State Regulation of Trucking: Safety vs. Economics.

We examine state’s policy efforts related to the motor freight industry including common road traffic factors such as speed limits, height and weight restrictions. We also examine tax structures affecting this industry (fuel tax and other fees). While concern for safety and the impact of these policies on a state’s roadways often dominates discussion of policy goals, we also examine the economic livelihood of a state and the impact that the transportation and manufacturing sectors may have on policy adoption. Do states that rely heavily on these sectors shift safety and economic concerns to passenger vehicles? What pressures may exist to entice states to adopt policies counter to this industry’s concerns? We utilize a cross-sectional time series analysis to model policy adoption in the U.S. States over a twenty year time frame. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]