Mike Murphy's presentation at the 2017 CTR Symposium http://ctr.utexas.edu/ctr-symp/

1. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
Development of the State Legislative
Affairs (SLA) Truck Configuration Library
2017 CTR Symposium
April 13, 2017
Mike Murphy

2. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
USDOT
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Texas 2016
Freight Mobility Plan
US 2013 - 2040 Texas 2014 - 2040
freight tonnage increases by 142% freight tonnage 210%
freight value / ton increases by 156% freight value / ton 152%
Truck size & weight legislation is extremely important to Texas Pavement
and Bridge Consumption and Infrastructure Asset Management; Safety;
and Competitiveness in a Tough National and Global market.

3. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
1. It might be difficult to explain consumption in terms of the
Equivalent Single Axle Load (ESAL) concept for pavements or
fatigue analysis for bridges However, everyone understands $$$
Pavement and Bridge Consumption
0-6736 Rider 36 OS/OW Vehicle Fees Study
0-6817 Review and Evaluation of Current Gross Vehicle Weights and Axle Load Limits
2. We model single axles and axle groups of different loads on
different pavement structures to determine pavement consumption
(Rutting, Fatigue, IRI). Dr. Jorge Prozzi
$ / VMT for a given truck configuration
3. We evaluate fatigue for bridges based on single axles, axle groups
and axle spacing. Additional analytical methods are employed to
calculate bridge consumption. Dr. Jose & Angela Weissmann UTSA
$ / VMT for a given truck configuration

4. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
1. Draft Legislation – Proactive Analysis Approach
2. Development of ‘The SLA Truck Configuration Library’
3. Did this Process Have any Impact on Legislation?
4. Questions
Presentation Outline

5. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
1. Draft Legislation – Proactive Analysis Approach
2. Development of ‘The SLA Truck Configuration Library’
3. Did this Process Have any Impact on Legislation?
4. Questions
Presentation Outline

6. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
40’ Ocean Container on 6-axle tractor 40’ container chassis
2015 Draft legislation HB 3061:
Create law(s) that would permit a sealed
ocean container being transported in
international commerce to operate on
federally funded routes at 97,000 lbs.
TxDOT: Impacts to pavements and
bridges for different configurations;
routes; safety.
TxDMV: Permit process.
DPS: Enforcement, safety.

7. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
Milk tank trucks operating at 90,000 lbs GVW
2015 Draft legislation HB 3129:
Create law(s) that would permit milk
tank trucks to operate at 90,000 lbs
GVW.
TxDOT: Impacts to pavements and
bridges for different configurations;
routes; safety.
TxDMV: Permit process.
DPS: Enforcement, safety.

8. Meet with the trucking industry and other stakeholders well before the
Legislative Session begins. Work together to discuss desired changes to
truck size and weight laws. Get Prepared for the Session.
Pro-Active Approach – Draft Truck Size & Weight Legislation Review
Meet with trucking industry, stakeholders
and TxDOT to explain consumption
calculation methods.
1 2
3
45
6

9. Meet with the trucking industry and other stakeholders well before the
Legislative Session begins. Work together to discuss desired changes to
truck size and weight laws. Get Prepared for the Session.
Pro-Active Approach – Draft Truck Size & Weight Legislation Review
Meet with trucking industry, stakeholders
and TxDOT to explain consumption
calculation methods.
Obtain information from trucking
Industry about truck operations,
Methods to distribute loads, VMT and
related information.
1 2
3
45
6

10. Meet with the trucking industry and other stakeholders well before the
Legislative Session begins. Work together to discuss desired changes to
truck size and weight laws. Get Prepared for the Session.
Pro-Active Approach – Draft Truck Size & Weight Legislation Review
Meet with trucking industry, stakeholders
and TxDOT to explain consumption
calculation methods.
Obtain information from trucking
Industry about truck operations,
Methods to distribute loads, VMT and
related information.
1 2
3
45
6 Document truck operations in
the field / take measurements
- talk to truckers.

11. Meet with the trucking industry and other stakeholders well before the
Legislative Session begins. Work together to discuss desired changes to
truck size and weight laws. Get Prepared for the Session.
Pro-Active Approach – Draft Truck Size & Weight Legislation Review
Meet with trucking industry, stakeholders
and TxDOT to explain consumption
calculation methods.
Obtain information from trucking
Industry about truck operations,
Methods to distribute loads, VMT and
related information.
1 2
3
45
6 Document truck operations in
the field / take measurements
- talk to truckers.
Use software to analyze the
proposed truck configurations –
calculate axle loads and evaluate
axle spacings.

12. Meet with the trucking industry and other stakeholders well before the
Legislative Session begins. Work together to discuss desired changes to
truck size and weight laws. Get Prepared for the Session.
Pro-Active Approach – Draft Truck Size & Weight Legislation Review
Meet with trucking industry, stakeholders
and TxDOT to explain consumption
calculation methods.
Obtain information from trucking
Industry about truck operations,
Methods to distribute loads, VMT and
related information.
1 2
3
45
6 Document truck operations in
the field / take measurements
- talk to truckers.
Use software to analyze the
proposed truck configurations –
calculate axle loads and evaluate
axle spacings.
Meet with trucking industry again.
Present findings, new information and
Analysis. Feedback, new insights,
Additional considerations.

