Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Kansas committee hears mixed testimony on bill to allow triple trailers on non‑interstate highways
Summary
Lawmakers and witnesses debated Senate Bill 411, which would permit one‑truck/three‑trailer combinations on non‑interstate state highways, raise off‑interstate gross weight limits to 140,000 pounds and increase permitted combination length; supporters said design spreads axle loads and could cut truck counts, while KDOT and safety groups warned of federal funding risks, bridge and crossing impacts, and public‑safety concerns.
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate Transportation Committee heard hours of testimony on Senate Bill 411, which would allow one‑truck/three‑trailer combinations on state highways outside the interstate system by raising combination length and off‑interstate weight limits.
Adam, the bill presenter, told the committee the measure would raise the current combination length limit (now cited at 65 feet in the hearing) to as much as 86 feet and would increase the maximum gross weight off the interstate system to 140,000 pounds, while the 80,000‑pound limit on the interstate would remain unchanged. The bill also would allow dealer license plates for short demonstrations, subject to statutory weight and length limits.
Proponents, including trailer builder Kenny Doonan of Great Bend, said the triple‑trailer design they described uses shorter (about 19‑foot) trailer bodies and axle spacing…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
