FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 22, 2018 CONTACT: Shane Reese

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 22, 2018 CONTACT: Shane Reese, 919.339.3785 1,000 Community Leaders Deliver Letter to Congress Opposing Bigger Tractor-Trailers WASHINGTON – Over 1,000 local government leaders – including mayors, county engineers and public works directors – wrote a letter this week to Congress asking policymakers to oppose any increases in truck size or weight, including longer double- trailer trucks and heavier single-trailer trucks. The letter, entitled "Bigger Trucks: Bad for America’s Local Communities," was delivered on Thursday, Feb. 22, to Capitol Hill offices. Please click this link to view the letter. "The letter sends a powerful message to lawmakers in Washington to maintain commonsense current truck size and weight laws and oppose longer and heavier trucks," said Commissioner Dick Hall, chairman of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, who joined in sending the letter. Hall noted the additional costs that taxpayers will face to repair damaged roads and bridges. “Our state and local budgets are on life support,” he said. "We just don't have the revenue coming in to fund our infrastructure, and it's been that way for a long time," said Hall. “Bigger trucks would only further damage our infrastructure system and impact safe driving conditions.” The letter is being delivered at the same time bigger-truck proponents continue to lobby federal and state legislators, as well as the Trump administration, to allow longer and heavier trucks on the road. Those companies leading coalitions are Anheuser-Busch lobbying Congress for heavier tractor-trailers, and Amazon, FedEx and UPS pushing Congress for longer double-trailer trucks. The federal government has recommended against increasing the size and weight of trucks. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) studied truck size and weight laws over three years and in 2016 delivered its report to Congress, which recommended against any such increases and did not recommend any pilot projects. The USDOT study found that thousands of Interstate and other National Highway System bridges would not be able to accommodate longer or heavier trucks, costing billions of dollars in additional bridge costs. The joint letter states, "Millions of miles of truck traffic operate on local roads and bridges across the country, and any bigger trucks allowed on our Interstates would mean additional trucks that ultimately find their way onto our local infrastructure." Shane Reese, director of communications for the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, commented on the negative impacts on local infrastructure. "One issue often overlooked during these bigger-truck discussions is that truck traffic does not load or unload on the Interstate — they end up on local roads, and those roads take a beating," he said. "Those costs end up being passed on to local taxpayers, which is nothing short of an unfunded mandate." Reese continued, "We're asking Congress to hear the concerns of community leaders and infrastructure experts across the country, and to oppose any bigger-truck proposals." In addition to the 1,000 community leaders opposed to bigger trucks, a January 2018 poll found strong public opposition to heavier and longer tractor-trailers. The national live-operator poll found that 7 out of 10 likely voters oppose heavier and longer trucks. ### CABT is a nonprofit grassroots organization with coalitions of approximately 3,000 local supporters in over 30 states. CABT supporters include law enforcement officers, local elected officials, truck drivers, motorists, safety advocates, railroads and trucking companies. To learn more, please visit www.cabt.org. Bigger Trucks: Bad for America’s Local Communities Dear Members of Congress, Representing local communities and Americans across the nation, we are concerned about our transportation infrastructure. We strongly oppose proposals in Congress that would allow any increase in truck length or weight—longer double-trailer trucks or heavier single-trailer trucks would only make our current situation worse. Local communities and our residents are what drive this country. We work every day to make sure the needs and safety of our residents are met. Allowing heavier and longer trucks will most certainly set us back in our efforts. Much of our transportation infrastructure that connects people to jobs, schools and leisure is in disrepair, in part because local and rural roads and bridges are older and not built to the same standards as Interstates. Many of us are unable to keep up with our current maintenance schedules and replacement costs because of underfunded budgets. The impacts of longer or heavier tractor-trailers would only worsen these problems. Millions of miles of truck traffic