Quantify Bridge and Pavement Consumption Due to Permitted Overweight Vehicles

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Quantification of Bridge and Pavement Consumption Due to Permitted Overweight Vehicles
• Creators:
  Inoue, Danilo ; Glover, Brianne ; Weissmann, Angela ; Prozzi, Jorge ; Weissmann, Jose
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bridges Deterioration Equivalent Consumption Factor Equivalent Single Axle Loads Fuel Consumption Heavy Vehicles Infrastructure Overweight Vehicles Pavement Design Permits Roads Truck Permits

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-26/0-7195-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Texas
• Edition:
  September 2023 - January 2026
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Abstract:
  Overweight (OW) vehicles contribute to pavement and bridge deterioration, creating additional maintenance needs that may exceed the revenues generated through existing permit fees. This study developed a methodology for periodically updating Texas OW permit fees to reflect evolving traffic patterns, vehicle configurations, and infrastructure costs. The methodology also considers opportunities to enhance vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) estimates and account for unrouted permit activity and off-system infrastructure impacts. Researchers analyzed more than two million permitted vehicle records from the Texas Permitting and Routing Optimization System (TxPROS) from 2018 to 2023. Annual on- and off-system VMT was estimated by permit and industry type, and infrastructure consumption was benchmarked against reference vehicles. The effect of OW vehicles on pavements was quantified using the so-called Equivalent Consumption Factors (ECF); while the effect on bridges was evaluated relative to inventory-vehicle rating. Estimated structural consumption costs and revenues were compared with permit fee structures in peer states to derive a cost-recovery rate per mile tailored to Texas conditions. The study concluded by proposing a mileage-based approach as one potential strategy for supporting equitable cost recovery while accounting for differences vehicle configuration, permit type, and roadway use.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0-7195
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:37c5615061ffd076ca890c2e60dcfc998b1d8f3d0db7628007cbbb7e8e405cb03f259277cfadec4ccb15872eac987f73b8e80dc5524ce6d62efa089ad95d3676
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92665/dot_92665_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 7.43 MB ]