Contact Dr. Joe Conrad for more information on this study.
In response to pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, Georgia issued temporary permits allowing log trucks to haul up to 95,000 lbs—nearly 11,000 lbs more than the standard limit. This raised concerns across about potential safety risks.
A 2024 study by Joe Conrad and Chad Bolding offers a clear, data-backed answer: heavier trucks did not lead to more crashes.
Using crash data from 2017 to 2022, the study found no significant differences in crash rates, injury severity, or vehicle defects between permit and non-permit holders. In fact, the increase in log truck crashes began before the permits were issued and continued independently of their use.
🌲The study’s implications are significant. It suggests that focusing solely on truck weight may miss the bigger picture. Instead, the authors recommend:
- Investing in newer, safer trucks
- Improving maintenance standards
- Allowing loaded trucks on interstate highways to reduce rural road risks
- Enhancing driver training and performance monitoring
For forest industry professionals, this research is a call to modernize timber transportation policy. It supports a shift from reactive regulation to proactive investment in safety and efficiency—ensuring that the industry remains competitive, sustainable, and safe.
