Truck Lane Research Articles

Multi-criteria analysis for freight transport decision-making with fuzzy analytic hierarchy process: A top management’s perspective for Bahrain

This study sheds light on the multicriteria mode choice selection process of freight transport in the Kingdom of Bahrain from the perspective of top decision-makers. A questionnaire-based interview survey was carried out to determine the factors influencing this choice. The responses were analyzed using FAHP method, which resulted in a prioritized list of factors affecting mode choice for freight transport and the preferred mode choices for different future routes. Results indicated that the criteria for mode choice can be ranked as follows in order of decreasing significance: safety, CO2 emission, cost, reliability, speed, flexibility, and capacity. The rail mode is the preferable one for 2, out of the 3 proposed routes, while the dedicated truck lane is the most convenient choice because of the short distance and the nature of the commodities moved along this corridor. Some of the results from this study suggested that the top decision-makers could be somewhat different in the criteria for mode choice and more specific in terms of route conditions in this regard. This research offers meaningful insights into the mode selection process, classified on the basis of different routes, of traders as well as providing valuable inputs for transport planners and decision-makers. This research provides a unique perspective into the decision-making process from top management’s perspective which was found to be different from the general understanding related to mode choice. The results of the study could be used to devise policies to attract more traders, consequently, increasing economic activities in the country.

Developing a time-series speed prediction model using Transformer networks for freeway interchange areas

This study investigates the lane-level speed distribution in the freeway interchange area and develops a time-series speed prediction model using Transformer networks. The full-sample real-time speed data from interchange areas under heavy traffic was extracted by the YOLO v3 detection algorithm and Deep-Sort tracking algorithm based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) videos. A short-term prediction model of lane-level driving speed was constructed using the Time-Series Transformer (TST) framework. Results showed that the greatest magnitude of speed change occurred during the process of switching from the passenger lane to the truck lane. The inner lane consistently demonstrated higher mean speeds compared to the outer lane. The TST model proposed in this study could achieve an accuracy of 98.35% in predicting lane-level driving speed. These findings suggest the need to consider the speed transition between passenger and truck lanes in freeway engineering design, marking setting, and optimization of safety facilities.

Research on Truck Lane Management Strategies for Platooning Speed Optimization and Control on Multi-Lane Highways

Automated truck platooning has become an increasingly popular research subject, and its applicability to highways is considered one of the earliest possible landing scenarios for automated driving. However, there is a lack of research regarding the combination of truck platooning technology and truck lane management strategy on multilane highways in the environment of a cooperative vehicle–infrastructure system (CVIS). For highway weaving sections under the CVIS environment, this paper proposes a truck platooning optimal speed control model based on multi-objective optimization. Through a combination of model predictive control and the cell transmission model, this approach considers the bottleneck cell traffic flow, overall vehicle travel time, and truck platooning fuel consumption as objectives. By conducting experiments on a mixed traffic flow simulation platform, the multi-lane management strategies and optimal speed control effect were evaluated through different scenarios. This study also determined the appropriate proportion of truck platooning for an exclusive lane and to increase truck lanes, thus providing effective lane management decision support for highway managers.

Long-Term Cross-Slope Variation in Highways Built on Soft Soil under Coupling Action of Traffic Load and Consolidation

The variation in road cross slope with service life affects the pavement drainage and has an adverse effect on vehicle operation safety. This paper describes a cross-slope variation prediction method influenced by the coupling effect of traffic load and soil consolidation, considering characteristics of embankment to cover the shortage for insufficient consideration of compacted embankment. First, the traffic load-induced settlement equation of a highway on soft soil foundation was introduced, which considers the effects of traffic load stress, confining pressure, soil structure, strength weakening and cyclic loading times on different positions along the cross-section. Then, the finite element model of a highway on soft soil foundations under soil consolidation is established, considering the influence of soil seepage. Finally, predictions of long-term settlement and cross-slope variation generated by coupling action of traffic load and soil consolidation were carried out with contrastive analysis with measured data. We find the following: (1) the long-term settlement was mostly from the consolidation of natural soft subsoil, while the cross-slope variation was mainly affected by traffic load; (2) variation in the cross slope of highway in soft soil areas mainly occurs within 1 year of operation. The effect of passenger cars and trucks on cross-slope variation shows diametrically opposite results, as the passenger car lane decreases while the truck lane increases; (3) the relative error of the cross-slope variation prediction results with the measured data are 2.86% and 2.5% for the left and right lane cross slopes, respectively.

