Longer Combination Trucks: Driver Controls and Equipment Inspection
Should Be Improved (Letter Report, 11/23/93, GAO/RCED-94-21).

Under state regulations that predate federal size and weight laws, 20
states allow limited operation of longer and heavier trucks, generally
referred to as longer combination vehicles.  The safety and the expanded
use of these trucks have been hotly debated.  GAO found that with few
exceptions, states have not compiled data on the safety and the
operation of these trucks on the western highways and eastern turnpikes
where they are now permitted.  As a result, many of these states lack
the information needed to spot problems that might arise from increases
in traffic density or from the use of the vehicles by less-experienced
drivers and companies.  Only three states do special inspections of
longer combination truck equipment.  Other states rely largely on
trucking companies and drivers to ensure that equipment meets state
requirements and is in safe operating condition.  Longer combination
trucks are included in roadside inspections but have not been singled
out for special attention.  The states allowing longer combination
trucks have widely differing controls and levels of enforcement.  Many
states have yet to adopt rules on drivers' experience and safety
records. Factors that may account for the low accident rate among longer
combination trucks include the low traffic density on many routes they
commonly travel and the operation of triple trailers mainly by large
companies with good safety records.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-94-21
     TITLE:  Longer Combination Trucks: Driver Controls and Equipment 
             Inspection Should Be Improved
      DATE:  11/23/93
   SUBJECT:  Trucking operations
             Freight transportation operations
             Transportation research
             Safety regulation
             Highway safety
             Transportation safety
             Inspection
             Internal controls
             State law
             Information gathering operations
IDENTIFIER:  New York
             Ohio
             Alaska
             Arizona
             Idaho
             Montana
             Nebraska
             North Dakota
             Nevada
             Oklahoma
             Oregon
             Utah
             Washington
             Wyoming
             FHwA Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
             Indiana
             Florida
             NHTSA Fatal Accident Reporting System
             
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