1 FHWA Talking Freight Seminar Weigh-in-Motion: the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Perspective Will Schaefer, CVSA Vehicle Programs Director

2 CVSA  A non-profit 501(c)(3) trade association –70 Members, 400+ Associate Members  Began at industry’s urging in 1982 with several western states and Canadian provinces  Why was it initiated? –Need for uniformity and reciprocity in regulation, standards, and enforcement –After deregulation, safety enforcement coordination became challenging  How does it function? –Collaboration among federal and state public agencies and private sector –All CMV disciplines at the table and involved in setting and maintaining standards –Clear processes and procedures for input and output including established committees –Open doors from the get-go –Focused agenda, clear expectations and results

Who is CVSA today?  Law Enforcement Officials  Government Regulators  Trucking Companies  Bus Companies  Truck Manufacturers  Bus Manufacturers  Insurance Companies  Trailer Manufacturers  Safety Product Companies  Truck Stop Facilities  For-hire Fleets  Private Fleets  Owner-Operators  Industry Associations  Parts/Supplies Companies  Engineering Firms  Law Firms  Law Enforcement Equipment Companies  Industry Journals  Research Organizations  Consulting Companies  Intelligent Transportation System Companies  Transportation Software Companies  Academia

4 CVSA  Charter –An organization of federal, state and provincial government agencies and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico dedicated to improvement of commercial vehicle safety  Vision –The CVSA will be recognized as the international authority on commercial motor vehicle safety and security.  Mission –To promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers.

5 CMV Safety -- Unique relationships  Federal/State/Provincial relationships –MCSAP in U.S. $209M (FY2010) --- $8M in 1984 –Additional $100M in other state grants 20% (minimum) State match –Many states put in MUCH more of their own $$ Roadside driver and vehicle inspections, Traffic enforcement, Compliance Reviews, Safety Audits, Outreach and Education –Provincial-centric in Canada –Federal focus in Mexico  In the U.S. varying agencies, depending on the state, have CMV safety and enforcement responsibility –“Lead Agency” coordinates

6 The Challenge  2.5 Million Roadway Miles (US) –135,000 Interstate –545,000 Arterials  700,000+ Motor Carriers (US) –4 Million Commercial Drivers –9 Million Trucks –15 Million Trailers –Sensitive shipments  361 Seaports (US) –6 million containers in US annually –750,000 Intermodal Chassis  1,400 Fixed Inspection Facilities  12,000 CVSA Certified Inspectors –800,000 cops  4 million roadside inspections/year  33,963 fatalities (US, 2009) –3,163 involved large trucks –First time annual large truck fatalities below 4,000 since data collection began in 1975

7 thousands Population and Complexity of Safety Enforcement of CMVs Will Only Grow

Large Trucks Registered in the U.S. 8 thousands

CVSA Supporting U.S. DOT Smart Roadside Initiative  The Smart Roadside Program allows trucks and drivers to be screened using wireless communication between the vehicle and the infrastructure while traveling at highway speeds.  Regulatory functions can be employed while not interrupting commercial vehicle operations.  Safety is improved by eliminating stop and go traffic.  Data can provide fleet managers insights into the “real-time” status of their vehicles and cargo. 9

CVSA Supporting U.S. DOT Smart Roadside Initiative  Smart Roadside vehicle screening would give enforcement agencies ability to force multiply their finite enforcement resources.  Weigh-in-Motion is integral to the implementation of Smart Roadside.  Similarly, WIM can allow for more targeted enforcement, more efficient use of enforcement resources, and increased throughput of vehicles and inspections for given resource expenditure. 10

11 State Responsibilities Relative to Vehicle Weight  CVSA Members are responsible for enforcement of the federal motor carriers safety regulations, including vehicle and axle loading.  State agencies are also responsible for the protection of the infrastructure through overweight/oversize permit programs and active enforcement of permits/weight regulations.  Enforcement programs help provide a check, an added incentive, to motor carriers on what is expected of them on the roadways to maintain or improve safety performance, including operating within safe weight ratings for vehicles and infrastructure.

12 State Responsibilities Relative to Vehicle Weight  States require coordinated and strategic approaches to safety, including federal and state/local size and weight regulation enforcement.  Where WIM technology can be implemented and integrated as a tool in the overall safety enforcement effort, it can add efficiency and accuracy while enabling commercial carriers to understand and meet expectations.  The infrastructure must be maintained, managed, and protected. The success of a state’s efforts to manage this infrastructure— specifically its roadways and bridges—is a direct function of careful planning and regulation, informing the motoring public, and enforcing the regulations.

Washington State WIM Experience 13  WIM for screening tool –12 weigh stations: 4 ports of entry, 1 internal port, 7 internal scales –Systems utilize WIM as a screening tool; system includes: Vehicle transponders with unique vehicle ID Transponder reader License plate readers

Washington State WIM Experience 14  Electronic Screening –Vehicles are equipped with transponders that are queried by readers approximately one mile ahead of WIM installation (vehicles to be in right lane) –Unique vehicle ID is cross referenced to compare shipping manifest weight with calculated WIM vehicle weight –License plate reader also engaged –Motor carrier safety rating checked –Vehicle crosses WIM: vehicle, axle weights, and bridging measured –“Outlier” vehicles directed into weight station for static weighing

15

16

Washington State WIM Experience 17  Enforcement is conducted via static scales since WIM systems are limited to 5% accuracy WIM not used directly for enforcement but instead to identify vehicles to be directed into weight station  Department of Transportation installs WIM equipment.  Washington State Patrol is responsible for operating/ maintaining stations and conducting enforcement.  System has been very well received by the agencies.

Wisconsin WIM Experience 18  Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin State Patrol worked together to establish the state’s coordinated safety and weight enforcement program.  Wisconsin’s program includes a spectrum of methods and technologies to complement the traditional safety and weight enforcement program.

Wisconsin WIM Experience 19  Wisconsin carefully evaluated technology and system options and undertook the following: –Safety & Weight Enforcement Facilities (SWEF) –Mainline and Ramp WIM –Changeable Message Signs –Automatic Vehicle Identification –Side Fire Camera System –Static Scale Systems –In Station Variable Message Signs & Signals –Virtual Weigh Station –Bridge Monitoring

Wisconsin WIM Experience 20  Wisconsin’s positive experience with these various technologies or systems suggests they are all useful and desirable tools in the enforcement toolbox.  Wisconsin also found that a comprehensive plan was needed, and that maintenance of the systems is crucial.

Conclusions  CVSA sees a correlation between weight enforcement and safety performance of motor carriers.  WIM systems, when properly implemented, are effective at helping enforcement target those that need attention.  WIM systems enable more throughput of vehicles  By achieving the safety improvement through enforcement, we see WIM as cost effective for safety. 21

Question? William Schaefer Director, Vehicle Programs Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance 6303 Ivy Lane, Suite 310 Greenbelt, MD