Hi Volks!!
I've been reading this thread with interest,as I am =
an
Owner/Driver of a 17ton truck here in the U.K.I can make some comparison =
between
your country and ours on the subject of trucking and the state of the =
roads,as I
was fortunate enough to travel from Boston to St Luois,via Milwaukee,on =
vacation
last year.
The views expressed by the majority of the list re =
the damage
to the roads caused by heavy vehicles seem to hold true for most =
countries here
in Europe as well as the U.S.In the UK the haulage industry pay almost =
the
highest road taxes in the world,[for my single truck I have to pay an =
annual fee
of £1450 or US$2320]
In addition the Government takes the highest rate of =
tax on
Diesel,more than gasoline,a current price of 50cents a litre,approx =
US$2.45 a
gallon.These taxes amount to over £30 billion a year,and are supposed =
to pay for
the roads upkeep.
Of course,the money is spent on welfare for the =
unemployed
mostly....
Your Interstates,at least the ones I travelled on =
,were for
the most part much less heavily "trafficked"than ours,and =
consequently,seemed in
much better condition.
Our trucks max out at 98560 pounds,and because of =
the density
of truck population,and the speed limiters fitted,cause deep =
"tramtracks" in one
lane of the highway.When you are in a narrower vehicle than a truck,you =
tend to
weave along the road on that lane,constantly" falling into"and =
"climbing
out" of the tracks.
While everyone bitches about the damage,and the slow =
trucks
holding them back,
most realize that the truck is on a necessary =
journey.After
all,everything that is made has to be delivered,and as most of us want =
the
benefits of modern society,we understand that there is a price to =
pay.The roads
were originally built to take goods,and the use for the general public =
should
always be secondary to the movement of freight,as trade is what =
made
our respective countries so prosperous...
Lance
Vanagon/Transporter" Autohomes Kamper"
Volvo FL617,"The Beast"
H.D 1200C Sportster