Analyzing Truck Size and Weight Impacts on Vehicle Miles Traveled

Project summary:

MnDOT has a goal of reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 20 percent per capita by 2050. Additionally, Minnesota's Next Generation Energy Act sets a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal of 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. Trucking makes up a large proportion of VMT on the intercity highway network, and medium- and heavy-duty (classes 3-8) trucks account for 37 percent of the GHG emissions in the transportation sector. Currently, there are no tools or guidance for the freight community in Minnesota to move toward the VMT reduction goal. Changing the regulations on truck size and weight limits could affect VMT and the resulting GHG emissions.

Currently, the allowed maximum truck weight for vehicles operating on Minnesota highways without an exemption or special permit is 80,000 lbs., while some provinces in Canada allow up to 137,788 lbs. depending on the vehicle configuration. There are federal studies that analyzed the potential impacts of changing truck size or weight limits, but no studies have analyzed the impacts on Minnesota highway network (including interstate freeways). This project will use vehicle telematics and freight movement data to develop a network analysis tool to project potential VMT changes under different regulatory scenarios. Moreover, the impacts of VMT changes on lifecycle cost of transportation infrastructure, such as bridges and pavements, will be analyzed. Study results could inform policies and regulations and help MnDOT move toward its VMT reduction goal.