Heavy trucks don’t damage a properly designed road.
Roads are designed for a certain usage level.
Heavy trucks put more wear on any road.
A farm road is not designed for as much traffic as a freeway.
State two-lanes and not designed to take as much traffic and wear as a four-lane, in general. "Proper" road design takes usage into account.
All good engineering has a strong element of cost benefit ratio.
As a matter of fact, they do. The
feds assign higher taxes on heavy
haulers just for that reason.
Municipalities have truck routes
that are partially subsidised by
the feds, as maintenance costs
where trucks travel are quite a bit
higher. Weather is a big factor when
a road is designed. Extreme hot and
cold temps range combined with heavy
weight will tear up any road. US 285
is a good example. It was designed
to federal standards to transport
transuranic waste. From Clines Corners
to Fort Stockton, the road, in certain
sections is torn up.