Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study - Volume 1: Technical Reports Summary

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Contact Information: FreightFeedback@dot.gov

June 2015

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Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Chapter 1. Current Truck Size and Weight Regulations In The United States And Other Countries
  • Introduction and Context
  • Background
  • Truck Size and Weight Regulations
    • United States
    • Other Countries’ Truck Size and Weight Regulations
  • References
• Chapter 2. Scope and General Methodology
  • Scope
  • Study Process and Methodology
    • Public Involvement and Transparency of Information
    • Technical Analysis Approach
    • Desk Scans
    • Study Focus Area Project Plans
    • Data Acquisition Technical Analysis Plan
    • Peer Review
  • Changes in Methodology from Prior Studies
• Chapter 3. Results of Focus Area Analysis
  • Modal Shift Analysis
    • Modal Shift Analysis Methodology
    • Modal Shift Analysis Assumptions and Limitations
    • Cost Responsibility Issue
    • Summary of Modal Shift Analysis Results
  • Safety Comparative Analysis
  • Crash Analysis
    • Crash Anaylsis Methodology
    • Summary of Crash Analysis Results
  • Vehicle Stability and Control Analysis
    • Vehicle Stability and Control Analysis Methodology
    • Vehicle Stability and Control Aalysis Assumptions and Limitations
    • Vehicle Stability and Control Analysis Results
  • Inspection and Violation Analysis
    • Inspection and Violation Analysis Methodology
    • Inspection and Violation Analysis Assumptions and Limitations
    • Safety Inspection and Violations Results
    • Scenario Analysis Results: Estimating Changes in National Number of Crashes
    • Summary of Inspection and Violation Analysis Results
    • References
  • Pavement Analysis
    • Pavement Analysis Methodology
    • Pavement Analysis Assumptions and Limitations
    • Pavement Analysis Summary of Results
    • References
  • Bridge Structure Comparative Analysis
    • Bridge Structure Comparative Analysis Methodology
    • Bridge Comparative Analysis Assumptions and Limitations
    • Summary of Bridge Comparative Analysis Results
    • Bridge Structures
    • Bridge Fatigue
    • Bridge Deck Deterioration, Service Life and Preventative Maintenance
    • References
  • Compliance Comparative Analysis
    • Compliance Comparative Analysis Methodology
    • Summary of Compliance Comparative Analysis Results
    • Identification of Statutes and Regulations

List of Tables

• Table 1. Nationwide Number of Permits Issued for 44 Reporting States: 2008-2012
• Table 2. Triple Trailer Combinations in Operation under "ISTEA Freeze"
• Table 3. Vehicle Miles of Travel by Vehicle Configuration and Highway System
• Table 4. Truck Configurations and Weights Scenarios Analyzed in the Study
• Table 5. Study Data/Model Accessibility and Data Custody Guidelines
• Table 6. Scenario Impacts on VMT, Total Logistics Costs, and Railroad Revenue: 2011
• Table 7. Scenario Impacts on Energy Consumption,  Emissions, and Traffic Operations: 2011 (Millions)
• Table 8. Summary of Crash Analyses by Scenario. 45
• Table 9. Impacts of Study Scenario (Compared to Base Case) on Pavement Performance and Costs
• Table 10. Projected Number of Bridges with Posting Issues
• Table 11. Projected One-time Bridge Costs for Alternative Truck Configurations (Scenarios)

List of Figures

• Figure 1. National Network for Conventional Combination Trucks: 2013
• Figure 2. Permitted Longer Combination Vehicles on the NHS: 2011

List of Acronyms

Acronym	Definition
AASHO	American Association of State Highway Officials
AASHTO	Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ABrR	AASHTOWare Bridge Rating®
ABS	anti-lock braking system
AC	asphalt concrete
ADT	average daily traffic
AADTT	annual average daily truck traffic
ADTT	average daily truck traffic
AF	axle factors
AGM	average gross mass
ALF	axle load factors
ARA	Applied Research Associates
ASLRRA	American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
ASR	allowable stress rating
BTS	Bureau of Transportation Statistics
CAFT	constant-amplitude fatigue threshold
CARB	California Air Resources Board
CBO	Congressional Budget Office
CMV	commercial motor vehicle
CRCP	Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement
CRF	Code of Federal Regulations
CTSLW	Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study
CTSW	Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits
CVSA	Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
DA	data agreement
DOT	Department of Transportation
EDFs	equivalent damage factors
ESALs	equivalent single axle loads
ESAR	equivalent single-axle radius
ESWL	equivalent single-wheel load
FAF	Freight Analysis Framework
FEA	finite element analysis
FHWA	Federal Highway Administration
FMIS	Financial Management Information System
FMVSS	Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
FRA	Federal Railroad Administration
GCW	gross combined weight
GEF	Group Equivalency Factor
GVW	gross vehicle weight
HCA	highway cost allocation
HCAS	Federal Highway Cost Allocation Study
HERS	Highway Economic Requirements Systems
HMA	hot mix asphalt
HPMS	Highway Performance Monitoring System
HV	High-volume
HIS	Interstate Highway System
ITIC	Intermodal Transportation and Inventory Cost Model
IRI	International Roughness Index
IS	Interstate System
ISTEA	Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
JPCP	jointed plain concrete pavement
LCC	life cycle cost
LCV	longer combination vehicles
LEF	load equivalence factors
LFR	load factor rating
LRFD	load and resistance factor design
LRFR	load resistance factor rating
LTBP	Long-Term Bridge Performance Program
LTL	less than truckload
LTPP	Long-Term Pavement Performance
LV	Low-volume
MARAD	Maritime Administration
MATLAB	Matrix Laboratory
MCMIS	Motor Carrier Management Information System
MDDs	multidepth deflectometers
MEPDG	Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide
MV	Medium-volume
NAPCOM	National Pavement Cost Model
NAS	National Academy of Sciences
NATS	National Truck Stop Survey
NBI	National Bridge Inventory
NBMD	National Bridge Management Database
NCHRP	National Cooperative Highway Research Program
NDA	non-disclosure agreement
NESCCAF	Northeast States Center for a Clean Air Future
NHS	National Highway System
NHTSA	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NN	National Network
NREL	National Renewable Energy Lab
NSIs	normalized sensitivity indices
OMB	Office of Management and Budget
OGW	operating gross weight
ORNL	Oak Ridge National Laboratories
OOS	out-of-service
OS/OW	oversize/overweight
PBBT	Performance Based Brake Tests
PAS	Pavement Analysis Software
PBS	Performance-based standards
PCC	Portland Cement Concrete
PCE	passenger car equivalents
PCU	passenger car units
POG	Policy Oversight Group
PSI	Pounds per square inch
RC	reinforced concrete
RF	rating factor
SISSI	Superpave Instrumented Stress-Strain Investigation
SPS	Special Pavement Sections
STAA	Surface Transportation Authorization Act
STB	Surface Transportation Board
STCC	Standard Transportation Commodity Code
SwRI	Southwest Research Institute
TF	truck factor
TMG	Traffic Monitoring Guidelines
TOC	Technical Oversight Committee
TRB	Transportation Research Board
TSW	truck size and weight
TTCGS	truck traffic classification groups
USC	United States Code
USDOT	US Department of Transportation
VMT	vehicle miles traveled
VIUS	Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey
VSC	vehicle stability and control
WHVC	World Harmonized Vehicle Cycle
WIM	weigh-in-motion
WIMPI	Weigh-in-Motion Pavement Investigation

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