[Senate Report 104-235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                   SENATE                          Report
2d Session                                                      104-235
_______________________________________________________________________



                                                       Calendar No. 337


 
        TRUCK SAFETY AND CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 1995

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                   on

                                 S. 981




February 20 (legislative day, February 7), 1996.--Ordered to be printed
       SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
                      one hundred fourth congress
                             second session

                   LARRY PRESSLER, South Dakota, 
                              Chairman
ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, South Carolina     TED STEVENS, Alaska
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii               JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
WENDELL H. FORD, Kentucky              CONRAD BURNS, Montana
J. JAMES EXON, Nebraska                SLADE GORTON, Washington
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia  TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts           KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana              OLYMPIA SNOWE, Maine
RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada               JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota          BILL FRIST, Tennessee
                  Patric G. Link, Chief of Staff
                Kevin G. Curtin, Democratic Chief 
                   Counsel and Staff Director


                                                       Calendar No. 337
104th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE

 2d Session                                                     104-235
_______________________________________________________________________


         TRUCK SAFETY AND CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 1995
                                _______


February 20 (legislative day, February 7), 1996.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


      Mr. Pressler, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 981]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill (S. 981) the ``Truck Safety and 
Congressional Partnership Act'', having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that 
the bill do pass.

                          Purpose of the Bill

  The bill, as reported, would prohibit the regulatory standard 
for single trailer length, negotiated under the North American 
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), from exceeding 53 feet.

                          Background and Needs

  Among the issues to be considered as part of the 
harmonization process under NAFTA are restrictions relating to 
truck sizes and weights. To that end, Article 913 of NAFTA 
establishes a land transportation subcommittee charged with 
developing a program to standardize truck weights, dimensions, 
and operating procedures.
  Many federal highway safety provisions are statutory and 
would require Congressional approval to alter. For example, 
Congress specifically enacted a freeze on longer combination 
vehicle (LCV) standards through the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, Public Law 102-240. In 
contrast to the LCV standards, the 53-foot single trailer 
standard generally accepted throughout the United States is not 
maintained as a matter of federal law.
  It is presumed Congressional action would be required to 
implement any change in LCV standards or other statutory 
provisions related to highway safety that may be recommended as 
a result of NAFTA discussions. However, since no federal law 
exists to statutorily limit the length of trucks, it is 
possible that a standard could be set by administrative action 
pursuant to the NAFTA negotiations.

                          Legislative History

  During the 103d Congress, the Subcommittee on Surface 
Transportation held a hearing to address issues relating to 
Truck Lengths and Safety. That hearing, held on September 14, 
1994, focused primarily on the issue of LCV's. The issues 
addressed included (1) the relationship between safety and the 
length of trailer trucks on the nation's roads; (2) possible 
effects of the length of these trailers on the infrastructure 
of the interstate and national highway systems; and (3) the 
economic value of these commercial vehicles.
  During the 104th Congress when the full Senate debated the 
National Highway System Designation Act, S. 440, Senator Exon 
expressed concern that NAFTA negotiations could be viewed as a 
vehicle for parties interested in promoting a longer single 
trailer standard through unilateral regulatory action. Senator 
Exon filed an amendment to address these concerns, but agreed 
not to offer his amendment so members of the Commerce Committee 
could study fully the implications of the legislative proposal.
  Senator Exon introduced S. 981 on June 28, 1995. On July 20, 
1995, the Committee met in open executive session to consider 
S. 981. By voice vote, S. 981 was ordered to be reported 
without objection.

                      Summary of Major Provisions

  The bill as reported proposes any Federal regulatory standard 
for single trailer length issued pursuant to negotiations and 
procedures authorized under NAFTA shall not exceed fifty-three 
feet.

                            Estimated Costs

  In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate and Section 403 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the 
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, July 26, 1995.
Hon. Larry Pressler,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed S. 981, the Truck Safety and Congressional Partnership 
Act of 1995, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 20, 1995. The 
bill would prohibit the regulatory standard for single trailer 
length, negotiated under the North American Free Trade 
Agreement, from exceeding 53 feet. Enacting S. 981 would not 
affect the federal budget or the budgets of state and local 
governments.
    Enacting S. 981 would not affect direct spending or 
receipts. Therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply 
to the bill.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is John 
Patterson.
            Sincerely,
                                              James L. Blum
                                   (For June E. O'Neill, Director).

                      Regulatory Impact Statement

  In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the 
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the 
legislation, as reported.
  The impact of this legislation is expected to be minimal as 
the Administration sees little likelihood that NAFTA 
negotiations will lead to discussions of longer permissible 
truck lengths. However, S. 920 would assure that if a federal 
length standard is issued that exceeds 53 feet, Congressional 
approval would be necessary.
  The bill as reported would have no adverse impact on the 
personal privacy of individuals affected. Paperwork 
requirements associated with the bill as reported are minimal.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1.--Short title

  This section states the short title of the bill, the Truck 
Safety and Congressional Partnership Act of 1995.

Section 2.--Single trailer length

  This section provides that any Federal regulatory standard 
for single trailer length issued pursuant to negotiations and 
procedures authorized under NAFTA shall not exceed 53 feet.

                        Changes in Existing Law

  In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the bill as 
reported would make no change to existing law.

                                
