Potential Use of Longer Combination Vehicles in Texas: Second-Year Report

Walton, C. Michael; Harrison, Robert; Bienkowski, Bridget N.; Kockelman, Kara; Weissmann, Angela Jannini; Weissmann, Jose; Papagiannakis, Athanassios T.; Yang, Mijia; Kunsietty, Jaya Lakshmi · 2010 · ROSA P / Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office

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Summary

This study addresses the potential implementation of Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs) in Texas to mitigate highway funding shortfalls and accommodate a projected 40% increase in freight movement by 2030. The research evaluates whether allowing larger, more productive trucks can reduce congestion, fuel consumption, and emissions without compromising safety or infrastructure integrity. The analysis focuses on five high-volume heavy truck corridors: Dallas–San Antonio, San Antonio–Laredo, Dallas–Houston, Dallas–El Paso, and San Antonio–McAllen. The researchers analyzed three specific LCV configurations: a 97,000 lb tridem semi-trailer, a 138,000 lb double 53-ft trailer, and a lighter 90,000 lb double 53-ft trailer. The methodology involved estimating pavement life impacts using weigh-in-motion data and material properties across 152 highway segments, and assessing bridge impacts using moment ratio and fatigue analysis on 1,713 bridges. Safety and external costs were evaluated using crash statistics and fuel efficiency metrics. Findings indicate that LCVs offer significant environmental benefits, reducing fuel consumption and emissions per ton-mile. Pavement analysis revealed that LCVs had no negative impact on rigid pavements and improved pavement life on flexible pavements for all but one route, potentially reducing overlay costs. Safety data showed no causal link between LCVs and increased crash rates; in fact, LCVs demonstrated lower crash costs per vehicle-mile. However, bridge infrastructure posed significant challenges. The 90-kip double 53 configuration had no impact on bridges. In contrast, the 97-kip tridem and 138-kip double 53 configurations would require replacement or strengthening of 880 and 201 bridges, respectively, with estimated costs of $1.0 billion and $0.8 billion under a fatigue-based analysis allowing for a 75-year design life. The study concludes that while LCVs are economically and environmentally advantageous, their implementation requires careful management of bridge infrastructure. The authors recommend a pilot study on selected corridors to gather empirical operational data and establish performance-based standards, including restrictions on time, weather, and driver certification. This approach aims to balance increased freight productivity with infrastructure preservation and safety.

Key finding

The 90-kip double 53 LCV configuration has no impact on bridge infrastructure, whereas the 97-kip tridem and 138-kip double 53 configurations would require replacement or strengthening of approximately 880 and 201 bridges respectively, with estimated costs of $1.0 billion and $0.8 billion.

Methodology

modeling

Provenance

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Topics

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• truck driver fatigue