Vehicle Size and Weight

1
Vehicle Size and Weight

• The SAFETY-LU Act (SL) and the Energy Act in 2005
  imposed 4 changes affecting SW enforcement
• Expanded length of saddlemount operations from
  75 to 97 (SL) and preempted State length rules
  on these operations
• Gave States the option to waive enforcement of
  Federal weight standards on bus axles (SL)
• Giving Nebraska a longer length allowance for
  custom harvester movements (SL) and
• Giving States the option to grant a 400
  tolerance to vehicles equipped with on-board
  auxiliary power units (Energy Act).

2
Vehicle Size and Weight Saddlemount
Combination
3
Vehicle Size and Weight

• Section 4141 of SL allows Saddlemount Combination
  operations on National Network up to 97. This
  was last-minute addition to SL.
• It preempts State law thus, there is no debate.
• Language is ambiguous Congress said 97 combo
  with fullmount. Were all combos intended?
• Need to resolve this ambiguity.
• Also, questions in several States about their
  NNs ability to handle a 97 combination.

4
Vehicle Size and Weight

• Section 1309 of SL extends existing Interstate
  axle weight exemption option for transit vehicles
  and over-the-road buses until October 1, 2009.
• Current Federal axle weight standards for
  Interstate System shall not apply to these buses
  until October 1, 2009, if the State chooses to
  allow the axle weight exemption for these
  vehicles.
• States will not be penalized for failure to
  enforce Interstate weight law if they elect to
  exempt buses.
• Congressional legislation now pending may further
  alter how States may allow this exemption.

5
Vehicle Size and Weight

• Section 4112 of SL gives Nebraska option to allow
  truck-tractors pulling 2 trailers or
  semitrailers, when these are used to transport
  custom harvester equipment during harvest months,
  to extend up to 81 feet, 6 inches.
• Specific to State of Nebraska.
• Unique provision it allows an LCV to be longer
  than the same configuration frozen by the 1991
  ISTEAs LCV provisions.

6
Vehicle Size and Weight

• 2005 Energy Act authorized States to allow a 400
  tolerance for CMVs equipped with on-board aux.
  power units (APUs) for heating/air conditioning,
  etc.
• Drivers would bear burden of providing evidence
  of APUs certification (source unspecified), and
  demonstrating units performance (demonstration
  not defined).
• Too early to tell if all States will allow
  tolerance.

7
Vehicle Size and Weight

• Growing vehicle operations, confronted with
  static or reduced resources for SW enforcement,
  compel examination of cost-effective
  procedures/technologies.
• One rapidly emerging is Virtual Weigh Station
  (VWS) technology.
• VWS offers States a chance to expand
  electronically their enforcement activities with
  limited resources.
• But, what is VWS?

8
Vehicle Size and Weight

• We all know WIM it offers at-speed evaluation of
  truck weight helps decide who to weigh.
• VWS builds on WIM by adding a camera,
  transponder, or similar device, to the
  observation.
• Connection to officials may be wireless.
• Result enforcement can be anywhere
  downstream, not just at set weighing location.
• Great for urban locations, congested routes.
• Beyond enforcement, offers security evaluation.

9
Vehicle Size and Weight

• Whats the latest with VWS?
• Heres..!!!