# Presentation: 216609

## INDOT Challenge:  How to Maintain Our Highway Infrastructure 

- Mark Newland
- Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Management
- Indiana Department of Transportation
- Thanks to Dr. Darcy Bullock, Purdue University

## Problem Statement & Objectives

- Static weigh stations do not appear to be effective in enforcing truck weight laws.
- Objective 1: To utilize “high-tech” equipment and communications to more effectively monitor truck traffic with the goal of increased truck weight compliance.
- Objective 2: Significantly increase the “hit rate” for motor carrier inspectors:
- More effective use of scarce resources.

## Pavement Damage Model

- 80,000-lb truck = 2.44 ESALs
- 25,000 cars

- 100,000-lb truck = 6.33 ESALs
-   65,000 cars

## I-80/94 Eastbound Lane 3 Projected ESALs 

- I-80/94 Eastbound Lane 3 Projected ESALs

**Legal Trucks**

**Overweight**
**Trucks**

- Design Life = 30 years

**Notes:**
Estimate is accurate, but will last longer without overweight trucks.

## Static Weigh Stations

- Primarily located on interstates entering the state
- Screens vehicles entering the state for weight and equipment violations

## Statewide: Static Weigh Station Study

- Statewide: Static Weigh Station Study

- Violation data collected at all 8 active Indiana weigh stations August-September 2003
- Total Open Hours: 3,680
- Weight Violations GVW > 85,000 lbs
- 14 (1 every 268 hours open)
- Weight Violations are only25% to 30% of activity
- Did not include new I-70
- 	 weigh station.

**Notes:**
Discuss importance of 85,000 lbs versus 80,000 lbs

## Total Violation Summary

## Violation Summary – Overweight Codes

- Code 1 – Unspecified Violation
- Code 10 – Unspecified Weight Violation
- Code 11 – Overweight Single Axle
- Code 12 – Overweight Drive Tandem Combination
- Code 13 – Overweight Trailer Tandem Combination
- Code 14 – Unspecified Overweight Tandem Combination
- Code 15 – Overweight GVW
- Code 16 – Overweight Bridge Formula

## 14 Trucks Cited over 85,000 lbs at Static Weigh Stations August-September 2003

**Heaviest vehicle = 94,220 lbs GVW**

## Overweight Truck Problem

- Are there any overweight trucks?
- Examine I-80/94
- 	east of Chicago
- 8-lanes
- Heavy truck traffic
- WIM Data

**(light traffic)**

## I-80/94 Class 9 WIM Stats 

- I-80/94 Class 9 WIM Stats

- ~28,660 trucks each day
- ~37 trucks over 90,000 lbs each day
- ~7 trucks over 100,000 lbs each day
**Static weigh stations only identify 14 trucks **_**over 85,000**_** over a two month period ****STATEWIDE**

## Comments

- Study indicates static weigh stations were not effective for identifying weight violations.
- GVW > 85,000 lbs
- 14 (1 every 268 hours open)
- Could similar inefficiencies exist for:
- Equipment?
- Driver?
- Licensing?

## Best Practice

- Use existing WIM infrastructure to screen for overweight
- In-Vehicle wireless Data (not video)
- ~$2000-$5000 per site
- ~$1500 per law enforcement vehicle
- Dedicated Inspection Area

## VWS Data Flow

## VWS Vehicle Hardware

## Virtual Weigh Station Video Snapshot

## First Pilot run: I-65 near Lafayette, Indiana.  Observers radioing weights downstream manually.

- August 10, 2000
- WIM Reading 112,340 lbs.Portable Scales 111,350 lbs.Legal ~73,280 lbs. (short trailer)

## VWS on US 24 East of Ft. Wayne, Indiana

- WIM

- Cabinet

**US 24**

- Enforcement Parking

## Ft. Wayne VWS Field Installed Hardware

- _Antenna_
- Mounted adjacent to cabinet

- _Modem Panel_
- Mounted inside cabinet

## US 24 Inspection Site East of Ft. Wayne VWS

## Obtaining Static Weights on Certified Portable Scales at US 24 Inspection Area

## Final Observations

- Static Weigh Stations do not appear to be effective for weight enforcement.
- Overweight commercial vehicles continue to be a problem.
- Overweight commercial vehicles are a significant concern from an infrastructure life expectancy and safety perspective.
- Static Weigh Stations are more successful on inspection activities
- We believe weight enforcement may be more effectively performed by randomly using several dozen strategically placed WIMs.
- Purdue estimates VWS program is 55 X more effective in weight enforcement than static weigh stations.

## Final Observations

- Need to increase risk to illegal trucks.
- Need centralized adjudication process.
- State Police are short on manpower.
- Can use technology to:
- Make up manpower shortage;
- More cost effective weight enforcement;
- Significantly increase risk to illegal trucks => increased weight compliance => reduced infrastructure damage => reduced highway maintenance => lower costs to ALL customers.

## Future of VWS in Indiana

- Freight issues are now a major focus.
- Created a dedicated INDOT CVO position.
- Will now begin to aggressively address overweight problem.
- Working closely with the trucking industry.
- Indiana Motor Truck Association generally supports VWS => “Levels the Playing Field”.
- Continue to partner with Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.