Daily Kennebec journal., 1924-04-08
Rules of n. E.
States Restricting
The Movement of
Heavy Vehicles

At this season of the year more
| or less inquiries are received at the
7 Office of the State Highway Commits
sion relative to closing of highways,
not only in Maine but in the other
New England states, on account of
the fact that parties desire to do
long distance trucking.
1t should be remembered that the
State Highway Commission about
December 1 issued an order restrict
ing the movement of vehicles on the
J State highways from December I'M
til May 10 having gross weight in
excess of five tons, or ten thousand
pounds.
Some two or three weeks agb the
Highway department of the State
of New Hampshire issued an order
prohibiting traffic with 4 gross
weight of more than four tons using
any of the State or State aid high
ways until further notice.
Massachusetts has recently put
into effect an order prohibiting high
way traffic with weight in excess
of five tons.
At the office of the Highway Com
mission. Monday morning, informa-
ton was received to the effect that
no seasonal restrictions on the
weight of motor truck loads was
contemplated by the State Highway
department of Connecticut. The
maximum weight allowed by law in
that state is $4,000 pounds and an
examination of all state highways
has disclosed the fact that in the
judgment of their commissioner no
restrictions will be necessary on
hot, l. too 4oA1 i
In connection with this question
of seasonal restrictions. the action
of the commissioners of the city of
Washington. d. c., in establishing
weight limit of 2S,0OO pounds for
loaded motor trucks and their rea-
sons therefor should be of interest.
The statement announcing this de-
cision is as follows:
commissioners of the city of
Washington, ID. c., have decided to
establish a limit of 2SOOO pounds
for loaded motor trucks. following
hearings that have been in progress
for several months. This decision is
in line with recommendation sub
mitted by the Bureau of Public
Roads made by it's chief, Thomas
II. Macdonald. It is also in accord
ance with the standard policy Of
the Motor Vehicle Conference COM
mittee.
"Probably $4,000 annually is
saved by the Federal government In
the transportation of fuel in Z IL
ton trucks as against 5 ton units
in the city of Washington testified
G. f. Pope, engineer in charge of
the Government Fuel Yards. De-
partment of the Interior. before the
Cn r,,ic pf of he
weight limitation hearings.
with z II ton trucks the Fuel
Yards moved 111,2S2 tons at cost
per ton of 39.9c as against 6S. 700
tons by ton units at 623 per ton
a spread of 22c.
THAT weights OF vehicles travel |
ing over the highways should be
those which provide the most eco
nomical transportation, and the fact |
that with the same weight distribu- |
ton the difference between a 25,- |
600 pound limit and 2S.0OO pound |
limit is SO slight that 1t has no ap-
preciable effect on the highway or
street. was brought out by repre-
sentatives of the Bureau Of Public |
Roads.
1.-The public will have to pay for
hauled if this limitation is enforced
me and a half tons that are not |
declared one large trucker. adding |
that greater congestion will result !
from distributing this delivery
among more units. Freight cars
were originally designed at about |
half their present capacity but larg-
er units developed through necessity |
and the roadbed was built to carry |
them. was the analogy drawn.
Emphasis was laid upou fhe
need for enforcement of present |
regulations to prevent overlooking.
This the commissioners declared Inn.