Senate panel wants longer trailers legal on NC highways

A proposed plan would allow 53-foot trailers to be driven on all primary highway routes in North Carolina.

The Associated Press

5/28/2008

RALEIGH, N.C. — A bill to allow long trailers to be driven on more of North Carolina’s roadways advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday.

The plan would allow 53-foot trailers to be driven on all primary highway routes. State law currently allows the large trucks on interstate and designated highways — 48-foot trailers are not limited by those same restrictions.

North Carolina Trucking Association president Charlie Diehl said the changes will bring the state’s “antiquated” law up to date by accommodating the longer trucks, which have become the industry standard.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Clark Jenkins, D-Edgecombe, said he will amend the plan with a list of specific routes and locations where the Department of Transportation thinks it would be unsafe for such long trailers to operate.