Using Weigh-in-Motion Data to Calibrate Trade-Derived Estimates of Mexican Trade Truck Volumes in Texas

Abstract

Weigh-in-motion (WIM) sites are being installed along many highway corridors that carry international trade trucks. Estimating the numbers of trucks carrying international commodities currently relies on manipulating and adjusting trade databases. The variety of vehicle classification data measured at WIM sites provides a rich source of data with which to enhance this adjustment process. Previous WIM border data have focused on port-of-entry truck traffic axle loads, which are heavily influenced by drayage operations. Examined is how WIM data collected at ports of entry and on truck corridors can be used in the determination of standardized truck volumes (termed equivalent trade trucks or ETT) on international highway corridors. Data from the Texas-Mexico border are used to determine ETT North American Free Trade Agreement volumes.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

McCray

J. P.

North American Free Trade Agreement Truck Highway Corridors: U.S.-Mexican Truck Rivers of Trade. In Transportation Research Record 1613, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1998, pp. 71–78.

Harrison

, Boske

, and McCray

J. P.

. Transportation Issues and the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement. Research Report 1319-6F. Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas, Austin, 1997.

Figliozzi

Truck Trade Corridors Between the U.S. and Mexico. Southwest Region University Transportation Centers Research Report 472840-0001/1. Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas, Austin (in preparation).

Sanchez-Ruiz

L. A.

, and Lee

C. E.

. Heavy Vehicle Characteristics at the Laredo and El Paso Ports of Entry. Research Report 1319-3. Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas, Austin, 1996.

Texas Department of Transportation. Monthly Variations in Traffic Volumes from Continuous Data Collection Sites, Statewide. Transportation Planning and Programming Division, Austin, Texas, 1999.

Harrison

, Sanchez-Ruiz

L. A.

, and Lee

C. E.

. Truck Traffic Crossing the Texas-Mexico Border. In Transportation Research Record 1643, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1998, pp. 136–142.

Huang

Y. H.

Pavement Analysis and Design. Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N. J., 1993.

Leidy

J. P.

, Lee

C. E.

, and Harrison

. Measurement and Analysis of Traffic Loads Across the Texas-Mexico Border. Research Report 1319-1. Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas, Austin, 1995.

King

D. M.

, and Lee

C. E.

. Truck Traffic Characteristics at the Laredo and El Paso, Texas-Mexico Border. Research Report 1319-5. Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas, Austin, 1997.

10.

Special Report 61G: The AASHO Road Test: Summary Report. HRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1962.