Accommodating Oversize & Overweight Loads

Adequate management of oversize/overweight (OS/OW) permit loads throughout the state of Texas is critical to maintaining a vibrant state economy. The growth in the number and size of permit loads in recent years is clear evidence that new tools and new techniques are needed to match this growth without causing undue delays to permit applicants. Problems such as increasing prevalence of reroutes due to maintenance and other district activities, along with potential damage to the highway infrastructure from permit loads led to this research project. One other significant commitment to help resolve these issues, which is already underway, is development of a new automated routing program-Texas Permit Routing Optimization System (TxPROS). Its completion coincides with the beginning of this research project, so this project can achieve its objectives even more effectively. Research objectives are to: - identify the most common OS/OW dimension and weight groups, - identify criteria for assigning these OS/OW groups to existing road networks, and - identify criteria for assigning current and projected OS/OW groups to the future road network upgraded to meet future demand. Recommended actions will include use of technologies to improve verification that the permit requirements were met during the move and that establish near real time communication between the Motor Carrier Division (MCD), the carrier, and perhaps the district(s). The research project will result in a statewide map recommending primary and alternate OS/OW route networks for the most common origins and destinations based on historical MCD data.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Terminated
• Contract Numbers:

  0-6404

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701
• Project Managers:

  Flickinger, Connie

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Principal Investigators:

  Middleton, Dan

• Start Date: 20090903
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20110228
• Source Data: RiP Project 24500

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Motor carriers; Oversize loads; Overweight loads; Permits; Research projects
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accommodation
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Freight Transportation; Maintenance and Preservation; Motor Carriers;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01464046
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 0-6404
• Files: RiP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:35PM