Working Group on Freight Operations 

Co-Chairs:

Dave Huft, South Dakota DOT

Geno Koehler, Illinois DOT

The Working Group on Freight Operations addresses the following topics:

• Permitting harmonization
• Federal mandates (Industry coordination, emergency moves, electronic credentialing, etc.)
• Truck parking
• Connected and automated vehicles (platooning)
• Pilot car safety
• Related research initiatives
• Data/performance management needs

Reports

Permit Data Harmonization Report

The objective of the Permit Data Harmonization project is to identify opportunities to harmonize how information is displayed on commercial vehicle special permits. While each state determines its needs for collecting and displaying permit data and has independently developed the appearance and content of its permits, much of the required information is common among many or all states. The result is that while permits with similar purposes often contain similar information, that information may be arranged differently and specific pieces of information, such as trip origin and destination, may be described differently. The differences present a challenge to carriers in reading and understanding multiple permits; a carrier making a trip through several states will carry several permits, each with the same purpose. This project is not evaluating the value of including or excluding different data fields. Instead, this report focuses on the common data elements that can be harmonized while recognizing that each state will still have additional unique data elements based on their needs.

Guide for Maximum Dimensions and Weights of Motor Vehicles, 5th Edition, Single User PDF Download

This guide provides information for states and commercial carriers that can be used in connection with vehicle size and weight issues and permit practices directed towards improving safety, managing highway and bridge infrastructure, and streamlining regulatory processes. It contains definitions of commonly-used terms, descriptions of vehicles in regular operation, dimension and weight limits, and an overview of the permitting process for overweight, oversize vehicles. It also provides an explanation of the rules and processes related to the movement of military vehicles.

Information about permit harmonization can be found on this page.

The CTSO Working Group on Freight Operations met February 20, 2019, in Houston, Texas, in coordination with the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association’s Specialized Transportation Symposium.

The agenda, meeting notes, and presentations from the meeting are available on the following page.