Retrospective Longitudinal Study of the Impact of Truck Weight Regulatory Changes on Operating Gross Vehicle Weights

Abstract

Three primary policy changes on truck size and weight occurred in Canada over the past five decades: the 1974 Western Canadian Highway Strengthening Program, the 1988 Roads and Transportation Association of Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions, and ongoing special permitting of longer combination vehicles. These regulatory changes influenced the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the predominant truck configurations operating on principal Canadian highways. Using a unique time-series of truck weight data, this retrospective longitudinal study contributes insights about the magnitude and timing of the impacts of truck weight regulatory changes on operating GVWs that address current knowledge gaps and persistent uncertainties in models used to predict and evaluate truck weight regulatory changes. The analysis reveals that carriers hauling heavy (i.e., weigh-out) commodities adapt immediately to increases in GVW limits if there is no need to purchase new vehicles. When a regulatory change coincides with the introduction of a new, more productive vehicle configuration, the uptake of the new vehicle lags behind the regulatory change by a few years. Finally, configurations exhibit different GVW distributions and responses to increased GVW limits depending on whether the configurations are well suited for hauling weigh-out or cube-out commodities. This differential response demonstrates how regulations facilitate fleet diversity within the trucking industry’s approach to the road freight transport task.

Methodological Study on the Influence of Truck Driving State on the Accuracy of Weigh-in-Motion System

“…This will enable the timely detection of damage and defects and the development of maintenance plans to ensure the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the infrastructure [4]. Truck weight monitoring is commonly done using static weighing, whose biggest drawback is that it is slow and prone to traffic congestion [5]. Currently, the most promising technology is weigh-in-motion (WIM), which is mainly used for non-stop detection of road vehicles and off-site enforcement [6].…”