section 2.0 Policy Implications; section 2.3

Navigation: Page 1, Cover Page | Page 2.. Phase 1.1, Background. | 1.2 Truck Characteristics Affecting Pavements. (a) Axle Weights | Page 4, Section 1.2 [b] Tire Characteristics | Page 5, Section 1.2 (c) Suspension Systems | Page 6, Section 1.2; (d) Axle Spacing | Page 7, Section 1.2; (e) Liftable Axles | Page 8, Section 1.2; (f) Tridem Axles | Page 9, Section 2.1 Axle Weight Limits | Page 10, Section 2.2 Bridge Formula | Page 11, Section 2.3 - 80,000 Pound GVW Cap | Page 11, Section 2.4 Policies to Encourage Tridems | Page 11, section 2.5 Weight Limits Per Unit of Tire Width | Page 12, section 2.6 Turner Trucks | Page 13, section 2.7-New Approach; TRB Truck Weight Study | Page 14, section Section 3.0; Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs | Page 15, section 4.0 References for Pavements Working Paper

Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight (TS&W) Study

Phase 1—Synthesis

Working Paper 3—Pavements and TS&W Regulations

2.0 Policy Implications

2.3 80,000-Pound GVW Cap

The elimination of the 80,000-pound limit on gross vehicle weight would cause a shift of freight from conventional five-axle tractor-semitrailers to combinations with six or more axles and would also result in some diversion of freight from rail to truck, since elimination of the GVW cap would reduce the cost of shipping highdensity freight by truck. The first effect would reduce pavement costs, since pavement cost per million tons of freight is less for trucks with six or more axles than for trucks with five axles. The second effect would increase pavement costs. The Truck Weight Study examined a scenario that would eliminate the 80,000-pound cap (with no other changes in TS&W limits) and found that these two effects approximately offset one another, so that there would be no significant increase or decrease in pavement costs under this scenario. However, if states also increased length limits, along with the elimination of the GVW cap, more freight would be diverted from rail, which could increase pavement costs.

[continued on next page, Page 11, Section 2.4 Policies to Encourage Tridems ]

« Previous Page | Page 2.. Phase 1.1, Background. | 1.2 Truck Characteristics Affecting Pavements. (a) Axle Weights | Page 4, Section 1.2 [b] Tire Characteristics | Page 5, Section 1.2 (c) Suspension Systems | Page 6, Section 1.2; (d) Axle Spacing | Page 7, Section 1.2; (e) Liftable Axles | Page 8, Section 1.2; (f) Tridem Axles | Page 9, Section 2.1 Axle Weight Limits | Page 10, Section 2.2 Bridge Formula | Page 11, Section 2.3 - 80,000 Pound GVW Cap | Page 11, Section 2.4 Policies to Encourage Tridems | Page 11, section 2.5 Weight Limits Per Unit of Tire Width | Page 12, section 2.6 Turner Trucks | Page 13, section 2.7-New Approach; TRB Truck Weight Study | Page 14, section Section 3.0; Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs | Page 15, section 4.0 References for Pavements Working Paper | Next Page »