more than 40 tons caused nearly $130 million in damages a year in all road categories.
The NCDOT released its preliminary report this week, but a more detailed report is expected when the General Assembly reconvenes in February.
Cole told the Eden Daily News the overweight trucks “ought to pay” for the damages. He said the legislature could possibly restrict not only weight, but also the exemptions currently granted to agricultural haulers on roads not suited for extra weight.
The author of the study, Judith Corley-Lay stated heavy trucks caused roads to fail up to three years earlier than anticipated, which leads to more frequent overlays and repairs.