America's love affair with pickup trucks has turned into an expensive mandate, thanks to decades of well-intentioned but misguided federal regulations. Today's average full-size truck stretches about 4 feet longer and weighs roughly 2,000 pounds more than its 1980 counterpart—a shift driven largely by Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and stringent safety rules.
Introduced in the 1970s amid oil crises, CAFE aimed to boost efficiency but created perverse incentives. Loopholes classified trucks separately from cars, with laxer targets for "light trucks." Footprint-based rules since 2012 rewarded larger vehicles, as bigger footprints allowed easier compliance without drastic efficiency gains. Manufacturers responded by upsizing trucks, expanding crew cabs for family use while shrinking beds—turning workhorses into luxury haulers.
Safety regulations compounded the issue. Crash standards demanded stronger frames, reinforced cabs, and advanced features like airbags and stability control, adding hundreds of pounds. While improving occupant protection, these mandates increased material costs and vehicle mass, driving up prices for all cars and trucks.
The result? Ballooning sticker prices—new vehicles cost thousands more than unregulated alternatives might—and heavier fleets that consume more resources. Many owners rarely haul or tow, yet bear the burden of oversized, overbuilt machines. It's time to rethink these "dumb regulations": streamline CAFE, prioritize real-world efficiency, and balance safety with affordability. Returning to common sense could deliver lighter, cheaper, more practical vehicles without sacrificing progress. Americans deserve choice, not coercion.