Poll: Majority of Americans oppose more big trucks on roads

A majority of American voters are opposed to having more big trucks on roads, according to a new advocacy group survey that pins much of the opposition on safety concerns.

Seventy-nine percent of respondents in a poll from the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) said they are against “longer and heavier trucks” operating on the road.

The survey, which was conducted by Harper Polling, found that 79 percent of voters also say crash rates are a reason to resist big trucks.

The advocacy group argues that longer, heavier trucks take a toll on roads and bridges and can pose safety risks, despite their role in transporting goods across the country. 

“This nationwide poll illustrates that motorists clearly do not want to be flanked by longer or heavier tractor trailers on the highway, and that goes for Republicans and Democrats alike,” Brock McCleary, the president of Harper Polling, said in a statement.

{mosads}

A majority of likely voters, 61 percent, said they are less likely to cast a ballot for a candidate running for Congress who backs permitting bigger trucks to operate on the road.

“This poll sends a clear message to federal policymakers to not allow their infrastructure discussions to be co-opted by those seeking longer and heavier trucks,” CABT communications director Shane Reese said in a press release.

“Doing so stands in stark contrast to the priorities of American voters, and is counterproductive to the efforts to improve roads and road safety.”

A majority of Republicans and Democrats – 69 percent and 74 percent, respectively – say bigger trucks should cover the entire cost to fix bridges and roads when the trucks are the source of the damage.

The live poll was conducted this month. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.