Loomis councilmember sounds alarm over proposal to increase truck size, weight

Proposed congressional action that would put larger and heavier semi-trucks on California roads would be a huge mistake if approved by Congress and signed into law by the president. This change would pose significant risks to public safety and local infrastructure. The decision would have long-lasting consequences on public safety and drain taxpayer dollars, even though discussion about the controversial proposal is being drowned out in the media by other lightning-rod issues. As both a councilmember for the town of Loomis and someone who comes from a family of truckers, my opposition to bigger trucks is rooted in firsthand experience and responsibility to the community. Loomis, like many towns across California, already faces the challenges with existing truck traffic. Increasing truck size and weight would only compound these problems. The proposal in question would raise the maximum allowable truck weight statewide from 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds under a so-called "pilot project." The program would place 91,000-pound trucks on public roads with drivers for five years, with the possibility of a five-year extension. The stated goals of the pilot are limited to tracking driver hours and the number of fatal crashes, a narrow scope that puts public safety at risk while allowing companies to test profit-driven changes. A pilot project isn't needed to know that drivers would be in more danger traveling roadways alongside heavier trucks. A study completed by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that heavier trucks had higher crash involvement rates. With Interstate 80 running directly through Loomis, truck traffic is a constant presence in daily life. We already experience trucks using residential streets instead of designated routes, parking in prohibited areas and contributing to ongoing infrastructure damage. These impacts place a significant and growing financial burden on the town's budget. Statewide data underscores the danger. California has experienced a 51-percent increase in large-truck casualties over the past decade with more than 13,000 large-truck crashes reported in 2023 alone, according to the Federal Motor Carriers. Allowing trucks to become heavier and longer would force drivers to operate more dangerous vehicles without any proposed requirement for additional training or experience. Heavier trucks will also make them more difficult for drivers to stop, a matter of basic physics. Increased weight translates directly into greater force, even at lower speeds, raising the likelihood of severe outcomes in the event of a crash. Proposals that allow larger trucks are deeply unpopular around the country. More than 2,200 local government officials from all 50 states joined together last year to register their opposition. In their group letter to congressional members, https://www.cabt.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-LJL-Final.pdf the officials stressed that many localities are already struggling to keep up with the backlog of roadway maintenance due to a lack of funds. Late last year, a coalition of 20 national organizations asked Congress to oppose such measures due to the damaging effects on local infrastructure. The groups included the National Association of Counties, the National Association of County Engineers, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Automobile Association, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Truckload Carriers Association. Public safety must remain the priority for our federal representatives. Any legislation that increases the allowable weight or length of semi-trucks threatens local communities for the sake of corporate profit should be rejected. Amanda Cortez is a Loomis Town councilmember.