Excessive Truck Weight:
An Expensive Burden We Can No Longer Support
CED-79-94A: Published: Jul 16, 1979. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 1979.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
GAO provided a supplement to its report on the impact heavy trucks have on highway deterioration and problems with federal and state weight enforcement efforts. A questionnaire was sent to all states to obtain information on general highway data, weight laws, and enforcement efforts. Through the responses, data were compiled on state highway mileage, maintenance needs, the impact of heavy trucks on highway conditions, and the extent of state research on weight-related issues.
States indicated that lack of funding and the consequent need to defer maintenance are presenting major problems to state highway departments. Responses on highway maintenance needs indicated that the principal problem of state highway departments was too little money to adequately maintain their highway systems. The need to defer maintenance was considered a serious problem by 32 states. Other than financial problems, states said heavy trucks and illegal overweight trucks were major causes of highway deterioration. No state felt that all their highways were capable of handling current truck volumes and weights without decreasing serviceable life. States have done much research relating to weight enforcement and the impact of heavy and overweight trucks on highway conditions. Much of this was related specifically to state needs, such as permanent scale site selection and cost allocation studies.
Jan 7, 2021
Aircraft Noise:
Better Information Sharing Could Improve Responses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise ConcernsGAO-21-200: Published: Jan 7, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 7, 2021.
Dec 18, 2020
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Automated Technologies:
DOT Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee SafetyGAO-21-197: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 17, 2020
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Emergency Responder Safety:
States and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Reduce Roadside CrashesGAO-21-166: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 17, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Reagan National Airport:
Information on Effects of Federal Statute Limiting Long-Distance FlightsGAO-21-176: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Federal-Aid Highways:
States and Local Governments Reported Benefits to Federal Highway Fund Swapping, but Impacts Cannot be Definitively DeterminedGAO-21-88: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 16, 2020
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Aviation Certification:
FAA Needs to Strengthen Its Design Review Process for Small AirplanesGAO-21-85: Published: Nov 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Aviation Safety:
FAA's Office of Aviation Safety Should Take Additional Actions to Ensure Its Workforce Has Needed SkillsGAO-21-94: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
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Puerto Rico:
Perspectives on the Potential to Expand Air Cargo OperationsGAO-21-21: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Sep 30, 2020
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Supplemental Material For GAO-20-686:
Transit Asset Management: Survey of TAM Program ParticipantsGAO-20-687SP: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020. -
Transit Asset Management:
FTA Should Clarify Performance Data and Develop a Plan to Guide Future Program ImprovementsGAO-20-686: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
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