Senator proposes pilot program to allow road trains on state’s highways

A senator and former truck driver has introduced a bill to allow road trains on North Dakota highways, and he’s hoping that neighboring states follow suit.

North Dakota Senator Larry Luick and the Agriculture and Transportation Committee has announced they are seeking to begin a Road Train Pilot Program.

“We have an opportunity to not only move freight more efficiently here, but also safer, and also cleaner for the environment,” said Sen. Larry Luick, R-Fairmount.

Fairmount explained that the trucks wouldn’t be as long as typical Australian road trains.

“I’m not into just making a very long unit on the roadway. It has to be practical, and it has to be safe, and it has to be efficient,” he said.

Luick said North Dakota’s road trains would be three trailers, around 200 feet long and 360,000 pounds. He said that the road trains would be prohibited from moving hazardous materials.

However, if the pilot program passes, the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the state’s highway patrol would be responsible for setting new weight and length limitations.

The state’s Agriculture and Transportation Committee is expected to discuss the road train pilot program at its next meeting on Oct. 8.