Edward S. K. Fekpe

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...

Application of geographic information systems technology in freight data analysis : Case study of I-90/I-94 corridor analysis

Availability of adequate and relevant information in certain formats is important in the analysis of possible impact of policy relating to freight transportation. The application of geographic information system (GIS) technology is a valuable tool in integrating spatial data with other forms of data. Such integration in a visual format facilitates understanding of the interrelationships between variables and provides a better feel for the potential implications of any policy initiatives. The application of GIS techniques to freight movement in a corridor analysis is presented. The nature of trucking activities along the I-90/I-94 corridor from Seattle to Chicago and how these activities are influenced by truck size and weight (TS&W) regulations are investigated. The GIS approach allows the analyst or policy maker to address a range of what-if public policy questions. The policy questions for TS&W are complex and are beyond simply understanding the overall freight and transportation characteristics of the corridor. The database allows the analyst to visually understand freight movement on a given highway and forecast the probable outcome of changing certain rules and regulations that control such movement.

HEAVY VEHICLE OVERLOADING IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: IMPLICATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

The effect of the high level of heavy vehicle overloading on the deterioration of aged and weak pavements and the impact on road maintenance planning policies in less developed countries are addressed. Heavy vehicle overloading is severe and variable. A severity index (SI) parameter is introduced to provide a single measure of the combined effects of overloading and violation rates and can be directly linked with the rate of deterioration. The index provides a convenient means of assessing the impacts of different loading patterns of trucks and alternative weight enforcement strategies. A severity index above 0.1 is considered to be undesirable. The use of separate truck load factors for different road systems more appropriately represents the loading pattern than single values for all road systems. High incidence of overloading increases roughness, vehicle operating costs and hence higher maintenance and rehabilitation costs due to premature failures. Present maintenance and rehabilitation planning tools...