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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature asks Congress to eliminate the freeze on longer
11 combination vehicles and consent to the creation of a voluntary compact between
12 western states that will establish uniform standards for operation of longer combination
13 vehicles.
14 Highlighted Provisions:
15 This resolution:
16 ▸ affirms the use of longer combination vehicles as a way to increase productivity and
17 reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and emissions;
18 ▸ requests that the United States Congress eliminate the freeze on longer combination
19 vehicles; and
20 ▸ requests that the United States Congress consent to the creation of a voluntary
21 compact between western states that will establish uniform size and weight limits,
22 routes, configuration, and operating conditions for longer combination vehicles.
23 Special Clauses:
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26 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 WHEREAS, one of the most significant ways to improve the freight system
28 performance on the highways of the western United States is through the use of more efficient
29 trucks and truck combinations;
30 WHEREAS, over the past two decades, longer combination vehicles (LCVs) -- which
31 are tractor-trailer combinations with two or more trailers that have a gross vehicle weight
32 exceeding 80,000 pounds -- have demonstrated considerable benefits to the general public
33 through increased productivity, higher safety ratings, increased fuel savings, emissions
34 reductions, and congestion mitigation;
35 WHEREAS, a Federal Highway Administration freeze on state authority to expand the
36 use of LCVs has been in place since 1991, and since that time there has been substantial
37 growth in population, traffic congestion, vehicle registration growth, vehicle miles traveled,
38 and vehicle emissions;
39 WHEREAS, eliminating the freeze on LCVs for the affected states, including Utah,
40 will give these states the flexibility to establish uniformity in LCV oversight and find ways to
41 benefit from LCV operations in each of the affected states and throughout the western United
42 States; and
43 WHEREAS, consenting to a voluntary compact or agreement between the states of
44 Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
45 Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming will allow these
46 states to establish uniform size and weight limits for LCVs, which are not to exceed 129,000
47 pounds gross vehicle combination weight or 100-foot cargo carrying length, and adopt LCV
48 routes, configurations, and operating conditions:
49 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
50 urges Congress to lift the freeze on longer commercial vehicles for the affected western states,
51 including Utah, in order to take advantage of new transportation strategies to improve highway
52 efficiency and reduce vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and air
53 pollution emissions.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress consent to the creation of a voluntary
55 compact or agreement between the states of Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New
56 Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and
57 Wyoming that will establish uniform LCV size, capacity, routes, configurations, and operating
58 conditions.
59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the
60 governor of Utah, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate
61 of the United States Congress, the Utah congressional delegation, and the Western States
62 Transportation Alliance.