Potential Application of ITS Technologies to Improve Commercial Vehicle Operations, Enforcement, and Monitoring

This report examines the potential for implementing new technologies to improve upon current practices for truck weight enforcement and commercial vehicle management in the United States. As truck freight traffic continues to grow, expansion of the existing network alone will not accommodate traffic flows. It will be necessary for government to introduce new technologies and legislation to maintain sufficient flow. Various technologies already in use throughout Europe and North America for weight and credential enforcement, toll collection, and fleet management offer potential for improved traffic flow and potential solutions to future congestion, financial constraints, and environmental concerns. This report provides a review of these technologies, and the potential benefits of implementing these systems in the US. The review focuses on the state of Texas, which is an important NAFTA corridor that currently utilizes traditional static, semi-portable, and portable scales and fixed price permits for commercial vehicle enforcement.