NDSU UPPER GREAT PLAINS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE - NORTH DAKOTA TRUCK HARMONIZATION 1 STUDY – FINAL DRAFT REPORT – DECEMBER 12, 2016 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Steering Committee Members: ND Department of Commerce - Kevin Sonsalla & John Mittleider ND Highway Patrol - Capt. Eldon Mehrer & Jackie Darr North Dakota DOT – Brad Darr ND Grain Growers Association – Dan Wogsland & Terry Weckerly ND Motor Carriers Association - Dick Johnsen ND Ag Coalition - Paul Mathiason North Dakota Petroleum Council - Alexis Brinkman-Baxley Doosan – Russ Ormiston ND League of Cities – Mark Berg ND Township Officers Association - Larry Syverson ND Association of Counties - Jason Benson Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute – Denver Tolliver Additional information and assistance was provided by: ND Associated General Contractors Johnsen Trailer Sales ND Wheat Commission ND Soybean Growers Association ND Grain Dealers Association North Dakota Port Services United Pulse Trading – AGT Foods American Crystal Sugar/Transystems Basin Electric Cooperative Recipients of Long Combination Vehicle Permits The following UGPTI staff contributed to this study: Alan Dybing, Andrew Wrucke, Brenda Lantz, Bradley Wentz, Denver Tolliver, Kimberly Vachal, Timothy Horner, Dale Heglund, Thomas Jirik, Leanna Emmer, Doug Hoopman, Mark Berwick, Robert Shannon NDSU UPPER GREAT PLAINS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE - NORTH DAKOTA TRUCK HARMONIZATION 1 STUDY – FINAL DRAFT REPORT – DECEMBER 12, 2016 Table of Contents Executive Summary and Key Findings ........................................................................................................... 5 Literature Review – Analysis of Similar Federal, Regional and State Studies ............................................... 7 Idaho 129,000-Pound Pilot Project ........................................................................................................... 8 The USDOT-FHWA Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study .......................................................... 10 Pavements ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Bridges ................................................................................................................................................ 12 The Modal Shift Comparative Analysis Technical Report ................................................................... 15 Summary of the Compliance Comparative Analysis Technical Report ............................................... 16 Safety .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Sequel to the USDOT-FHWA Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study ........................................... 23 Western Uniformity Scenario Analysis ................................................................................................... 26 Existing State and Federal Regulations and Laws ....................................................................................... 35 North Dakota........................................................................................................................................... 35 South Dakota ........................................................................................................................................... 37 Minnesota ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Montana .................................................................................................................................................. 38 Manitoba ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Saskatchewan ......................................................................................................................................... 40 Existing Federal Regulations Regarding Grandfathered Situations ........................................................ 41 Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 43 Major Truck Classifications – Harmonization: Impacts and Benefits .......................................................... 51 Summary: ................................................................................................................................................ 57 Truck Configurations Important to the Study ............................................................................................. 59 Implications, Benefits and Impacts of Applying Federal and State Bridge Formulas ................................. 61 Summary: ................................................................................................................................................ 66 Outreach Efforts to Various Entities: .......................................................................................................... 68 Data Mining - NDDOT Weigh-In-Motion and Classification Data to Identify LCV Corridor Usage. ............ 71 Overview of Truck/Trailer Characteristics .................................................................................................. 82 NDSU UPPER GREAT PLAINS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE - NORTH DAKOTA TRUCK HARMONIZATION 2 STUDY – FINAL DRAFT REPORT – DECEMBER 12, 2016 Origin/Destination Study of Intra and Interstate Truck Movements ......................................................... 86 Cost Per Ton Mile of Various Truck Configurations .................................................................................... 90 Pavement Cost Analysis for Various Truck Configurations ......................................................................... 92 Truck Volumes: ....................................................................................................................................... 92 ESAL Cost per Mile: ................................................................................................................................. 96 Bridge Cost Analysis for Various Truck Configurations ............................................................................... 98 Connectivity to Local Jurisdictions ............................................................................................................ 104 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 110 Crash Projections for Various Truck Configurations ................................................................................. 112 Potential Rail Diversion Analysis ............................................................................................................... 113 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 115 Impacts to Registration, Permitting and Enforcement Administrative Processes.................................... 116 NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division ............................................................................................................. 116 NDHP Motor Carrier Division ................................................................................................................ 117 NDHP Permit Office ............................................................................................................................... 118 NDAOGPC – Uniform County Permit System ........................................................................................ 120 UGPTI/North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program ................................................................... 120 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 121 Economic Benefits Analysis– Regional Economic Modeling Inc. .............................................................. 123 Direct Economic Impacts to Shippers ................................................................................................... 123 Regional Economic Impacts .................................................................................................................. 123 Multiplier .............................................................................................................................................. 124 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................................ 125 Appendix B: Outreach Efforts to Various Entities .................................................................................... 140 Outreach: North Dakota Grain Dealers ................................................................................................. 141 Outreach: Johnsen Trailer Sales: ........................................................................................................... 145 Outreach: Long Combination Vehicle Permit Recipient Survey ........................................................... 147 Outreach: North Dakota Motor Carriers Association and American Transportation Research Institute .............................................................................................................................................................