High-Resolution Modelling of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Before and After the Implementation of a Designated Truck Lane

This work seeks to assess the impact of adding a lane for slower trucks on a divided multilane highway on CO2 emissions. A portion of the U.S. 101 highway in San Luis Obispo County in California consists of the Cuesta Grade which is a 2.75-mile segment with a 7% grade. A microsimulation software, VISSIM, was used in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions model, MOVES, to estimate CO2 emissions on the corridor before and after the construction of the third lane.

Truckers’ perceptions on truck regulations and policies in a developing country: A case study of Metro Manila, Philippines

Challenges in truck operation within metropolitan areas encourage the government to develop policies and strategies to address issues on truck traffic congestion and accidents. Given the need for making proactive policies, it is indispensable to understand truck drivers’ perceptions as a behavioral intervention measure. This paper examined the perception of truck drivers regarding issues on truck operation and policies, including their preferences on truck lane management and truck ban policies in Metro Manila, Philippines. The study surveyed 390 truckers in the North and South Harbor of Manila in July and August 2018. The survey results showed that most truck drivers have experienced difficulty with the existing truck ban and one truck lane policy in Metro Manila. Most truck drivers preferred two middle lanes for trucks, and truck ban time should be implemented during morning peak hours only. The willingness-to-pay attitude by truck drivers indicated a strong relationship with travel time-savings. Policy intervention should weigh up the perceptions of the stakeholders to provide a holistic approach and satisfactory truck management performance. This study would interest transport planners and policy developers as the findings can be applied to deal with truck operation issues.

High-Resolution Modelling of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Before and After the Implementation of a Designated Truck Lane

This work seeks to assess the impact of adding a lane for slower trucks on a divided multilane highway on CO₂ emissions. A portion of the U.S. 101 highway in San Luis Obispo County in California consists of the Cuesta Grade which is a 2.75-mile segment with a 7% grade. A microsimulation software, VISSIM, was used in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions model, MOVES, to estimate CO₂ emissions on the corridor before and after the construction of the third lane. It was found that CO₂ emissions <i>decreased</i> between 1998 (before) and 2012 (after the 2003 lane addition), but the effect of the truck lane was shown to be different for the northbound (uphill) and southbound (downhill) directions. The truck lane in the northbound direction exhibited a 9.5% decrease in volume with 10.7% decrease in emissions, and the southbound direction experienced a 20.3% increase in volume but 7.4% decrease in emissions. For the northbound (uphill) direction, emissions seemed to correlate more closely with traffic volumes while a sensitivity analysis revealed travel speeds had a more profound effect on southbound (downhill) emission rates. In the conclusion section, ideas to further validate the emissions estimate are discussed. Emissions seemed to correlate more closely with traffic volumes (uphill) while travel speeds had a more profound effect on southbound (downhill) emission rates. One factor to be accounted for is the change in volume which seems to play a much larger role in emissions than roadway features or topography.

APLIKASI SISTEM INFORMASI GEOGRAFIS TERHADAP MANAJEMEN TRANSPORTASI DARI TPH KE PKS

This study aims to create a transportation management database, create a participatory map of the harvest path from the TPH to Mill and create a transportation management model in palm oil plantations. The study was conducted at PT. Langkat Nusantara Kepong (LNK) Tanjung Beringin Estate, Hinai District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. This research was conducted in May - June 2019.&#x0D; This research was conducted by direct measurement in the field and navigation analysis. Direct measurements in the field are done by calculating the distance from TPH to Mill, calculating the average speed of trucks when carrying FFB to Mill, calculating truck time from TPH to Mill. To measure the distance done using GPS Garmin then data from GPS is entered and analyzed with the ArcGIS program. Navigation analysis is carried out using Network Analysis in ArcGIS, where the work of Network Analysis will find the most effective and efficient way.&#x0D; Roads in Tanjung Beringin Gardens are distinguished by their functions as HW (Highway), MR (Main Road), CR (Collection Road) and BR (Boundrest Road). Map of the FFB transportation path from TPH to Mill via the CR line which then passes the MR, and passes the HW that corresponds to the truck lane. The results of research conducted by direct measurement in the field of FFB to Mill are already effective and efficient compared to navigation analysis.&#x0D; Keywords: Navigation Analysis, GIS, TPH, harvest transportation, palm oil

An optimal trajectory planning algorithm for autonomous trucks: Architecture, algorithm, and experiment

Safe lane changing of the dynamic industrial park and port scenarios with autonomous trucks involves the problem of planning an effective and smooth trajectory. To solve this problem, we propose a new trajectory planning method based on the Dijkstra algorithm, which combines the Dijkstra algorithm with a cost function model and the Bezier curve. The cost function model is established to filter target trajectories to obtain the optimal target trajectory. The third-order Bezier curve is employed to smooth the optimal target trajectory. Road experiments are carried out with an autonomous truck to illustrate the effectiveness and smoothness of the proposed method. Compared with other conventional methods, the improved method can generate a more effective and smoother trajectory in the truck lane change.