operate on local roads and bridges across the country, and any bigger trucks allowed on our Interstates would mean additional trucks that ultimately find their way onto our local infrastructure. Longer and heavier trucks would cause significantly more damage to our transportation infrastructure, costing us billions of dollars that local government budgets simply cannot afford, compromising the very routes that American motorists use every day. On behalf of America’s local communities and our residents, we ask that you oppose any legislation that would allow any increase in truck length or weight. Sincerely, Terry Downey Yank Lovelace Mayor, City of Bayou La Batre Mayor, City of Brewton Alabama Alabama Karen Wilson Ray Nelson Mayor, City of Fairhope Mayor, City of Fayette Alabama Alabama John Koniar Larry Chesser Mayor, City of Foley Mayor, City of Fort Payne Alabama Alabama Debra Hood Royce Benefield City Clerk, City of Haleyville Councilmember, City of Haleyville Alabama Alabama Jonathan Bennett Richard Bittinger Councilmember, City of Haleyville Councilmember, City of Haleyville Alabama Alabama Blue Russell Drew Thrasher Councilmember, City of Haleyville Councilmember, City of Haleyville Alabama Alabama Ken Sunseri Randy Garrison Mayor, City of Haleyville Mayor, City of Hartselle Alabama Alabama Jason Ward Roger Weatherwax Mayor, City of Lisman Mayor, City of Moulton Alabama Alabama David Bradford Kathryn Holley Mayor, City of Muscle Shoals Mayor, City of New Brockton Alabama Alabama Gary Fuller Paul Stanley Mayor, City of Opelika Councilmember, City of Saraland Alabama Alabama Stan Hutto Daniel White Commissioner, Clarke County Executive Director, Fayette Chamber of Alabama Commerce Alabama Patrick Boyle Roy Delgado Counclmember, City of Benson Councilmember, City of El Mirage Arizona Arizona Bob Jones Jamie Whelan Vice Mayor, City of El Mirage Vice Mayor, City of Flagstaff Arizona Arizona Peggy Chapados Jon Thompson Vice Mayor, City of Maricopa Councilmember, City of Sedona Arizona Arizona Lauren Kuby Michael Shelton Councilmember, City of Tempe Councilmember, City of Yuma Arizona Arizona Peggy Judd Phil Ronnerud Supervisor, Cochise County County Engineer, Greenlee County Arizona Arizona Julie Pace Joshua Scott Councilmember, Town of Paradise Valley Public Works Director, Yuma County Arizona Arizona Thomas Best Floyd Nutt County Judge, Arkansas County County Judge, Calhoun County Arkansas Arkansas Jeremy Edington Larry Bryant Mayor, City of Datto Mayor, City of Forrest City Arkansas Arkansas Jimmy Moore Steve Baxter Councilmember, City of Mulberry Councilmember, City of North Little Rock Arkansas Arkansas Dickie Kennemore Jim Baker Mayor, City of Osceola County Judge, Faulkner County Arkansas Arkansas Mike Rowe Terry Ott County Judge, Lafayette County County Judge, Marion County Arkansas Arkansas Terri Brassfield Bobby Cantrell County Judge, Mississippi County County Judge, Poinsett County Arkansas Arkansas Steven Snellback Charles Dallas Mayor, Town of Lonsdale County Judge, Woodruff County Arkansas Arkansas Kiana Valentine Jolena Voorhis Senior Legislative Representative, California State Executive Director, Urban Counties of California Association of Counties Ronald Berdugo Christine Kahn Legislative Representative, League of California Local Assistance Engineer, California Department Cities of Transportation Paul Rodriguez Gary Tofanelli Councilmember, City of Chino County Supervisor, Calaveras County California California Anne Logie Sara Lamnin Project Manager, City of Irvine Councilmember, City of Hayward California California Eduardo Martinez Mark Houghton Councilmember, City of Richmond Public Works Director, City of Manteca California California Stan Hill Jewel Edson Engineer, City of South Lake Tahoe Councilmember, City of Solana Beach California California Diane Burgis Michael Van Winkle County Supervisor, Contra Costa County Mayor, City of Waterford California California Mark Baza John Gay Executive Director, Imperial County Public Works Director, Imperial County Transportation Commission California California Jorge Aguilar Matt Machado Engineer, The Wallace Group Public Works Director, Stanislaus County California California Karl Rodefer Randy Hanvelt County Supervisor, Tuolumne County County Supervisor, Tuolumne County California California Jim Provenza Mirabai Nagle County Supervisor, Yolo County Councilmember, City of Boulder California Colorado Jill Gaebler Sam Weaver Councilmember, City of Colorado Springs Councilmember, City of Boulder Colorado Colorado Chris Ryan William Murray Councilmember, City of Delta Councilmember, City of Colorado Springs Colorado Colorado Harald Kasper Jacob LaBure Councilmember, City of Salida Councilmember, City of Lakewood Colorado Colorado Randy Wheelock Tim Mauck Commissioner, Clear Creek County Commissioner,

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