CNCounty News

Podcast: Heavier truck proposals in Congress threaten county bridges

Industrial carriers blue and white big rig semi-truck tractors transporting cargo on dry van semi-trailers running on the truss metal arch I-5 Interstate Bridge between Washington and Oregon across  the Columbia River.

With a road network that brings trucks carrying nearly 80,000 pounds of gravel and sand through downtown Cleburne, Texas, Johnson County roads and bridges are feeling the impact of heavy trucks on a daily basis. 

Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey spent 35 years in the trucking industry prior to running for office, and he offers two perspectives on the issue backed by his experience, but there’s no reason to save the surprise — he doesn’t approve of proposals to increase the weight limit on trucks. 

“It’s such an inconvenience to the driving public who live down these roads because now they have to find an alternate road to get home,” not to mention access for emergency responders who need access to bridges that have been taken out of commission due to safety concerns.

That wear and tear, along with a confluence of market forces and inflation, makes managing the budget for his precinct’s roads and bridges a considerable challenge.

Listen as he tells the County News Podcast all about the issues surrounding heavy truck proposals and what they would mean for county roads and bridges, many of which were designed and built when the trucking industry was much different. 

Related News

THE_County Countdown_working_image-4.png
Advocacy

County Countdown – May 19, 2025

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features reconciliation bill advancement, a FEMA reform proposal and more.

Higgins Infra Week 2025
Advocacy

Counties talk about tax-exempt municipal bonds during 2025 Infrastructure Week

On May 13, during the 13th Annual Infrastructure Week, NACo hosted a working group discussion titled “The Case for Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds” with Commissioner Eileen Higgins of Miami-Dade County, Fla.

Aerial view of busy American highway road under construction
Advocacy

NACo sends letters to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging support for county priorities in surface transportation reauthorization

On April 30, NACo submitted three letters to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee outlining county priorities as Congress begins work on the next surface transportation reauthorization. The current authorization is set to expire on September 30, 2026, and renewing it is a key priority for the Committee in the 119th Congress.

County News Podcast

Stories behind the stories, lessons on county leadership, and more – your audio companion to County News.

Diversity team discussion focused on ESG (environment, social, governance) for net zero goals in a sustainable green office
County News

Podcast: Life after coal for one county

Commissioner Melody Villard and Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Sasha Nelson discuss the transition Moffat County, Colo. planned to diversify its economy after the closure of coal mines and a power plant decimated its property tax revenue.

2094689803
County News

Podcast: The CIO Reserves

Greenbrier County, W.Va. Commissioner Tammy Tincher, Cook County, Ill. CIO Tom Lynch and NACo CIO Rita Reynolds discuss the pilot CIO Reserves program, which offers IT experts to help rural counties assess their technology and cybersecurity needs.

Artificial intelligence
County News

Podcast: Artificial intelligence and county government

Shinica Thomas, a Wake County, N.C. commissioner and a member of NACo's AI Exploratory Committee, talks about her process for learning about artificial intelligence, its limits and challenges and some applications for use in county government.

Industrial carriers blue and white big rig semi-truck tractors transporting cargo on dry van semi-trailers running on the truss metal arch I-5 Interstate Bridge between Washington and Oregon across  the Columbia River.
County News

Podcast: Heavier truck proposals in Congress threaten county bridges

Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Rick Bailey spent 35 years in the trucking industry prior to running for office, and he offers two perspectives to the County News Podcast on the issue backed by his experience, but there’s no reason to save the surprise — he doesn’t approve of proposals to increase the weight limit on trucks. 

Apartment building
County News

Podcast: Counties find homes in the midst of a housing crunch

Allegheny County, Pa. Director of Housing Strategies Ed Nusser introduces the 500 in 500 initiative for moving people out of shelters and NACo’s Mike Matthews discusses the county role in developing housing affordability.

Flood
County News

Podcast: Challenges mount for counties facing disasters

Clay County, Iowa Supervisor Barry Anderson joins the County News Podcast to describe the compounding effects from a generational flood his county seat faced in June.

James Gore
County News

Podcast: James Gore on getting stuff done

NACo President James Gore joins the County News Podcast to talk about what brought him to county government, the challenges Sonoma County, Calif. has faced while he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors and and how he views county government.

Podcast
County News

Podcast: Mental health and the criminal justice system

Miami-Dade County, Fla. Administrative Judge Steve Leifman joined the County News Podcast to outline systems that can be put in place in counties across the country.

NACo President Mary Jo McGuire addresses county officials at the 2024 Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Podcast: ForwardTogether during National County Government Month

NACo President Mary Jo McGuire spoke to the County News Podcast about National County Government Month seen through the prism of her presidential theme: ForwardTogether — connect, inspire and lead.

Tom Rolfe, Lewis and Clark County, Mont. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

Podcast: Making intergovernmental connections at NACo's Federal Agency Expo

A handful of county officials and a federal exhibitor talked on the County News Podcast about the connections they hoped to make and what they hoped to learn during the Federal Agency Expo at the NACo Legislative Conference.

Boone County, Mo. Clerk Brianna Lennon joins us in studio for the first episode of the County News Podcast.
County News

Podcast: Election officials talk shop

The hosts of High Turnout, Wide Margins join NACo's inaugural podcast to discuss how they manage elections in Boone and St. Louis counties in Missouri, what elected officials should know about election administration and more.