Chairperson Petersen opened the Hearing on SB411.
Adam Siebers, Staff Revisor gave a bill explainer on SB411. (Attachment 1) He answered questions from committee members.
Kenny Doonan gave testimony in support of SB411. (Attachment 2) As a life long trucker he has devised a plan to raise revenue, reduce the number of trucks on the road while protecting the Kansas highways by reducing the stress on the roads. His plan is to introduce triple trailers, each 19 foot long, maintaining the 20,000 pounds per axle legal weight limit with steerable trailers and this will reduce the driver work force and trucks on the road by 40%. The front axle tractor loads and the drive axle weights will be below what is currently legal in Kansas. He answered questions from committee members.
Joel Skelley spoke in opposition of SB411. (Attachment 3) SB411 would put the State of Kansas out of compliance with federal law and would result in a significant loss of federal funds. If SB411 is passed, it is estimated that approximately $187.0 million in federal highway aid to Kansas would be withheld on an annual basis.
Travis Lowe gave testimony against SB411. (Attachment 4) He stated that protecting federal funding stability, roadway safety, and long-term infrastructure integrity must remain the Legislature's highest transportation priorities.
Tom Bruno testified in opposition of SB411 (Attachment 5) due to expanded use of triple-trailer combinations and significantly increased allowable truck size and weight limits on Kansas highways. Independent studies should be completed to fully assess the safety, infrastructure, and economic consequences of expanded truck size and weight limits on Kansas' transportation system.
Ty Dragoo gave opposition testimony to SB411 (Attachment 6) by stating that SB411 prioritizes freight volume over human safety. Once these vehicles are permitted, the risks cannot be undone; they can only be addressed after serious injuries or fatalities occur. Kansas should not accept higher crash severity, infrastructure damage, and enforcement challenges in exchange for marginal logistical convenience.
Trooper Nicholas Wright (Attachment 7) offered opposition testimony. He said by increasing the maximum gross weight limit of three-trailer combination vehicles, KHP believes SB411 may place Kansas motorists in danger of injury or death when involved in a crash with such a vehicle.
They took questions from committee members.
Opponent, written only testimony was submitted by:
Brad Roseberry, (Attachment 8) President, Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
Scott Heidner, (Attachment 9) American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas
Neutral testimony was given verbally by Travis Grauerholz. (Attachment 10) He stated that he had three concerns with SB411: 1) that it may place Kansas out of compliance with existing federal laws and regulations governing commercial motor vehicle operations, 2) he questions whether Kansas's current transportation infrastructure is adequately equipped to handle the increased weight and vehicle configurations authorized under the bill, and 3) he's concerned regarding the dealer tag provision included in SB411. There were no questions.
Chairperson Petersen closed the Hearing on SB411.