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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Notification Systems to Enhance Construction Vehicle Safety at Work Zone Access Points</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712172</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are consistently overrepresented in fatal work zone crashes. Improving CMV safety in work zones is a priority at federal and state levels. One aspect of particular interest is the interaction between slow-moving construction vehicles, delivering and removing materials from work zones, and traffic in the travel lanes. A sizable portion of rear-end collisions and sideswipe crashes involves construction vehicles exiting or entering travel lanes from the workspace, with speed differentials between through traffic and construction vehicles being a significant factor.

Advanced work zone technologies have the potential to reduce vehicle conflicts between slow-moving construction vehicles entering or exiting work zones and traffic in travel lanes. NCHRP Research Report 1142: Innovative Approaches to Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in Work Zones: A Guide,” documented use of entering/exiting vehicle notification as a work-zone safety application in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, with signs warning drivers of slow-moving construction or emergency vehicles entering or exiting the roadway to reduce crash risk.

Several states have reported plans to use smart work zone truck ingress-egress warning systems but noted inadequate information available regarding effectiveness, as well as issues with equipment availability and frequent malfunctions. In addition, pilot studies have been plagued with system performance issues.

The objective of this research is to conduct a scoping study to: (1) Document the state of knowledge regarding the design, operation, and effectiveness of smart work zone truck ingress-egress warning systems. (2) Identify research needs to fill knowledge gaps. (3) 
Propose a study design for use in potential future National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) research to address knowledge gaps, with emphasis on safety performance metrics for the traveling public and construction vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:49:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2712172</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Streamlining the Registration Process for Motor Carriers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593941</link>
      <description><![CDATA[KRS 186.040 now authorizes interstate motor carriers to register commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) at or above 44,001 lb. directly with the Division of Motor Carriers (DMC). Despite this change, the county clerk in the county where a vehicle is registered still receives $30 of the registration fee. This change effectively consolidates the license plate and International Registration Plan processes. While DMC administrators and county clerks are working with software vendors and the KAVIS team to integrate these processes, doing so has introduced logistical challenges. As these processes continue to evolve, DMC administrators want to analyze how other states process CMV registrations, especially for apportioned vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:32:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593941</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Examination of Light-Based Directed Vehicle to Everything Communications Systems for Bridge Strike Detection</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2562268</link>
      <description><![CDATA[With the emergence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in most modern passenger vehicles, the need for reliable
transmission of data from vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) has become apparent. However, many
commercial vehicles such as buses and semi-trucks are technologically behind when it comes to sensing potential safety hazards,
while having the potential to cause catastrophic damage due to their increased size and weight. One of the most common safety
incidents involving large commercial vehicles are bridge strikes and tunnel strikes, where the driver of a tall-load vehicle attempts to
pass under a bridge or tunnel and the top of the load collides with the bottom of the overpass. According to the National Highway
Safety Administration, there are approximately 15,000 bridge strikes in the USA annually, with potentially more going unreported.
These bridge strikes cause a serious threat to the safety of all road users, as well as a substantial financial cost in the form of
infrastructure repair, road closures, and traffic disruption.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2025 14:57:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2562268</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tailoring Alternative Project Delivery Methods to Deploy an Effective Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure for Commercial Vehicles in Georgia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508956</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The major objective of this research is to assist the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in understanding the market characteristics and laying the foundation for developing delivery approaches for the rapid integration of hydrogen fueling stations for commercial vehicles throughout GDOT’s transportation network.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:01:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508956</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving Commercial Vehicle Safety through University Partnerships with a Focus on Technologies and Tools to Promote Safe Driving Behaviors and to Identify High-Risk Corridors</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2270061</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Working with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in a cooperative agreement, the overall goal of this project is to improve commercial vehicle safety through sharing research and best practices in the areas of technologies and tools to promote safe driving behaviors and to identify high-risk corridors. This will be accomplished through two strategies. The first strategy will be to document and share best practices of university partnerships with state law enforcement and driver licensing agencies to improve commercial vehicle safety related to technologies and tools to promote safe driving behaviors and to identify high-risk corridors throughout the Western Service Center region. The second strategy will be to provide resources through the Commercial Vehicle Safety Center at NDSU-UGPTI as a point of contact for universities, law enforcement, and driver licensing agencies seeking assistance to establish partnerships to improve commercial vehicle safety, in particular in the areas of technologies and tools to promote safe driving behaviors and to identify high-risk corridors.