Container terminal landside operation analysis and discrete event simulation in container terminal in port: a case study of Terminal 3 Ocean-going PT Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok

This study discusses the landside operation and presents the application of Truck Appointment System (TAS) and lane segmentation strategy through discrete event simulation in Terminal 3 Ocean-going PT Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok. This study aims to analyze the operation planning system in Terminal 3 Ocean-going and identify problems that exist on terminal 3. This study also seeks to examine the landside operation process and offer alternative scenarios to solve the congestion problem in the terminal. Alternative scenarios provided are a combination of Truck Appointment System (TAS) and lane segmentation strategy. Truck Appointment Strategy (TAS) with 100% utilization is proved to reduce average total time in the system by 76% and reduce average total time in peak days by 88%, from 151.5 minutes to 38.4 minutes per truck. Truck Appointment System (TAS) is also proved to reduce queue length by 97%, from 162 trucks to 5 trucks.

Sensitivity Analysis of Speed Limit, Truck Lane Restrictions, and Data Aggregation Level on the HCM-6 Passenger Car Equivalent Estimation Methodology for Western U.S. Conditions

In the 2016 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM-6), the impact of trucks on freeway operations is measured by passenger car equivalents (PCEs). PCEs are estimated by the equal capacity methodology. The HCM-6 PCE values are based on the assumptions that passenger cars and trucks travel at the same free-flow speed, that they travel on freeways with three lanes per direction, and that they travel in traffic with no more than 25% trucks. On Interstate 80 in western Nebraska, it is observed that the interaction of high truck percentages and large speed differences between passenger cars and trucks may result in moving bottlenecks. It was hypothesized that the current HCM-6 PCEs may be not appropriate for these conditions. A companion paper showed this was true and that the major cause was speed differentials between trucks and passenger cars. In essence, when slow-moving trucks pass each other they create moving bottlenecks, which results in increased PCE values. This paper is an extension to a companion paper and examines a number of issues related to estimation of PCEs. The paper examines the effect of speed limit, truck passing restrictions, and data aggregation interval on PCEs. The results show that: (i) if a higher speed limit is implemented, trucks will affect the passenger cars more severely; (ii) if truck passing is restricted by lane restrictions, the negative impacts of trucks on passenger car operation may be mitigated; and (iii) using a longer data aggregation interval results in lower PCE values, all else being equal.

Safety effectiveness of truck lane restrictions: a case study on Texas urban corridors

ABSTRACTTruck lane restrictions (TLRs) have become increasingly popular throughout the United States over the last 20 years due to the improvement in traffic operations and safety, pavement life, and other associated factors. This study examines the safety performance of the TLRs that have been implemented in the North Texas region. TLR prohibit semi- trucks (trucks) from using the left-most freeway lane, or inner lane, except in passing or emergency maneuvers. This study uses 16 sites with TLR in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to conduct an observational before-after study. For safety effectiveness analysis, it is always hard to get three years before and three years after data. For immediate safety effectiveness analysis, sophisticated predictive tools could be used in estimating ‘after’ year crashes. This study used the Enhanced Interchange Safety Analysis Tool (ISATe) to supplement the limited after year crash data. This study used Empirical Bayes (EB) method due to its consideration of regression-to-mean bias. The findings show that TLRs perform an overall positive safety effectiveness for large truck-involved fatal and injury crashes for six-lane roadways. This study concludes that implementing TLR as a truck-related safety strategy which are cost-effective to implement, may contribute to improving safety on urban freeways.

