The co-moderators for the session were David Cole, commissioner of the Maine DOT and chairman of AASHTO's Special Committee on Intermodal Transportation and Economic Expansion; and Pat Quinn, co-chairman of the trucking company US Xpress and also past chairman of the American Trucking Associations and a member of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

"Truckers tell us that their trucks are weighing out and cubing out," Cole said. "We tell them that our roads are weighing out and cubing out. The purpose of today's discussion is to make more clear what is meant on both sides."

Quinn explained the position of the American Trucking Associations related to the federal freeze on truck weight. He emphasized that the proposal was for a state-by-state option for changes and not a general lifting of the national freeze. He said the trucking industry is prepared to cover any additional costs generated by changes as long as these were determined by an independent party.

Jim Lynch, director of the Montana DOT and chairman of AASHTO's trucking panel, the Subcommittee on Highway Transport, provided a report on the activities of the subcommittee. He also made a presentation on the effort within Montana to develop higher and wider corridors to meet the need created by the transport of equipment, some of which is 300 feet long, 28 feet wide, and 30 feet high, through Montana to the Alberta shale oil fields.

Jim March, acting deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy at the U.S. DOT, reviewed work that has been done and is underway at the department on the issue of truck size and weight.

Butch Brown, AASHTO's incoming president and director of the Mississippi DOT, provided an overview of Mississippi's approach to dealing with oversize/overweight trucks. Joe Marshall, special projects coordinator for MDOT, described the online permitting system developed by Mississippi. Brown offered to provide assistance to any state interested in establishing such a system.

John Amos explained why the National Association of Manufacturers is proposing the establishment of higher, wider, heavier corridors to handle the extra-large loads that are growing in number and importance.

General discussion during the workshop focused on the impact of larger trucks on road infrastructure, especially bridges, and the resulting costs.