R&T Portfolio: Truck Size and Weight
Lack of uniform truck size and weight regulations across the country are a potential barrier to efficient freight movement. The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Truck Size and Weight program will provide States and other stakeholders the information needed to create safe and efficient systems to ensure fluid freight movement across State borders.
Program Objectives:
- Understand the impact allowing alternative truck configurations has on safety, infrastructure condition, and highway operations.
- Provide States and other stakeholders with information needed to ensure fluid freight movement across State borders.
The Truck Size and Weight program seeks to gain a better understanding of the operational, safety, and infrastructure impacts associated with allowing widespread use of alternative configurations of vehicles on U.S. highways.
Spotlight Project: Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study
The Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study analyzed highway safety and truck crash rates; vehicle performance stability and control; inspection and violation patterns; pavement service life; highway bridge performance; and truck size and weight enforcement programs. FHWA did not intend to develop or support a position on changes to Federal truck size and weight limits in this study; rather, FHWA intended to assess the impacts that any such changes might have had in these study areas to understand the impacts of trucks operating above Federal size and weight limits.
Image source: FHWA.
Harmonization of State regulation, permitting, and enforcement of truck size and weight across State borders has the potential to streamline freight movement. FHWA will support States and other stakeholders in their efforts to create safe and efficient permitting and enforcement systems harmonizing oversize and overweight movement.
Spotlight Project: Best Practices in Permitting Oversize and Overweight Vehicles
This report summarizes research on State oversize and overweight permitting practices, including automated vehicle routing and escort driver certification, and identifies best practices. As States implement automated permitting systems, numerous benefits have been realized, including shorter permit turnaround times, improved accuracy of permits, and improved roadway safety for all motorists.
Image source: FHWA.
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Office of Operations Research and Development
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
United States
Office of Operations
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
United States
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Last updated: Thursday, June 9, 2022