VALUE OF OVERWEIGHTING TO INTERCITY TRUCKERS

An analysis of the problem of truck overweighting is presented. Legal and illegal overweighting and current enforcement procedures are discussed. The benefits to truckers of overweighting are shown by means of an incremental approach (decrease in transport cost per unit with increase in cargo weight) and by using specific cargo movements to calculate the incentives to overweight. The fine and penalty structures of various states are examined and are combined with the probability of being weighed to calculate the expected value of being weighed to the trucker. The net benefit of overweighting to the trucker is then shown by comparing the costs with the incentives. Finally, actual permit costs are examined in relation to the cost of additional pavement damage caused by overweight trucks. It is concluded that (a) economic incentives often exceed the expected costs of overweighting to the trucker, (b) current enforcement programs in some states are not effective, (c) fine structures should take account of both the amount of truck overweight and the number of miles traveled, and (d) the cost of overweight permits does not reflect the additional pavement damage caused by overweighting. (Author)