REGIONAL NEWS
REGION IV
Virtual Weigh Stations in Washington State By Jonas J. Mast, Motor Carrier Safety Division, Washington State Patrol
Virtual weigh stations (VWS) provide crucial real-time data about commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operations. The primary purpose of a VWS is to increase compliance with weight restrictions and safety regulations, contributing to safer roadways. Beyond enforcement, the data gained from these VWSs can be instrumental in highway infrastructure planning by providing valuable insights that help transportation authorities make informed decisions. Here is a look at how VWSs collect valuable data for commercial vehicle enforcement and highway planning in Washington state.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement VWSs are vital tools for enforcing regulations pertaining to CMVs. Essentially, they equip enforcement agencies with three types of data: 1. Weight data: VWSs use weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology to measure the weight of vehicles as they drive over sensors in the road. This helps identify overweight vehicles that may cause pavement damage or safety issues, serving as an important compliance tool.
2. Vehicle identification data: VWSs are often equipped with license plate recognition (LPR) technology and side view cameras. LPR captures and deciphers a vehicle’s license plate number while the cameras capture images of the vehicle. Together, these features can identify whether a vehicle is a CMV and whether it has any visible safety violations. 3. Compliance data: When integrated with electronic screening systems, VWSs can check whether CMVs have proper permits, registration, taxes and safety ratings. Systems can be linked to national databases to identify any further compliance issues and violations. One significantly important check is for out-of-service (OOS) motor carriers.
Highway Infrastructure Planning Data from VWSs also significantly support highway infrastructure planning: Improving route planning: Collecting data
on the number, weight and class of vehicles using certain routes provides important insights. This information can be used to design and plan future roads or renovate existing ones to handle traffic loads more efficiently. P redicting pavement wear: WIM data,
combined with traffic volume data, helps predict pavement deterioration rates. Consequently, this aids in proactive maintenance scheduling and informs the design of future roads, enhancing their durability and effectiveness. R esource allocation: The comprehensive
The data is accessible by Washington State Patrol (WSP) commercial vehicle enforcement officers (CVEOs) and troopers using a mobile platform installed in vehicles. It is no longer necessary to be at a computer at a weigh station to access the information needed to take the proper enforcement.
operations data collected by VWSs, including density of traffic, types of vehicles and adherence to regulations, can guide effective allocation of enforcement resources and contribute to long-term transport policy decisions. Continued on next page
Washington State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. FOURTH QUARTER 2023
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