3 minute read
Tire-Width Augmented E-Screening
By Peter Fedechko, Vice President North America Sales, Quarterhill
Quarterhill’s Tire Anomaly and Classification System (TACS™) represents a significant step forward in the regulatory management and safety of commercial vehicles. TACS offers unparalleled accuracy in measuring tire widths, a characteristic now offering enforcement agencies a new opportunity to refine commercial motor vehicle (CMV) e-screening. British Columbia’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) has been the first agency to take advantage of TACS for tire-width augmented e-screening in their Weigh2GoBC (W2GBC) program. Currently, TACS has been implemented at the Terrace, British Columbia, weigh-in-motion (WIM) inspection station for eastbound commercial vehicle screening, with westbound screening anticipated in the coming months.
Steering Axle Weight Limits
The introduction of TACS at the Terrace WIM station has been vital in optimizing CMV screening based on provincial regulations. It was adopted to address the issue of various vehicle configuration steering axle weights not accurately captured by W2GBC intelligent transportation systems preTACS. Historically, assessing vehicle weight compliance with wider tires required manual intervention by enforcement personnel.
A high frequency of CMVs, particularly those in logging, mining and construction, are equipped with wider steer tires, allowing them to carry more weight. TACS recognizes and evaluates these factors at highway speeds as vehicles approach the inspection station.
The implementation of tire-width screening has allowed all types and configurations of vehicles under the W2GBC program to be processed accurately, fairly and efficiently by WIM stations where this technology is implemented.
VectorSense Technology
TACS leverages VectorSense Technology, a cutting-edge tire footprint sensor technology noted for its precision in detecting tire width. This system uses high-frequency measurements that sense the tire contact thousands of times per second, creating detailed contact pressure profiles. Such accurate and detailed measurements are crucial for vehicles that can potentially carry extra weight thanks to their wider tires.
Result: Better Screening
Since its implementation, the results from TACS have highly indicated its effectiveness.
Within three months of operation, the system screened 27,323 CMVs. 3,544 vehicles (or 13%) had wide-base tires on their steer axles, and 1,600 (or 6%) were above the normal-width steer axle weight limit but under the wide tire limit, proving the importance of this precise classification. Additionally, TACS identified 218 vehicles (0.8%) with significant tire anomalies, such as flats or missing tires, which would typically warrant an out-of-service (OOS) condition.
These statistics underscore the benefits of implementing WIM preclearance with tire anomaly detection, which include:
Improved Safety and Enforcement Efficiency: Early detection of tire anomalies enhances road safety.
Reduced Congestion: The system minimizes backups at weigh stations by allowing compliant vehicles to bypass, maintaining a smoother flow of traffic.
Cost, Time and Environmental Savings: By expediting traffic flow and reducing unnecessary weigh station stops, carriers save on fuel and operational costs, and the province benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Increased Program Enrollment: A predictable and effective bypass system encourages more carriers to participate in the W2GBC program.
Expanded Coverage
The Terrace site includes a fully operational weigh station and inspection facility with westbound tire screening, enhancing the coverage and capacity of the W2GBC program. Its success sets a precedent for expansion, as well as the installation of an additional provincial WIM site with TACS technology, further demonstrating its scalability and effectiveness.
These important steps will help British Columbia’s CVSE agency meet its broader objectives, which include accelerating the flow of goods through trade corridors and ensuring the safety and efficiency of road-based transport across the province.
