What year was the 53 foot trailer introduced?

Answer 1

The 53' trailer is nothing new.. trailers of that length have been in existence since the 1950s, though were only used for special purposes. The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 was when the feds quit requiring a permit for 53' trailers, but several states fought the legislation into the mid-90s either requiring permits for 53' trailers, heavily restricting the roads they were permitted on, imposing laws on the wheelbase length of a tractor pulling a 53' trailer, or a combination. I believe it was the mid 90s when states were forced to conform to the STAA or risk losing federal highway funds.