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NCHRP Web-Only Document 397 |
Developing a Guide for
Transporting Freight in
Emergencies
CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
Sushant Sharma
Bradley Trefz
David Bierling
Jeffery Warner
Curtis Morgan
Jack Merritt
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
College Station, TX
Conduct of Research Report for NCHRP Project 23-13(05)
Submitted January 2024
NCHRP
Web-Only Document 397
Developing a Guide for Transporting Freight in Emergencies
CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
Sushant Sharma
Bradley Trefz
David Bierling
Jeffery Warner
Curtis Morgan
Jack Merritt
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
College Station, TX
Conduct of Research Report for NCHRP Project 23-13(05)
Submitted January 2024
© 2024 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research.
Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation, under Agreement No. 693JJ31950003.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.
Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.
Digital Object Identifier: 10.17226/27899
Epub ISBN: 978-0-309-72413-5
DISCLAIMER
The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research. They are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors.
The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.
The Transportation Research Board, the National Academies, and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.
The information contained in this document was taken directly from the submission of the author(s). This material has not been edited by TRB.
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.
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The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.
Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.
The Transportation Research Board is one of seven major program divisions of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to mobilize expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 8,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.
Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.
COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS
CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP WEB-ONLY DOCUMENT 397
Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Trey Joseph Wadsworth, Senior Program Officer
Mazen Alsharif, Senior Program Assistant
Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications
Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications
Jennifer Correro, Assistant Editor
NCHRP PROJECT 23-13(05) PANEL
Field of Administration—Area of Agency Administration
Scott Singer, Michigan Department of Transportation, Chesterfield, MI (Chair)
Evangelos I. Kaisar, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Geno P. