United States Department of Transportation
i
Evaluation of thermal imaging technology for commercial vehicle screening.
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2015-12-01
[PDF-272.74 KB]
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Abstract:Brake and tire violations are common problems identified through commercial vehicle inspections. Identifying and
correcting these types of problems before a crash occurs can produce significant safety benefits. Thermal imaging
technology can be used by commercial vehicle enforcement to screen vehicles as they approach a weigh station to
determine if they may have flat tires and inoperable brakes. The vehicles do not have to be stopped at a weigh station to
be screened. Kentucky currently has three stations outfitted with thermal imaging technology. The objectives of this study
were to evaluate the benefits of using the thermal imaging cameras to identify brake and tire problems and to develop
recommendations for how enforcement personnel can receive the most benefits from this technology. The data presented
in this report include: 1) a summary of previous research, 2) evaluations of the technology, 3) on-site data collection at a
Kentucky weigh station, 4) an interview with one of Kentucky’s primary users of the technology, and 5) an analysis of
Kentucky inspection data, specifically, brake and tire violations and vehicle out-of-service (OOS) rates. A Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) evaluation concluded that the OOS rate for vehicles pinpointed via thermal
imaging camera systems was 59 percent, whereas the OOS rate for conventional inspection was only 19 percent. Facilities
with a thermal imaging system recorded a higher percentage of tire and brake violations per inspection as well as a higher
vehicle out-of-service (VOOS) rate than facilities without a thermal imaging camera. However, the effectiveness of
thermal imaging technology was significantly influenced by whether law enforcement embraced it as well as by
inspectors’ proficiency operating the systems. This study recommends that enforcement staff who can access thermal
imaging technology receive periodic training on its operation, then graduate to a practicum that lets them use the
technology under expert supervision. Promotional materials that highlight the value of thermal imaging technologies
should be distributed to all Kentucky enforcement personnel. In addition, methods and enforcement mechanisms should
be identified so that personnel can be held accountable for using the technology.
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