Options for Hauling Fully Loaded ISO Containers in the United States
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 6
Abstract
Civil engineers plan, design, manage, and guide investments in surface transportation. Truck weight limits are inextricably linked to the consideration of pavements, bridges, safety, asset management, sustainability, jobs, and economic productivity. The U.S. 36.3 t cap for gross vehicle weight (GVW), and the Federal Bridge Formula B (FBF B) constrain truck movement of 32.5 t full ISO (International Organization for Standardization) containers. This study identifies the options—and associated implications—for trucks to transport full containers notwithstanding FBF B and the cap. We conducted a national investigation of truck weight regulations across 50 states to identify options, with 28 cases involving telephone interviews. Results show the options are complex, vary by state, result in a patchwork of routes, and include: (1) nondivisible permits, (2) special haul routes, (3) grandfather rights, (4) state roads, (5) tare reduction, and (6) operation outside formal regulations. Containerships, railroads, ports, and highways of U.S. trading partners each accommodate full containers. Conditions identified in this paper can result in underutilization of the productivity and efficiency benefits afforded by international standardization.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for its financial support of this research and the Florida, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and California DOTs for contributing data and information.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 6 • June 2012
Pages: 760 - 767
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 22, 2011
Accepted: Dec 12, 2011
Published online: Dec 14, 2011
Published in print: Jun 1, 2012
Published ahead of production: Jun 15, 2012
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