Alan Clayton

QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF EFFECT OF ENFORCEMENT INTENSITY ON VIOLATION RATES OF VEHICLE WEIGHT AND DIMENSION REGULATIONS.

A theory of upper bound limit describing the relationship between maximum possible violation rate as a function of the intensity of enforcement of vehicle weight and dimension regulations and indeed other transport administrative regulations is postulated. The model is an exponential function that determines the maximum violation rate for given inspection capacity. The constant of the function depends on the method of enforcement. The theory is demonstrated to be valid. It has potential for facilitating important policy issues relating to enforcement of transport administrative regulations and within the framework of infrastructure management to be addressed. The relative effectiveness of enforcement methods is quantified by two parameters namely, the effectiveness index and the truckers’ relative perceived probability of detection. These parameters facilitate evaluation of the performance of various enforcement methods and operation strategies. It is found that patrol teams are, on average, 30 times as e...

OPERATION OF LONG SEMITRAILERS IN THE UNITED STATES

The regulation and use of long semitrailers (57 to 60 ft) in the United States are discussed. Industrial information was obtained from interviewing 42 state and federal regulatory and compliance officials, vehicle manufacturers, motor carriers, and shippers. Field data from a June 2002 investigation of long semitrailer use on an Interstate highway section in Texas are presented. No known significant literature exists on the topic under discussion. The research found that long semitrailers operate, either regularly or under permit, in 19 states. They are principally used by a few large private and for-hire carriers, transporting mainly tissue paper, empty cans, hay, cotton, empty storage container drums, household goods, snack foods, and general freight. The extent of their operation is largely unknown or unclear to many of those involved with truck size and weight research and development activities, highway planners and designers, and industry participants. The following are addressed: (a) issues about long semitrailer operation in the United States and the growth potential of these vehicles relative to the TRB Special Report 267 proposal to allow wide-scale use of six-axle tractor-semitrailers at a gross vehicle weight of 90,000 Ib; (b) background on using long semitrailers; (c) operational issues associated with long semitrailers; (d) typical dimensional characteristics and cubic payloads of long semitrailers compared with standard semitrailers; (e) field data on the use of long semitrailers in Texas; and (f) regulations, permit requirements, and allowable geographic scope of operation for long semitrailers.

Enhancing Highway Geometric Design: Development of Interactive Virtual Reality Visualization System with Open-Source Technologies

Visualization based on virtual reality (VR) has gained increasingly wider recognition among transportation engineers and researchers because of advances in computer and VR technologies. The benefits of applying VR in transportation are well documented. However, many technical and financial issues hinder wide acceptance of this new technology in highway engineering design. Therefore, the concept of a custom-built, lightweight visualization system aimed at enhancing highway geometric design processes is developed. Capable of supporting the construction of a three-dimensional (3-D) road surface with accurate geometry and providing vehicle-based navigation with controlled driver perspectives, the visualization system is created by applying open-source VR modeling technology with proven key techniques. A systematic approach was taken to integrate data, create 3-D modules, and implement the visualization system as numerous case studies by using real-world data. The successful implementation proves the design concept, shows great potential for supporting the engineering design process, and opens new opportunities for further development.

TECHNIQUES FOR BUILDING MULTIJURISDICTIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM PLATFORMS FOR TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS

Transportation analysis involving multiple jurisdictions requires data sharing and spatial data interoperability among geographic information system (GIS) data sets. Data sharing and spatial data interoperability issues related to multijurisdictional transportation analysis are discussed. Specific techniques based on practical data-sharing, problem-solving experience are developed. To further enhance the data-sharing process, a conceptual framework is established to guide technique implementations. Regional GIS transportation (GIS-T) platforms integrated from various data sources by applying the framework and the associated techniques are also presented. To better support different transportation applications, an open GIS-T platform is proposed, consisting of a series of customized base maps, each tailored to suit individual applications and, as a whole, linked together by inherently established interoperability.

Options for Exposure-Based Charging for Long Multiple Trailer Truck Permits

This paper analyzes options for exposure-based charging for long multiple trailer truck permits. Long trucks—Rocky Mountain doubles, turnpike doubles, and triple trailer combinations—are granted permits because they provide increased technical productivity for hauling low-density freight. Experiences in the Canadian Prairie Region indicate that standardization of rationales used to establish permit charges is increasingly important as the network permitting long trucks expands and enables regional operation. Contributing to the differences in charging perspectives is the cube-out condition under which most long trucks operate, which challenges the justification for assessing incremental fees for their operation. An analysis of truck size and weight regulations governing the cubic trucking domain demonstrates that trucks in this domain are ideally suited for freight densities up to about 240 kg/m3 (15 lb/ft3). Four exposure-based options for establishing permit charges are presented: revenue-based charging, cost recovery, incentive provision, and privatization. Carrier costs and public revenues for three cases in the revenue-based charging option—benefit-sharing, revenue neutrality, and full benefit taxation—are analyzed and compared with the current base case conditions in Manitoba. The analysis reveals increases in turnpike double operating costs ranging from 2% for revenue neutrality to 50% for full benefit taxation. Corresponding public revenue increases for these three cases range from 30% for revenue neutrality to a 12-fold increase for full benefit taxation. The sensitivity of the results to freight density and utilization demonstrates the need for charges to reflect differences between cube-out and weigh-out conditions, and the distance traveled by long trucks.