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SPECIAL REPORT 225 TRUCK WEIGHT LIMITS /ssues and Options Committee for the Truck Weight Study Transportation Research Board National Research Council Washington, D.C. 1990
Thansportation Research Board Special Report 225 Category IIB: pavement design, management, and performance Mode t highway transportation Subject areas LL administration 24 pavement design and performance 25 structures design and performance 53 vehicle characteristics 70 transportation law Tlansportation Research Board publications are available by ordering directly from TRB, They may also be obtained on a regular basis through organizational or individual affiliation with TT{B; affiliates or library subscribers are eligible for substantial discounts. For further information, write to the Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418. P¡inted in the United States of America NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Acadeny of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to the procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of the members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. Library of Congress Cataloging-in.hrblicatlon Data National Research Council (U.S.). Committee for the Ttuck Weight Study. Tluck weight limits : issues and options. (Special report, ISSN 0360-859X; 225) Includes bibliographical references. 1. Tiucks-United States-Weight. L Series: Special report (National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board) ; 225. TL230.Nn 1990 ISBN 0-309-04955-5 Cover design: Karen L. lVhite 388.3',24 90-34567 Photographs on cover and frontispiece courtesy of Tfc. Charles F. Ruby, Police Truck Enforcement DivÃian, Maryland State Police. Frontispiece: Representative truck types: (rop) tractor-semitrailer, (mÃddle) double trailer, and (bottom) specialized hauling vehicle at Maryland truck weigh station.
Committee for the Truck Weight Study LesrER A. Honr, ChaÃrmøn, University of Vîrginia, Charlottesville D.rvlo C. BERRy, Kaibab Tlansportation, fnc., Glendale, Arizona THoMAS M. CoRsl, University of Maryland, College park RAvMoND A. Fonsyru, Consulting Civil and Geotãchnical Engineer, Sacramento, California Mrüreet, GHosN, The City College of New york, New york R.G. Hlcxs, Tlansportation Research Institute, Corvallis, Oregon crel-l-or.{ L. Lowerl, Tennessee Department of r}ansportatioi, Nashville MtcHleL J. Memow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts rrrHrN H. MoNSoN, Division of Criminal Justice, Tlenton, New Jersey tours G. NAppi,-N & W Concretè, Inc.,IVhite plains, New york Anonzs S. Nom,r, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor J. Mtû¡eEt, RIcn, Tlansystems, fnc., Great Falls, Montana H. DoucLAs RonrRrsoN, The university of North carolina at charlotte Leoxeno SEGEL, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor {nvms E. STEBELs, Colorado Department of Highways, Denver Jot¡N T. Sur,lrveN, Navistar International Tlansportátion Corporation Liaison Representatives Anrnun J. BALer, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C. Wu,mu T. DnuHeN, American Association of State Highwiy and Tlansportation Officials, Washington, D.C. J¡ure Mcl.¡ucrnw FlsH, House Committee on public Works and Tlansportation, Washington, D.C. NaoINe IIAtv[LToN, Senate Environment and public Works Committee, Washington, D.C. Ke¡lNEftr HousE, House committee on public works and riansportation, Washington, D.C. Lroxeno L. LANE, Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C. Jeer.¡ Leuwn, Senate Environment and public Works Commift;, Washington, D.C. Jorn¡ L. RErrrr, American Trucking Associations, Alexandria, Virginia IAT RINc, Tlansportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.La¡nv S. Sxowurre, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and popeo, p.C., Washington, D.C. Thansportation Research Board Staff Ro¡BRr E. Srnvxen, Jn., Director for Special projects Henny CoHeN, Senior Program Officer Nency A, AcKERMAN, Director of Publications
Preface section 158 of the surface Tiansportation and uniform Relocation Assis- tance Act of L987 called on the Tlansportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Research council to conduct a study of various proposals for changes in truck weight regulations. To carry out the study, TRRformed a committee that included experts on highway safety and traffic operations, pavements, bridges, freight transportation economics, and motor vehicle design. The members were drawn from universities, state departments of transportation; motor vehicle enforcement agencies; and the motor car- rier industry. Throughout the study the committee met with liaisons from trucking and railroad industry associations, users of specialized hauling vehicles, and the Federal Highway Administration. Finally, study findingi and recommendations were reviewed by an independent group of experts