How Accurate are Travel Forecasts: Back Casting of Truck Lane Restrictions using Multi-Resolution Modeling Methods

How Accurate are Travel Forecasts: Back Casting of Truck Lane Restrictions using Multi-Resolution Modeling Methods

Long-term field performance of porous asphalt pavement in China

Porous asphalt (PA) pavement has been widely used in the USA, Europe and Japan for the benefit of quick drainage in rainy days and noise reduction. Its application in China, however, is very limited. A PA pavement section, therefore, was paved in Yan-Tong highway in Jiangsu Province as a trial. Since China has no specifications for the design and construction of PA pavements, the Construction Bureau of Traffic Engineering in Jiangsu Province is very concerned with the field performances of the test section in hope of validating and improving the PA pavement designs. Thus, a five-years tracking programme was launched to collect performance data of the PA section and two control sections, the stone mastic asphalt section and the dense graded asphalt section. The investigation range covers permeability, skid resistance (microtexture level and macrotexture level), rutting, roughness and noise on truck lane, passenger car lane and overtaking lane. The overall assessment is that the three pavement sections provide satisfactory performances over the investigation period. However, the unique merit associated with the PA section, that is to drain the water and reduce noise, witnesses a substantial loss along with time.

Risk Factors Related to Fatal Truck Crashes on Korean Freeways

Objectives: The major purpose of this study was to identify risk factors affecting truck crashes on freeways and propose recommendations for safer truck traffic operations. Methods: Truck crashes were analyzed to identify how truck traffic safety is related to prevailing traffic and weather conditions. Prevailing traffic conditions were characterized by central tendencies and the spatiotemporal variation of traffic parameters collected from freeway traffic surveillance systems. A total of 377 truck crashes occurring on Korean freeways in a recent 3-year period, 2008–2010, were analyzed together with corresponding prevailing traffic conditions and weather conditions. Several statistical tests were conducted to understand the characteristics of prevailing traffic conditions before crash occurrence based on different weather conditions. In addition, a binary logistic regression technique was applied to identify causal factors affecting truck crash severity under normal and adverse weather conditions. Results: Major findings from the analyses are discussed with truck operations strategies including speed enforcement, variable speed limit, and truck lane restriction from the safety enhancement point of view. Speed-related variables representing prevailing traffic conditions before crash occurrences were found to be the most statistically significant factors affecting truck crash severity, compared to volume-related variables such as the volume-to-capacity ratio (v/c). It is inferred that speed management is an effective tool for safer truck traffic operations on freeways. The major findings can be further discussed to derive valuable insights into truck traffic operations based on different weather conditions, such as normal and adverse. Conclusions: Some recommendations for safer truck traffic operations were presented based on the results obtained. The outcomes of this study could be effectively utilized to support the development of various traffic operations strategies and policies for truck traffic safety. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Traffic Injury Prevention to view the supplemental file.

기상 및 교통조건이 고속도로 화물차 사고 심각도에 미치는 영향분석

교통안전 측면에서 화물차 관련 교통사고 심각도는 화물차의 차량 중량, 물류수송특성, 후행차량의 시거제약 등과 관련된다. 본 연구는 고속도로 화물차사고의 심각도에 미치는 기상 및 도로 교통요인을 도출함에 그 목적이 있다. 이항 로지스틱 회귀분석을 이용하여 사고심각도의 확률적 증가에 영향을 미치는 요인을 기상별로 비교분석하였다. 분석 결과 속도 단속, 속도 관리전략, 화물차 전용차로 등과 같은 교통류 관리전략이 사고심각도 감소를 위한 대책으로 제안되었다. 본 연구의 결과는 향후 화물차 사고발생 및 사고심각도 감소를 위한 교통 관제 및 운영관련 전략 수립시 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. Understanding the characteristics of truck-involved crashes is of keen interest because such crashes are highly associated with greater potential leading to severer injury. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting injury severity of truck-involved crashes on freeways. In addition, a binary logistic regression technique is applied to identify causal factors affecting truck crash severity under normal and adverse weather conditions. Major findings from the analyses are discussed with truck operations strategies including speed enforcement, variable speed limit, and truck lane restriction, from the safety enhancement point of view. The results of this study would be useful for developing traffic control and operations strategies to reduce truck-involved crashes and injury severity in practice.

Passenger car equivalents of trucks on four-lane rural freeways under lane restriction and different traffic conditions

Truck lane restriction and differential speed limits for trucks and passenger cars are becoming more common policies to improve freeway operations and safety. The most recent edition of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) recognizes that the passenger car equivalent (ET) values may differ with various traffic conditions, but does not explicitly address how ET values may be impacted by truck lane restrictions or differential speed limit policies. This study developed a flow-based methodology to determine ET for trucks under truck lane restriction policies and different levels of demand and traffic composition. A simulation model (VISSIM) was calibrated to reproduce ET in HCM on a level terrain freeway segment and then used to simulate various scenarios to capture the effect of demand flow rate, truck percentage, and compliance ratio to lane restriction, all under the enforcement of differential speed limit policy. The results showed that ET increases as the compliance ratio increases, regardless of the truck percentage and demand flow rate. For a given traffic flow rate, ET decreases as the truck percentage increases. Moreover, regardless of the compliance ratio to lane restriction and the truck percentage, ET increases with the demand flow rate. The statistical analysis revealed that the truck percentage has a significant effect on ET for most cases, except when the truck percentage exceeds 30%. The results also showed significant differences in ET for all demand flow rates at 95% confidence level. The study also developed linear regression models for each level of service to estimate the value of ET as a function of the truck percentage and compliance ratio.

