The size and weight of commercial motor vehicles have been effectively frozen since the adoption of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. The removal of political barriers for the liberalization of these restrictions will help stem the tide of inflation, while at the same time making potential fuel savings of as much as 21% for intercity freight trucks a reality. With transportation a recurrent cost in every phase of production, distribution, and service, fuel becoming more expensive, and the security of supply more tenuous, the significant increase in transportation efficiency provided by the triple trailer combination must not be withheld from the nation's economy. Millions of operational miles have clearly demonstrated that our nation's highways have been built to the point where they can safely handle this equipment, with triples having established the best safety record of any vehicle ever used on our highways. Triples also make it possible to move freight with fewer vehicles, thereby reducing highway congestion, conserving energy, and consequently reducing pollution.