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2023 11:28:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2270061</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing the Consumption Costs of Motor Vehicles on Arizona Roads and Bridges</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2248971</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the roads and bridges of the state highway system; the primary source of funding comes from fuel taxes. Arizona's last fuel tax increase was in 1991 ($0.18 gas/$0.26 diesel), and Arizona is one of the ten states with the lowest fuel tax rates. Meanwhile, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common and weigh much more than passenger vehicles since EV batteries add substantial weight to the vehicle. What are the impacts of heavier and over-dimension/overweight (OD-OW) vehicles on Arizona’s transportation infrastructure compared to other vehicle classes?
This research study will identify and document the current impact on Arizona’s roads and bridges by motor vehicles classified in the following three categories: passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and OD-OW vehicles. The study will determine the consumption costs (i.e., the costs to build, maintain, and repair the roads and bridges) for each vehicle category.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:33:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2248971</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Military Under 21 CMV Driver Pilot Program (FAST Act Section 5404, Phase III)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093177</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Section 5404 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, 2015 (FAST Act) requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to study the feasibility, benefits, and safety impacts of allowing a "covered driver" to operate a CMV in interstate commerce. For the purposes of this pilot program, a "covered driver" is between the ages of 18 and 21, is a member or former member of the armed forces, and is qualified in a military occupational specialty to operate in a CMV or a similar vehicle.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:53:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2093177</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigating the Safety of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operation by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Drivers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2077931</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A study titled “Preliminary Analysis of Roadway Accident Rates for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Drivers — Forensic Engineering Application” published in the June 2016 Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers should be evaluated as part of this research.  Data analysis in that study indicates that deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers are one and a half to nine times as likely to be seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident. Motor vehicle accident records suggest that deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers are approximately three times as likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident as hearing drivers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2022 09:48:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2077931</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ACE Program: Testing and Demonstration Activities</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062465</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The object of this research is to explore and identify processes, communication methods, and inspection technologies to facilitate electronic safety inspections of ADS-equipped Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) operations on the roadway, at borders, and in other enforcement settings.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:18:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062465</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ACE Program: Volpe Testing and Evaluation Support</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062463</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The object of this research is to explore and identify processes, communication methods, and inspection technologies to facilitate electronic safety inspections of ADS-equipped Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) operations on the roadway, at borders, and in other enforcement settings.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:18:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062463</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigation of Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)-Related Crashes in Ohio Work Zones</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2052123</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As part of a larger Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)-related analysis, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and their researchers, have analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 2012 to 2017 and found that approximately 10 states (including Ohio) accounted for over 60 percent of the CMV fatal crashes in work zones nationally. This has led to these 10 states being targeted as opportunity states. FHWA is leading targeted state-level workshops within the opportunity states to develop state-specific action plans. Ohio's state specific action plan, which was finalized in April 2021, includes many different strategies and action items; however, did not get to the level of determining crash causation for CMV-related crashes in Ohio's work zones to either confirm or rule out the strategies being proposed.

