Unintended impacts of increased truck loads on pavement supply-chain emissions

Abstract

In recent years, the reduction of freight truck trips has been a common policy goal. To this end, policies aimed at influencing load consolidation, load factors and increasing maximum truck weight limits have been suggested and implemented, resulting in higher gross vehicle weights.The purpose of such policies has generally been to mitigate congestion and environmental impacts. However, trucks cause most of the damage incurred by highways pavements. The supply chain associated with pavement maintenance and construction releases significant air emissions, raising the question of whether increased vehicle weights may cause unintended environmental consequences. This paper presents case examples with estimated emissions resulting from shifts in load consolidation and increased maximum weight. These examples indicate that increased load factors in local and long-distance freight movement can cause significant increases in emissions of certain pollutants. Emissions associated with pavement construction are also found to increase as a result of pavement design specifications that account for heavier trucks.

Goods Movement Life Cycle Assessment for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

“…Roadway dimensions are estimated from the California Department of Transportation's Highway Design Manual (CADOT 2012) and PaLATE is used to calculate energy use and air emissions associated with the initial construction, routine maintenance, and resurfacing of the sub-base and wearing layers. Given that damage to roadways is governed by the fourth power of axle load, the impacts associated with the wearing layers is fully allocated to trucks (Huang 2003;Sathaye et al 2010). …”

“…The decision to use one multimodal option versus another may produce effects both within and outside of California, depending on the origin and destination of the good. As mode shifting, fuel switching, and load consolidation strategies are discussed, a life cycle understanding of multimodal trips is important for avoiding unintended trade-offs (Sathaye et al 2010).…”

Poster city logistics

“…[7]. Sathye et al [12] studied the unintended effects, such as CO2 emissions resulting from load consolidation and changes in load factors. Russo and Comi [11] develop a model that allows for the simulation of possible choices of each decision-maker involved by assessing their impacts.…”

Review of Full Truckload Transportation Service Procurement

“…Thus, an urgent need exists for methods that improve the quality of life of truck drivers to ensure that they remain in the industry. Although the literature includes studies related to such environmental sustainability measures as clean truck programmes and the associated health benefits (Konur, 2014;Lee et al, 2012;Sathaye, Horvath, & Madanat, 2010), such studies are limited.…”