NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

CVISN 

RACM Analysis

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CONTROL MEASURE:

CVISN (Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks)

DESCRIPTION

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are transportation systems, which utilize information, 

communication, sensor, and control technologies to achieve improved levels of performance. One 

of the elements of the National ITS Program Plan includes the ITS technologies which uniquely 

support Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO). The term commercial vehicle information systems 

and networks (CVISN, pronounced see’ vision) refers to the ITS information system elements that 

support CVO. CVISN includes information systems owned and operated by governments, carriers, 

and other stakeholders. The goal of the CVISN program is to improve the safety and efficiency of 

commercial vehicle operations by creating a way for existing and newly designed systems to 

exchange information through the use of standards and available communications infrastructure. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is using Commercial Vehicle 

Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) “levels” to allow definition of a specific set of 

capabilities that can be deployed incrementally by a state and its motor carriers. The level 

definitions include capabilities a state would deploy, capabilities motor carriers in a state would 

deploy, and capabilities for several critical national systems, referred to as core infrastructure 

systems.

The current, primary objective of the CVISN Program is to develop and deploy information systems 

that will support new capabilities in three areas:

 Safety Information Exchange:

The CVISN Safety Information Exchange capability area is intended to provide improved 

electronic exchange of Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) and other 

safety information among roadside and desk side, state and federal systems.

 Credentials Administration:

The central concept for this capability area is to allow motor carriers to apply for, pay for, 

and receive credentials electronically.

 Electronic Screening:

The electronic screening aspect of CVISN is to automatically screen vehicles as they 

approach weigh stations using WIM scales and allow those that are safe and legal to 

bypass without slowing down or stopping. 

IMPLEMENTATION

Truck traffic has grown dramatically over the past 20-30 years. Currently, many weigh stations do 

not have the capacity to handle existing levels of truck traffic. As truck arrivals exceed the 

operational capacity of weigh stations, queues develop and drivers are delayed. Often the backups 

require stations to close to avoid safety risks. 

CVISN enables the electronic transmission of data between commercial vehicles and weigh 

stations. These systems employ trucks equipped with transponders that electronically 

communicate with Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) readers located near the weigh stations. 

The AVI readers identify the transponder-equipped trucks, verifying their size, weight, and 

credentials. When the information is read and verified, the trucks receive a signal in the cab, either 

visual, audible or both. The signal directs the driver to either continue past the weigh station or to 

enter the station (for a random inspection or credential verification).
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

CVISN 

RACM Analysis

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Electronic Screening of commercial vehicles on the mainline highway permits compliant vehicles to 

bypass the weigh station, therefore increasing operational efficiency and capacity. 

ANALYSIS ASSUMPTIONS AND METHODOLOGY

Analysis was performed for 10,000 vehicles with CVISN capability per weigh station per county. 

Weigh stations located along an interstate highway with high truck traffic volume. The following 

assumptions were made for the analysis:

 Assume that 100% of truck screening is done via electronic screening.

 Assume one lane truck screening

 Length of service lane = 1017ft and Length of upstream roadway = 1017ft

Benefits were analyzed for the truck idling reduced and for the change in speeds at for the section 

of the road affected by electronic screening. NJAQONE Ver 3.0 was used to calculate benefits 

from reduction of truck idling. Truck emission factors were calculated for the before and after 

average speeds at the roadway section.

CONCULSION AND RESULTS

One of the benefits of implementing CVISN in a state is that it would reduce delays and congestion 

on highways due to CVO. Improving safety, administration, screening and enforcement of 

commercial vehicle operations will reduce the number of accidents on the highways whereby 

reducing vehicle delay and congestion. This can amount to a notable impact on the on-road 

vehicle emissions, although, it is a very difficult task to estimate this impact due to the broadness 

of the program and its distinctive effectiveness in each state. The emission benefits resulting from 

electronic screening are as below:

Emission Reductions (Statewide):

Pollutant

Type

Analysis Year 2010

Tons/Day Tons/Year

VOC 0.0464 8.799

NOx 0.9953 335.067

PM2.5 0.0301 8.702

SO2 0.0002 0.094

*Note: Negative means increase in emissions

Ozone Analysis – Daily Benefits in New Jersey

Benefits (Reductions)

Ozone Non-Attainment Area

New York-N. New JerseyLong Island,

NY-NJ-CT

Philadelphia-WilmingtonAtlantic City

PA-NJ-MD-DE

Idling (Hrs/Day) 4,496 3,372

VOC (Tons/Day) 0.0261 0.0204

NOx (Tons/Day) 0.5688 0.4266

*Note: Negative means increase in emissions
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

CVISN 

RACM Analysis

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PM2.5 Analysis – Annual Benefits in New Jersey

Benefits (Reductions)

PM2.5 Non-Attainment Area

New York-N. New JerseyLong Island, NY-NJ-CTPhiladelphia-Wilmington

PA-NJ-DE

Idling (Hrs/Year) 39,030 11,709

NOx (Tons/Year) 160.0886 47.5207

PM2.5 (Tons/Year) 4.1573 1.2342

SO2 (Tons/Year) 0.045 0.0135

*Note: Negative means increase in emissions

COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Electronic screening equipment at the roadside typically consists of automatic vehicle identification 

(AVI), weigh-in-motion (WIM) scales, signage, workstations, and roadside telecommunications. As

per the FHWA’s study in Kentucky (EDL Call #13677) CVISN electronic screening at initial site will 

cost approximately $522,525 and the annual O&M cost per CVISN electronic screening site is 

$217,646.

Total costs were estimated as follows:

Capital Cost = $522,525 over 15 years 

Annual Operating/Maintenance Cost = $217,646/Year

Total Annualized Cost = $252,481

Total cost for the various non-attainment areas are as follows:

County

Estimated Cost For Each Non-Attainment Area

Ozone PM 2.5

NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DE NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DE

Atlantic - $252,481 - -

Bergen $252,481 - $252,481 -

Burlington - $252,481 - $252,481

Camden - $252,481 - $252,481

Cape May - $252,481 - -

Cumberland - $252,481 - -

Essex $252,481 - $252,481 -

Gloucester - $252,481 - $252,481

Hudson $252,481 - $252,481 -

Hunterdon $252,481 - - -

Mercer - $252,481 $252,481 -

Middlesex $252,481 - $252,481 -

Monmouth $252,481 - $252,481 -

Morris $252,481 - $252,481 -

Ocean - $252,481 - -
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

CVISN 

RACM Analysis

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Passaic $252,481 - $252,481 -

Salem - $252,481 - -

Somerset $252,481 - $252,481 -

Sussex $252,481 - - -

Union $252,481 - $252,481 -

Warren $252,481 - - -

Total $3,029,772 $2,272,329 $2,524,810 $757,443

Cost/Benefit Results

Pollutant

Cost/Benefit for Each Pollutant

Ozone PM 2.5

NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DEMD NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DE

VOC ($/Ton/Day) $464,555 $446,445 - -

NOx ($/Ton/Day) $21,308 $21308 - -

NOx ($/Ton/Year) - - $15,771 $15,939

PM2.5 ($/Ton/Year) - - $607,321 $613,721

SO2 ($/Ton/Year) - - $56,138,949 $56,138,949

* Daily Costs used in calculation of cost/benefit ratio are Annual costs divided by 250