Whether hauling timber, gravel or other moveable materials,trucks play a huge and valuable role in the transaction of commercein Southwest Mississippi, the rest of the state and indeed thenation. However, those vehicles are not the only ones on the roads,which are paid for and must be maintained in good condition for useby all members of the traveling public.

A bill currently pending in the Mississippi Legislature wouldallow heavier load limits – two tons more – for trucks haulingagricultural goods, like timber, and some other products.Supporters contend the bill will help haulers struggling withhigher fuel costs and would allow Mississippi haulers to becompetitive with those in surrounding states.

Those concerns are not without merit, but too many Mississippiroads and bridges remain in too bad a shape to be subjected toheavier loads and the potential for further deterioration.

The potholes that could develop as a result of the heavier loadsrepresent trouble for all vehicles. And the risk of a bridgecollapsing under the weight of a school bus loaded with children issomething no one wishes to ponder.

When viewed against another current-session proposal tore-allocate bridge repair funds, there is some irony in consideringthe hauling weight limit increase.

The proposal would allow funds from the Local System BridgeProgram, which was enacted years ago to help counties repair orreplace deficient bridges, to be redirected from counties that havefailed to use their allotted funds to those counties that have andstill need more. Lincoln County has made wise use of its LSBP fundsover the years, and supervisors still have more uses for additionalmonies should the proposal pass.

For counties that have used their repair money, allowing heavierloads to cross the bridges would be a step toward shortening theirlife spans and increasing the need for repairs sooner. For countiesthat have failed to take advantage of the bridge-fix money, heavierloads would increase the dangers that so far have failed to beaddressed.

Another road-related concern from heavier loads could be morerain-filled ruts that are contributed to by logging and othertrucks on the road. Those ruts raise the possibility of smallervehicles hydroplaning or encountering other dangers.

Also in the area of load legislation this session, lawmakers arelooking at a bill to reduce the possibility of gravel and otherobjects flying out of truck beds and cracking windshields or posingother risks.

Any motorist who has heard the surprise ‘whack’ of rock clashingagainst windshield understands the frustrations the encounters cancause. Oftentimes, because the hauling culprit cannot be readilyidentified, there is little that can be done other than file aclaim for repair against one’s own insurance provider – aproposition that runs the risk of higher premiums in thefuture.

The pending legislation would require tarps over loads to reducethe chances of their spilling onto highways. Covers would not beneeded if there is sufficient clearance, 6 inches, between the topof the load and the top of the truck bed.

Due to the potential for worsening road and bridge conditions,lawmakers should take the cautious approach when consideringincreases in hauling load limits. But strengthening covered loadlaws is a step on the proper path toward improving travelingsafety.