Without debate today, the Senate quickly passed and sent the House a far-reaching measure to put longer trucks, wider boats and some heavier farm commodity trucks on the state’s highways.
Sen. Clark Jenkins, the Edgecombe County Democrat who sponsored SB 1695, called in sick — but his proposal rolled ahead without him ("State Senate votes to allow bigger trucks").
Trucking and business interests have pushed for the Senate proposal to let 53-foot tractor-trailers travel the state’s primary highways — replacing a 48-foot limit in effect on most roads now.
Fishermen and other boaters have lobbied for the legislation to let them haul boats and trailers up to 10 feet wide on state roads day or night, without a permit. The House Transportation Committee will take up the relaxed boat-width proposal in a separate bill at its meeting Wednesday.
The State Highway Patrol opposes Jenkins' bill, warning of increased accidents involving long trucks on winding mountain roads, and wide boats on narrow roads at night. Here are details of the Senate proposal.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the 