13. Meet with the trucking industry and other stakeholders well before the
Legislative Session begins. Work together to discuss desired changes to
truck size and weight laws. Get Prepared for the Session.
Pro-Active Approach – Draft Truck Size & Weight Legislation Review
Meet with trucking industry, stakeholders
and TxDOT to explain consumption
calculation methods.
Obtain information from trucking
Industry about truck operations,
Methods to distribute loads, VMT and
related information.
1 2
3
45
6 Document truck operations in
the field / take measurements
- talk to truckers.
Use software to analyze the
proposed truck configurations –
calculate axle loads and evaluate
axle spacings.
Document findings and the
process. Provide to TxDOT
for use during the
legislative session.
Meet with trucking industry again.
Present findings, new information and
Analysis. Feedback, new insights,
Additional considerations.

14. Container Chassis 101 Workshop - Bob Fogarty Chief Engineer: Cheetah Chassis
The chassis is actually relatively weak. However,
when locked together – the container and
the chassis form a strong, integral structural unit.

15. Heavy Ocean Containers operating in California / Washington
7-axle 95,000 lbs GVW Longbeach, CA
Branden Dion – Chief Engineer
Dionbilt Trailers - Washington
7-axle on 53’ fixed axle chassis
Up to 105,000 lbs GVW
I-5 Tacoma, Washington State

16. Load Xpert
Used by major truck companies and truck / trailer / chassis designers

17. Load Xpert

18. 0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
75,000 80,000 85,000 90,000 95,000 100,000 105,000
EQUIVALENTCONSUMPTION
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVW)
Pavement Equivalent Consumption Factor Plot for 4 container configurations
Relative to a 5-axle 80,000 lb GVW tractor trailer (= 1.0)
6-axle 51’
6-axle 53’
7-axle 51’
7-axle 53’

19. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
1. Draft Legislation – Proactive Analysis Approach
2. Development of ‘The SLA Truck Configuration Library’
3. Did this Process Have any Impact on Legislation?
4. Questions
Presentation Outline

20. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
SLA Truck Configuration Library
51 container configurations
6 milk tanker truck configurations
13 ready mix truck configurations

21. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.

22. General Truck
Information

23. Consumption Data

24. General Truck Information

25. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
1. Draft Legislation – Proactive Analysis Approach
2. Development of ‘The SLA Truck Configuration Library’
3. Did this Process Have any Impact on Legislation?
4. Questions
Presentation Outline

26. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
2015 HB 3061
• 97,000 lb GVW
• 6-axles
• Single Axle 20,000 lbs
• Tandem Axle 40,000 lbs
• Tridem Axle 60,000 lbs
• Permit fee $ 7,000
• Valid for 1 year
• Routes determined by TxDOT
2017 SB 1524
• 93,000 lb GVW
• 6-axles
• Single Axle 15,000 lbs
• Tandem Axle 36,250 lbs
• Tridem Axle 49,195 lbs
• Tractor wheelbase ≥ 180”
• Outer Bridge ≥ 54’
• Inner Bridge ≥ 41’ – 2”
• Stability control required
• Blind spot detector required
• Permit fee $ 5,000
• Valid for 1 year
• Routes determined by TxDOT
Did the Draft Container Legislation Change
2015 - 2017?

27. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
2017 SB 1524
• 100,000 lb GVW
• 7-axles
• Single Axle 15,000 lbs
• Tractor Tridem Axle 44,500 lbs
• Chassis Tridem Axle 46,200 lbs
• Tractor wheelbase ≥ 190”
• Outer Bridge ≥ 53’ – 5”
• Inner Bridge ≥ 42’
• Stability control required
• Blind spot detector required
• Permit fee $ 5,000
• Valid for 1 year
• Routes determined by TxDOT
2015 HB 3061
• 97,000 lb GVW
• 6-axles
• Single Axle 20,000 lbs
• Tandem Axle 40,000 lbs
• Tridem Axle 60,000 lbs
• Permit fee $ 7,000
• Valid for 1 year
• Routes determined by TxDOT
Did the Draft Container Legislation Change
2015 - 2017?

28. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
Did the Draft Milk Tank Truck Legislation
Change 2015 - 2017?
2015 HB 3129 2017 HB 2862
• 90,000 lbs GVW
• Permit fee $ 500
• Un-routed
• Valid for 1 year
• 90,000 lbs GVW
• 6-axles
• Tandem Axle 36,500 lbs
• Tridem Axle 42,500 lbs
• Inner Bridge ≥ 36’
• Permit fee $ 1,200
• Un-routed
• Valid for 1 – year

29. COLLABORATE. INNOVATE. EDUCATE.
1. Draft Legislation – Proactive Analysis Approach
2. Development of ‘The SLA Truck Configuration Library’
3. Did this Process Have any Impact on Legislation?
4. Questions
Presentation Outline