Consumer advocate Ralph Nader has asked Amazon to reconsider its support of a proposal to allow longer tractor trailers on the nation’s highways. But Nader is reportedly having a difficult time getting the attention of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the topic.
Nader is quoted at the end a New York Times story this weekend that looked at Amazon’s increased lobbying in Washington, D.C., as the e-commerce giant moves further into delivery and logistics. One of the proposals that the company has supported is a push to allow 33-foot twin-trailer trucks on the nation’s highways, several feet longer than the current legal limit of 28 feet.
Legislation to allow the longer trailers stalled in the U.S. Senate last year. Opponents said the longer trailers would make highways more dangerous for other drivers. Amazon contended that safety would actually be improved because the increased capacity would mean fewer trucks on the road.
As part of the larger story this weekend, the New York Times reported that Nader said he wrote to Bezos, asking the company to stop supporting the proposal, but never heard back from the Amazon CEO.
“Drones and longer trucks, what are all these efforts for?” Nader told the New York Times. “To get you your toothpaste faster?”
Read the full New York Times story here.
