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03/28/2024 10:06 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=24283
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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: July 5, 2017 11:15 AM
From: Representative Jim Marshall
To: All House members
Subject: 102-inch Wide Truck Trailers
 

In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that will update the Vehicle Code to reflect what has become the standard trailer width. My legislation will reflect the reality that 96-inch (8 feet) wide trailers are just not available anymore except by special and costly order but they remain the standard in our 1976 codified Vehicle Code.

Specifically, today we allow a number of exceptions for 102-inch (8 ½ feet) wide trailers granting them authority to operate Commonwealth wide. But, the industry hasn’t used the 96-inch width as a standard for several years, and have moved to the 102-inch width. In fact, a 96-inch trailer is an added cost of over $1,000 per trailer and a 6 to 8-month lead time as the assembly lines have to be reconfigured to accommodate such a request.

My bill will make the new standard of 102-inch wide trailers on all Pennsylvania highways, while still allowing both PennDOT and municipalities the ability to restrict these vehicles where necessary on specific roadways, utilizing existing authority granted under 75 PA C.S. § 4902 (b).

Lastly, here are some examples of the need to expand the 102-inch width allowance:
  • Dollar General has over 400 stores in Pennsylvania with over 400 trailers out of their Bethel, PA hub – all are 102-inches wide.
  • Wegmans has 17 location in Pennsylvania with over 900 trailers – all are 102-inches wide.
  • Giant Food Stores – 120 stores in Pennsylvania with 300 trailers, only 12 of which are 96-inches; and they will be phased by the end of the year.
  • Summit Trailers, located in Schuylkill County has been manufacturing trailers since 1970.They manufacture 102-inch wide trailers, but are located on a road which prohibits the operation of 102-inch wide trailers.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this common-sense and important piece of legislation.



Introduced as HB1699