whose comments were considered in preparing the final version oi this report. As requested, the committee analyzed the effects of a number of specific proposals for changes to existing federal weight limits and regula- tions and developed recommendations that we believe will serve the public interest. The committee recommended a new federal bridge for- mula, no further expansion of grandfather claims for vehicles that exceed existing federal limits, special state permit programs for trucks that ex- ceed the federal gross weight limit of 80,000 lb, increased truck weight enforcement, and regional cooperation among states in standardizlng limits and permit practices. The specific elements of these recommenda- tions are critical and are fully explained in our report. The special permit program, for instance, is recommended only if it is accompanied by permit fees that cover all of the additional public costs resulting from the use of the heavier trucks and by special restrictions on permit vehicles and their operators or o\ryners to promote improved safety. Our study carefully estimated the major effects of each policy option considered. we recognized, however, the difficulty in fully anticipating all consequences of change in truck weight limits. Moreover, over the long term, the public policy trade-offs involved-affecting not only transporta-
tion goals but also economic, social, and environmental goals-may be evaluated differently by different groups. Accordingly, the truck weight recommendations developed in this study reflect an incremental and conservative approach. The study was not a comprehensive review of freight transportation policy in the United States. For example, it did not analyze the overall distribution of freight among modes, alternative truck taxation methods, or the impacts of introducing longer trucks or increasing axle weight limits. Although work on such topics has been done by various groups, a comprehensive study may be needed to integrate the analyses and guide future freight transportation policy. This report has been fully endorsed by all committee members except with respect to two separate issues on which a single member was at variance with the committee. The issues deal with the extent to which the report has been responsive to the authorizing legislation in the areas of (a) truck weight enforcement and (b) specialized hauling vehicles. state- ments by committee member Stephen H. Monson regarding enforcement and by committee member Louis G. Nappi regarding specialized hauling vehicles are included in an appendix to the report. This study of truck weight regulations is one of four recently completed or ongoing TRB studies addressing national truck policy issues. One study, which was also requested by section 158 ofthe Surface Tiansporta- tion and uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, examined the issue of reasonable access to the federally designated highway network for longer and wider combination trucks (Special Report 223, koviding Access for Large Tiuclu). Another study, now nearing completion, is reviewing the data needed to monitor the safety of large trucks and will probably recommend improvements in national accident and travel data systems. Finally, another nearly complete study, requested by the Ameri- can Association of state Highway and riansportation officials, is investi- gating the feasibility of the proposal developed by former Federal High- way Administrator Francis c. Turner to allow trucks with reduced axle weights to operate over the current federal gross weight limit. Because of overlapping policy and technical concerns, the study of truck weight regulations was closely coordinated with the study of the Thrner proposal. The committee wishes to acknowledge the excellent work of many individuals and organizations who contributed to this report. Harry Co- hen managed the study under the guidance of the committee and the overall supervision of Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Director for Special proj- ects. Stephen R. Godwin drafted Chapter 2 and Ted Chira-Chavala drafted chapter 6. John A. Deacon developed a pavement rehabilitation cost model for the study and made significant contributions to chapter 4. Estimates of the consequences for the trucking industry of changes in
truckweight regulations were developed for the committee by sydec, Inc. and Jack Faucett Associates. Fred Moses developed estimaies oi tt "consequences of changes in truck weight regulatioirs on bridges for this study and the study of the Turner proposal. _ Finally, special appreciation is expressed to Nancy A. Ackerman, TRB Director of Publications, and the TRB publications staff for editing the final report, and to Marguerite g. schnÃider and Frances E. Hollanä for assistance in ty.ping drafts of the manuscript. Lester A. Hoel Chairmøn, Tluck \Veight Study Committee June 1,990
