INDOT Challenge: How to Maintain Our Highway Infrastructure Mark Newland Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Management Indiana Department of Transportation Thanks to Dr. Darcy Bullock, Purdue University

2 Problem Statement & Objectives Static weigh stations do not appear to be effective in enforcing truck weight laws. Objective 1: To utilize “high-tech” equipment and communications to more effectively monitor truck traffic with the goal of increased truck weight compliance. Objective 2: Significantly increase the “hit rate” for motor carrier inspectors:  More effective use of scarce resources.

3 Pavement Damage Model 80,000-lb truck = 2.44 ESALs 25,000 cars 100,000-lb truck = 6.33 ESALs 65,000 cars

4 I-80/94 Eastbound Lane 3 Projected ESALs Legal Trucks Overweight Trucks Design Life = 30 years

5 Static Weigh Stations Primarily located on interstates entering the state Screens vehicles entering the state for weight and equipment violations

6 Statewide: Static Weigh Station Study Violation data collected at all 8 active Indiana weigh stations August-September 2003 Total Open Hours: 3,680 Weight Violations GVW > 85,000 lbs  14 (1 every 268 hours open) Weight Violations are only 25% to 30% of activity Did not include new I-70 weigh station.

7 Total Violation Summary

8 Violation Summary – Overweight Codes Code 1 – Unspecified Violation Code 10 – Unspecified Weight Violation Code 11 – Overweight Single Axle Code 12 – Overweight Drive Tandem Combination Code 13 – Overweight Trailer Tandem Combination Code 14 – Unspecified Overweight Tandem Combination Code 15 – Overweight GVW Code 16 – Overweight Bridge Formula

9 14 Trucks Cited over 85,000 lbs at Static Weigh Stations August-September 2003 Heaviest vehicle = 94,220 lbs GVW

10 Overweight Truck Problem Are there any overweight trucks? Examine I-80/94 east of Chicago  8-lanes  Heavy truck traffic  WIM Data (light traffic)

11 I-80/94 Class 9 WIM Stats ~28,660 trucks each day ~37 trucks over 90,000 lbs each day ~7 trucks over 100,000 lbs each day Static weigh stations only identify 14 trucks over 85,000 over a two month period STATEWIDE

12 Comments Study indicates static weigh stations were not effective for identifying weight violations.  GVW > 85,000 lbs 14 (1 every 268 hours open) Could similar inefficiencies exist for:  Equipment?  Driver?  Licensing?

13 Best Practice Use existing WIM infrastructure to screen for overweight In-Vehicle wireless Data (not video)  ~$2000-$5000 per site  ~$1500 per law enforcement vehicle Dedicated Inspection Area

14 VWS Data Flow 90,000 lb

15 VWS Vehicle Hardware Laptop located in police cruiser with software installed Protective case holds modem and antenna can be passed from car to car 900 Mhz radio modem MagMount Antenna

16 Virtual Weigh Station Video Snapshot

17 First Pilot run: I-65 near Lafayette, Indiana. Observers radioing weights downstream manually. August 10, 2000 WIM Reading 112,340 lbs. Portable Scales 111,350 lbs. Legal ~73,280 lbs. (short trailer)

18 VWS on US 24 East of Ft. Wayne, Indiana WIM Cabinet US 24 Enforcement Parking

19 Ft. Wayne VWS Field Installed Hardware Antenna Mounted adjacent to cabinet Modem Panel Mounted inside cabinet

20 US 24 Inspection Site East of Ft. Wayne VWS

21 Obtaining Static Weights on Certified Portable Scales at US 24 Inspection Area

22 Final Observations Static Weigh Stations do not appear to be effective for weight enforcement. Overweight commercial vehicles continue to be a problem. Overweight commercial vehicles are a significant concern from an infrastructure life expectancy and safety perspective. Static Weigh Stations are more successful on inspection activities We believe weight enforcement may be more effectively performed by randomly using several dozen strategically placed WIMs. Purdue estimates VWS program is 55 X more effective in weight enforcement than static weigh stations.

23 Final Observations Need to increase risk to illegal trucks. Need centralized adjudication process. State Police are short on manpower. Can use technology to:  Make up manpower shortage;  More cost effective weight enforcement;  Significantly increase risk to illegal trucks => increased weight compliance => reduced infrastructure damage => reduced highway maintenance => lower costs to ALL customers.

24 Future of VWS in Indiana Freight issues are now a major focus. Created a dedicated INDOT CVO position. Will now begin to aggressively address overweight problem. Working closely with the trucking industry.  Indiana Motor Truck Association generally supports VWS => “Levels the Playing Field”. Continue to partner with Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.