Federal Highway AdministrationSize and Weight TechnologiesITS America Conference - May 2006Session #35

Office of Freight Management and Operations

Mike Onder, Team Leader

Size & Weight, Operations & Technology (SWOT)

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Overview

• Weigh-In-Motion

• Virtual Weigh Stations

• E-permitting

• On-board Vehicle Weight Sensors

• Freight Peer to Peer (P2P) Program

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Weigh-In-Motion

• Weigh-In Motion (WIM) allows vehicles to be weighed at speeds from 5-80 mph.

• WIM is commonly used for monitoring CMV weights for strategically placed enforcement efforts; and for targeting overweight vehicles for weighing on a static scale.

• Efficiently weighs high numbers of vehicles in an unattended mode.

• There are over 390 CVO installations in North America, including approximately 175 Ramp Systems, 115 Mainline Systems, and 100 additional WIM/AVI sites used for Pre-Clearance

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Virtual Weigh Stations

• Virtual Weigh Stations utilize WIM, remote monitoring systems, and vehicle recognition equipment where there is no physical weigh station

• Can include use of vehicle transponders, license plate readers, DOT number reading, and/or wireless access to the data and images by roadside enforcement personnel.

• Allows for enforcement on bypass routes and increased enforcement with limited personnel.

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Virtual Weigh Station - State Examples

• Indiana: – May, 2001: Virtual Weigh Station deployed

• Several cases where significantly overweight vehicles were identified and impounded

– June, 2002: FHWA Report No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2001/09 published• Describes concept of using existing equipment to develop a virtual

weigh station• Virginia and Vermont continue to use Weigh In Motion data collection sites

to contribute to enforcement strategy• Kentucky

– November, 2001: Deployed a Remote Monitoring System (RMS) with camera technology on evasion routes

– January, 2003: Added Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) to the RMS to create a Virtual Weigh Station

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Virtual Weigh Station – Federal Role?

• Federal Role – Office of Freight Management and Operations– Monitor State usage, studies, and data analysis of VWS

– Continue to recommend VWS as an effective, efficient, and labor friendly tool in size and weight enforcement

– Look for potential collaborative projects with states

• Anything else?– Are there any standards that should be considered?

– Should there be a coordinated national approach to deployment and can the FHWA and FMCSA help on this?

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E-permitting

• Electronic permitting (E-permitting) of oversize and/or overweight loads allows for wireless (and paperless) data transfer from the permitting agency to the roadside.

• Electronically attained permits not only improve the efficiency and timeliness of the permitting process, but when used in conjunction with real-time enforcement efforts and bypass systems, also improves timeliness and efficiency of freight mobility.

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4 Levels of E-permitting Capability

1) On-line permitting available for drivers2) Electronic permit data available to roadside enforcement

officers3) Permit data downloaded to State CVIEW database for

verification and tracking purposes4) Permit data sent from State CVIEW to SAFER and/or used

for real-time screening of CMVs (Ex. Red light/green light type systems utilizing DSRC)

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National E-Permitting Capabilities

• FHWA Surveyed the States, of the 32 who replied:• 24 have Level 1 E-permitting in place, and 5 are in the planning

process to initiate• 21 have Level 2 E-permitting in place, and 3 are in the planning

process to initiate• 4 have Level 3 E-permitting in place, and 3 are in the planning

process to initiate• 1 has Level 4 E-permitting in place, and 6 are in the planning

process to initiate• Other government roles on E-Permitting?

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Other Technologies - On-board Vehicle Weight Sensors

• How they work:– Engine and transmission ECU’s used to estimate GVW by monitoring torque/speed

curves on accelerations. – Monitor air bag pressure and vehicle ride height at each axle to determine the gross

weight and load distribution of the vehicle. – Load cells mounted at the axles and fifth wheel to directly measure vehicle weights.

• Use and Accuracy:– Commercially available systems have been proven under operational conditions to 0.5%

to 1% accuracy. – Commercially available systems are also integrated with the truck's own in-dash display

and any off-board communications devices. – Position and motion sensors may be applied for loads to detect movement of cargo during

operation.

• Government Role on Technology like this?

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Freight Peer to Peer (P2P) Program

• The FHWA’s Freight Peer to Peer Program provides:

– information sharing between public sector freight transportation professionals and

– free short-term technical assistance on an as-needed basis regarding freight planning and operations.

• Contact:

– Phone: 888-FRT 4 YOU

– Email: FreightPeerExchange@fhwa.dot.gov

– Online: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/p2/index.htm

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Current Activities - What else is needed?

• Work with FMCSA to develop a national model for States interested in linking E-Permitting to expanded CVISN

• Continue to recommend VWS as an effective, efficient, and labor friendly tool in size and weight enforcement

• Monitor State usage, studies, and data analysis of VWS

• Look for collaboration on VWS

• Conduct International Scan looking at various size and weight technologies

• Provide the opportunity for States to work with other States in setting up size and weight enforcement systems through the Freight Peer-to-Peer Program

• What are other expectations for these subjects on S&W?