Truck driver perceptions and preferences: Congestion and conflict, managed lanes, and tolls

Growing truck traffic has elevated interest for developing new policy and engineering strategies to address efficiency and safety challenges associated with increasingly mixed traffic streams, especially in dense and congested urban areas. This paper focuses on revealing perceptions of truck drivers to urban congestion and safety challenges and gauges their interests in potential geometric or operational solutions, including managed truck lanes and tolling. A survey of 500 long-haul truck drivers was administered in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the crossroads of major north–south and east–west interstate highways. The dataset was evenly divided between independent owner-operators and company employed drivers. These two populations had somewhat varied trip making behavior, but their perceptions of traffic problems were consistent. The most problematic factors on Knoxville's urban highways include aggressive drivers, congestion, car lane changing behavior, and merging vehicles. The survey suggested several alternative truck lane management configurations and most of the respondents supported moving truck lanes to the inside travel lanes to avoid merging and lane-changing cars, either through traditional truck lanes restrictions or truck-only lanes. Respondents were polarized for and against the current truck lane restrictions; mandating trucks use the right two lanes. The mean willingness-to-pay to avoid ten minutes of congestion (through truck management) is about $2.00, lower than other studies. The results of this survey could be generalizable to other urban areas since most traffic is non-local. Future managed lane approaches can balance driver perceptions with operational efficiency to provide acceptable and high performing truck infrastructure.

Evaluation of Truck Lane Restriction on Non-Limited Access Urban Arterials

The strategy of managing truck traffic through truck lane restriction is very prevalent on limited access highways in Florida and other States. The perceived and real success of truck lane restriction on freeways have led to increasing demands from the public for highway agencies to institute similar measures on non-limited access highways. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of various geometric, traffic, and signalization factors that might affect safety and operational effectiveness of truck lane restriction on non-limited access highways, primarily on urban arterial roadways with significant amount of truck traffic. Because of lack of sufficient sites with truck lane restriction on which to conduct a longitudinal field study, VISSIM simulation software was used to evaluate operational and safety effects of truck lane restriction by varying various parameters related to the restriction. The results of various simulation scenarios showed that restricting trucks to the right lane don't have deleterious effects on both safety and operational roadway performance compared to no restriction at all. In fact, it could improve travel speed on the highway corridor, although not much. However, restricting trucks to the left or center lanes would cause excessive lane changing, reduced travel speed, increased queue length, and delay. The imposition of truck lane restriction of either kind increases speed difference between cars and trucks within lanes. This phenomenon is likely to increase vehicular conflicts in real life but the exact extent of its operational and safety implications need to be studied further in the field.

Simulation of Exclusive Truck Facilities on Urban Freeways

This paper assesses the impact of exclusive truck facilities on urban freeway performance. A large-scale regional microscopic traffic simulation model is developed for morning and afternoon peak hours and is used to model two alternative truckway configurations in the Greater Toronto Area, including a truck-only highway and a truck lane conversion on Highway 401. Demand inputs to the microsimulation model are generated by a regional transportation demand model that provides origin-destination matrices for light, medium, and heavy trucks and passenger cars. Plug-ins are developed to represent a truck-only lane in the simulation environment. The simulation model is successfully calibrated to reflect observed road counts and to produce realistic congestion patterns. The effect of infrastructure changes on travel distances, travel times, exclusive truck lane usage, and travel speeds is assessed. Microscopic simulation allows queuing formation/dissipation and bottlenecks to be represented and allows for separate analysis of truck and car performance. Addition of a 4-lane truck-only highway results in greater travel time improvements for trucks, and it sometimes results in shifting of traffic bottlenecks on Highway 401 to downstream locations. Conversion of a freeway lane on Highway 401 results in increased congestion for passenger cars, but improved travel speeds for trucks. Both scenarios show truck facility usage ranges from 100 to 800 trucks per hour per direction.