Government research should study inefficiencies of government research

Recently, the Transportation Research Board’s Truck Size and Weight Limits Research Plan Committee released a report with an equally long-winded name, “First Report: Candidate Research Topics; Framework for Setting Priorities.” It is one of many government research papers on the topic.

This report is in response to a study that concluded there needs to be more studies before coming to any reasonable conclusion. More specifically, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its Comprehensive Truck Size and Weights Limit Study in April 2016. It concluded that data was insufficient to recommend any type of regulatory change.

That is certainly good news if you’re against an increase in truck size and weight.

However, the U.S. DOT study highlights a deeper issue when it comes to the inefficient, snail pace of the government and government research.

At face value, you have a 2016 report calling for more research, followed by subsequent report responding to that request. Nothing inefficient about that. But take a further look inside the research board’s latest report, and you will find some eyebrow-raising context.

Check out this excerpt:

“A preliminary list and description of research and data needs and objectives in each of the five topical areas (safety, enforcement, modal shift, bridges, and pavement) derived from research from the 2016 USDOT study, the 2015 TRB committee review of that study, earlier truck size and weight studies, and also reflecting recent developments not considered in the 2016 USDOT study.”

A study is referencing many other studies on the exact same topic. That excerpt only goes back to 2015, which is pretty recent. But what about those “earlier truck size and weight studies?”

This part of the latest report gives you more eye-rolling context:

“The committee reviewed the research recommendations of the 2016 USDOT study and the TRB committee review of that study, the USDOT examinations of truck size and weight limits published in 2000 (FHWA 2000) and 1981 (FHWA 1981), and earlier TRB committee studies, including TRB Special Report 225, Truck Weight Limits: Issues and Options (TRB 1990), and especially TRB Special Report 267, Regulation of Weights, Lengths, and Widths of Commercial Motor Vehicles (TRB 2002), which reviewed truck size and weight studies conducted up to 2002.”

Government research in 2018 is referencing a bunch of similar studies conducted as far back as 1981!

What have we been doing in the nearly 40 years since? Even the 2002 report is closing in on two decades now.

Truckers have been seeing this same song and dance with truck parking. Jason’s Law Survey has been followed by more truck parking studies at the state and regional level. There also will be a second version of that survey. Clearly, one study is not enough.

To be fair, one study is not scientifically conclusive and should be replicated. If we’re going to implement costly regulations, we better make damn sure the evidence supporting it is scientifically sound.

But at what point are we just dragging our heels and wasting time and money? How long after the first study is too long? Or perhaps how many studies before the government reaches the conclusion it was after?

Research is absolutely necessary before passing any law or regulation. After a certain point, research goes from necessary to becoming an excuse for the government’s lack of action.

Quit wasting our time and money and actually do something!