Megaloads: What are they and what is their future?

Megaloads is a term used by the mass media and activists to describe truckloads of freight that

are so large that they cover both lanes of a two-lane highway and are too tall to fit under most

bridges. They are usually extremely heavy (in excess of 250 tons) and are typically longer than a

football field.

Efficiency

Manufacturers and trucking companies are both generally in favor of the adoption of megaloads.

Manufacturing concerns will tell you that it is an inexpensive and faster way to assemble and

transport large equipment over long distances. The alternative is to manufacture the equipment in

smaller sub-assemblies, transport the sub-assemblies to the remote site via several trucks, and

then assemble the equipment in its entirety. Trucking companies are in favor of it because they

can move very large equipment in one load, as opposed to several trucks and drivers. This would

reduce the number of drivers, the number of trucks, and the attendant insurance costs.

Transportation consultants seem to have mixed feelings about the proposition. On the one hand,

moving one very large load would be statistically safer than having several transport vehicles.

On the other hand, the issues involved with megaloads include disrupting traffic along the route,

damage that the weight of the vehicles might do to the roadways, and the amount of structures

(traffic lights, utility lines, bridges, etc.) that would have to be either altered or relocated.

Opponents

Opponents of the megaloads include activists of several varieties. Environmental activists object

to the megaloads because they tend to carry equipment for industries like mining, oil, and gas.

They’re concerned that the megaloads will contribute to the destruction of the environment, mar

natural scenery, and impede or block traffic to natural recreation resources. There are those who

are opposed to these loads because they feel that they could potentially destroy public roadways

and infrastructure, leaving taxpayers to pay for the damage they may cause.

Auctioneering firms like Taylor and Martin are heavily invested in the trucking industry are on

the sidelines watching the situation to see how it ultimately plays out. They hold truck and trailer

auctions, appraise equipment, and do consulting for transportation. Either the acceptance or the

rejection of megaloads could have a profound effect on their business.

The legal wrangling is another issue. The Nez Pierce Tribe and Idaho Rivers United successfully

sued for and got a Federal Court injunction prohibiting a megaload from transporting on U.S. 12

until the U.S. Forest Service could complete a corridor study and complete a consultation with

the Nez Pierce Tribe.

The future of megaloads is uncertain. There have been a number of protests, which have stopped

the progress of a megaload movement. Some activists have gone so far as to attach themselves to

the truck, which required the transport firm to partially dismantle the truck to free the protestors.

For more information visit us at: www.taylorandmartin.com