When comparing Ohio's crash statistics, the number of Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) Emphasis Area CMV-Involved crashes is lower in work zones as compared to statewide (Figure 1); however, when comparing the respective percentages there is an overrepresentation of CMV-Involved crashes in work zones as compared to statewide. While potential contributing factors to CMV-related crashes in Ohio's work zones can be multifaceted and/or transitory (such as speed differentials induced by construction vehicles using construction access points), it has remained difficult to identify any statistically significant crash causation trends and factors for this category in order to best target limited resources towards reducing these crashes. Research is needed to further our efforts in this area. 

The goal of this research is to improve the safe movement of CMVs in Ohio's work zones. 
The objectives of this research include the following: 
(1) Obtain/Collect and analyze data to confirm or rule out if construction access points (as designed and/or as implemented) are adversely impacting CMV-related crashes in Ohio's work zones. 
(2) Obtain/Collect and analyze data to identify any other CMV-related crash causation trends or factors adversely impacting CMV-related crashes in Ohio's work zones. 
(3) Develop recommendations for how to target resources to best address the underlying causes of CMV-related crashes in Ohio's work zones using one or more of the following: engineering design/standards, enforcement and/or education.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:14:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2052123</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving Commercial Vehicle Safety through University Partnerships with a Focus on Distracted Driving and Work Zone Safety</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1987582</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Working with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in a cooperative agreement, the overall goal of this project is to improve commercial vehicle safety through sharing research and best practices in the areas of distracted driving and safety in work zones. This will be accomplished through two strategies. The first strategy will be to document and share best practices of university partnerships with state law enforcement and driver licensing agencies to improve commercial vehicle safety related to distracted driving and safety in work zones throughout the Western Service Center region. The second strategy will be to provide resources through the Commercial Vehicle Safety Center at NDSU-UGPTI as a point of contact for universities, law enforcement, and driver licensing agencies seeking assistance to establish partnerships to improve commercial vehicle safety, in particular in the areas of distracted driving and safety in work zones.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2022 13:05:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1987582</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Using Advanced Technologies to Reduce Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes in Work Zones</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1953260</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) have been overrepresented in severe-injury and fatal crashes in work zones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2018 and 2020, CMVs were involved in 13 percent of fatal crashes nationally outside of work zones, and 32 percent of fatal crashes in work zones. The issue is even more significant on rural interstate facilities, where nearly 56 percent of fatal work-zone crashes involve a CMV. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has joined the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and selected state departments of transportation (DOTs) to develop action plans to reduce CMV-related crashes. Advanced technologies, such as intelligent transportation systems and traffic control devices, can be used to reduce severe-injury crashes and fatalities related to CMVs in work zones.

OBJECTIVE: The research objective is to develop a guide for using advanced technologies to help state DOTs, public safety agencies, and the motor carrier industry reduce and mitigate the risk of CMV crashes in work zones. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2022 11:04:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1953260</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NJDOT Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Guidebook Update</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1897042</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Researching changes to the Federal and State regulations that govern commercial vehicle size and weight limits in New Jersey, assessing “best practice” communication techniques to share information with industry, and developing updates to NJDOT’s Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Guidebook and accompanying brochure. 
The purpose of this work effort includes: Identifying recent changes to Federal and State regulations, including Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and Title 13 of the New Jersey Administrative Code, that necessitate updates to NJDOT’s Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Guidebook and brochure; Reviewing national research on best practices, and conducting interviews with other Mid-Atlantic states, FHWA, New Jersey Motor Truck Association, and New Jersey State Police to identify effective methods for communicating size and weight regulations and requirements to the industry; and developing recommended updates to NJDOT’s Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Guidebook (published in 2017) and the brochure that accompanies the Guidebook.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2021 15:45:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1897042</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Transportation Research Related to COVID-19. Regulatory Relief of Commercial Vehicle Weight Requirements for Emergency Transportation of Critical Commodities</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1842759</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Commercial vehicles delivering consumer goods must observe the applicable size and weight requirements and seek permits for oversize loads. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, significant changes accelerated in commerce, adding pressure for the freight community to deliver goods directly to consumers in an environment of uncertainty where consumers were buying in bulk, exhausting supplies of common and necessary goods. On top of consumer disruptions to the freight system, truckers urgently had to make deliveries of much needed pandemic-related supplies. Several actions were needed to facilitate the continuity of freight flows. For example, the states increased allowable weight limits for vital health supplies, food deliveries, and other emergency commodities transported on commercial vehicles.

Under NCHRP Project 23-13(05), “Regulatory Relief of Commercial Vehicle Weight Requirements for Emergency Transportation of Critical Commodities,” the Texas A&M Transportation Institute was asked to develop a practitioners’ guide for DOTs to (1) achieve consistent definitions for emergencies and emergency commodities; (2) identify successful practices, procedures, and processes for increasing weight limits during emergencies, including coordination and harmonization with neighboring jurisdictions; and (3) develop a decision framework that considers different emergency scenarios that are linked with successful practices, procedures, and processes.

NCHRP Research Report 1115: Transporting Freight in Emergencies: A Guide on Special Permits and Weight Requirements provides a guide to state departments of transportation (DOTs) to consider options to better anticipate and respond to state and federal emergencies, specifically related to the movement of overweight commercial vehicles carrying emergency commodities within a state or across a region. The guide documents (1) current legal requirements on emergency declarations and options for state DOTs to address emergency movement of commodities, (2) options to prepare for emergency overweight special permitting, and (3) tools and resources. The guide identifies the challenge of navigating the overlays of federal, state, and local laws and regulations on truck movements during emergencies. The guide will be of interest to elected officials and permitters at state DOTs and other public agencies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2021 18:41:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1842759</guid>
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