North/West passage corridor-wide commercial vehicle permitting.

Wittwer, Ernie; Gollnik, Robert · 2010 · ROSA P / Minnesota. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

This report evaluates the feasibility of establishing a regional commercial vehicle permitting system for the North/West Passage Corridor, which spans eight states along Interstate 90/94 from Washington to Wisconsin. The research was motivated by the need to reduce regulatory burdens on freight carriers, lower transport costs, and improve the efficiency of oversize and overweight (OSOW) truck movements. The study aimed to identify how these states could pursue a regional agreement, assess the impact on state Departments of Transportation, and determine industry demand for such services. The methodology involved reviewing existing regional permitting compacts—specifically the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO), the Southeastern Association of Transportation Officials (SASHTO), and the New England Transportation Consortium (NETC). The researchers conducted interviews and surveys with 14 states participating in these compacts to understand legal, administrative, and technical aspects. Additionally, staff from all eight North/West Passage states and various motor carriers were interviewed to gather perspectives on current permitting processes, pain points, and potential improvements. The findings indicate that while existing compacts are underutilized, participants generally perceive benefits such as improved carrier satisfaction and reduced administrative burdens. However, significant barriers remain, including disparate state regulations, complex fee collection mechanisms, and concerns over loss of control. Motor carriers cited accessibility, speed, and routing consistency as critical issues, noting that varying requirements for escorts, signing, and curfews increase costs and complexity. The report outlines three technically feasible approaches for regional permitting: expanding the WASHTO compact, adopting a common software system like Bentley’s GOT Permits, or developing a virtual system using open-source interfaces. Expanding WASHTO is the most immediate and low-cost option but faces resistance due to its restrictive load envelope and perceived technological limitations. The common system approach is technologically superior and reduces workload but carries high implementation costs ($1–3 million per state). The virtual system offers a middle ground but remains undeveloped. The significance of this research lies in its recommendation that successful regional permitting requires strong leadership, full member participation, and harmonized regulations rather than merely replicating existing state processes. The authors conclude that states should prioritize improving communication and standardizing requirements for signing, escorts, and hours of operation. While no single solution is universally accepted, the report suggests that bridging gaps between AASHTO regions and fostering industry involvement are essential steps toward creating a more efficient, unified permitting framework for the corridor.

Key finding

Existing regional permitting compacts are rarely used, with most states issuing less than 10 percent of their permits through these agreements, despite reported benefits in customer satisfaction and workload reduction.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 14

Provenance

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• truck driver fatigue