Commercial Operations

FleetForward is an operational test designed to demonstrate the impact of real-time traffic information on commercial vehicle operations, such as dispatching and routing. While real-time data is an important element of transportation condition information, its availability in the operational test also highlights the need for forecasted information. One specific need in FleetForward is the ability to forecast the duration of a current traffic incident.

This paper describes research focused upon forecasting incident duration using nonparametric regression. This forecasting technique is data-driven, as it searches a database to find a neighborhood of past incidents similar to the current incident. The data source for developing this model was the Information Exchange Network (IEN) of the I-95 Corridor Coalition. The general conclusion of this paper is that the quality and scope of the data in the incident database is a major factor in the performance of a forecasting model.

University of Virginia: Smart Travel Laboratory - Department of Civil Engineering

Presented at the 11th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida

Installation of commercial vehicle electronic screening systems, which began in the mid-1990’s, is accelerating as more and more states become part of the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) program. Deployment of electronic screening is one of the requirements for achieving CVISN Level One compliance. Thus, many states are currently looking for an electronic screening system that can be used to meet their needs. Kentucky’s “Model MACS” system provides an attractive option for many of these states.

Model MACS was designed to be simple, flexible, low in cost, and non-proprietary. The software is owned by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and it is being made available at no cost to any state that wishes to use it. It is a “drop-in” system, i.e., it can be added to an existing weigh station with no need to modify existing systems or develop complex interfaces.

This paper provides some background on Model MACS, an overview of the development process, a physical description of the system, a discussion of required interfaces, a functional description, a brief look at the operator interface, a discussion of features and advantages, and a note on current status and availability.

Kentucky Transportation Center

Presented at the 11th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida

States have the responsibility of carefully monitoring commercial vehicles. Commercial vehicles must be registered in states where they intend to operate. Then the operators of these vehicles are required to pay the appropriate registration fees and taxes and abide by state and federal safety regulations. Various enforcement techniques are used to insure that commercial vehicle operators are abiding by these rules and regulations.

Most states use some combination of fixed inspection stations and mobile enforcement teams to accomplish this task. Mobile teams typically consist of temporary roadside inspection locations and/or roving patrols. These different enforcement methods are used to target as many commercial vehicles as possible. For instance, fixed stations are located on major roadways where commercial vehicle traffic is heavy. Temporary locations and roving patrols are used in areas where there is no fixed station and enforcement is still needed. The commercial vehicle traffic is typically not as heavy in these locations.

The Remote Monitoring System (RMS) was developed to supplement commercial vehicle monitoring programs. The RMS is an image capture system that takes images of commercial vehicles and sends them to a nearby weigh station. The RMS is working 24 hours a day. Therefore, in a sense, it is a “fixed” station. Commercial vehicle operators can’t be sure when the system is being monitored however. The system is relatively inexpensive and can be deployed at a variety of locations.

University of Kentucky - Kentucky Transportation Center

Presented at the 11th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida

The development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has changed the transportation industry significantly. As ITS infrastructure is planned and implemented in the field, integration with other systems is critical to realizing the full benefits and potential. Components of ITS implementations have impacted a number of functional areas including Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO). ITS is being mainstreamed into many urban and rural area planning processes. The inclusion of a diverse set of motorists including trucking industry representatives is key to end user acceptance and successful utilization of the transportation system.

This paper takes the reader through the ITS/CVO planning process, from the development and prioritization of CVO projects through a brief introduction to and Commercial Vehicle Information Systems Networks (CVISN). The CVO area of ITS is unique and requires additional end user consideration due to the nature of the trucking industry. The trucking industry has much to offer the strategic planning process and deployment of ITS infrastructure.

ITS infrastructure for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS), Advanced Transportation Management Systems (ATMS), and Advanced Rural Transportation Systems (ARTS) are all ingredients in the holistic approach to transportation system development. Each of these ITS areas impacts the commercial vehicle industry and can serve as valuable tools for maneuvering through congested metropolitan cities and provide advanced notification of restricted conditions in rural areas. Outreach to include commercial vehicle professionals in every ITS functional area is necessary to meet the needs of all motorists. The trucking industry is an important partner in the successful deployment of ITS, they can offer insights that other modal users may not consider.

Overall, ITS impacts to CVO and CVISN is positive. A high level of coordination is needed to ensure that ATIS products being produced by public and private agencies for mass consumption benefit the trucking industry. The trucking industry has a great deal to offer ITS strategists given that commercial vehicles have been utilizing the transportation infrastructure efficiently in a forprofit business model for hundreds of years.

BRW Inc.

Arizona Department of Transportation

Presented at the 10th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, May 1-4, 2000 Boston, MA

Throughout North America, selected public agencies have been assigned the responsibility for monitoring commercial vehicle traffic to make sure the commercial vehicles operating on public roadways are in safe operating condition, have proper registration and operating authority, are within legal size and weight limits, and have paid all appropriate fees and taxes. To accomplish this goal, all 50 States have established roadside monitoring and enforcement programs.

In recent years, technologies have developed which offer the potential for automated roadside identification of commercial vehicles. Two of these technologies, radio frequency identification (RFID) and optical character recognition (OCR), have already been deployed for commercial vehicle screening purposes.

The Roadside Identification Feasibility Study was undertaken to identify methods of unique identification of commercial vehicles at the roadside for slow and high-speed electronic screening purposes. It was designed to be a comprehensive look at the technologies, focused on the needs of the Federal Highway Administrations Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety (FHWA/OMCHS) and the States.

University of Kentucky - Kentucky Transportation Center

Presented at the 10th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, May 1-4, 2000 Boston, MA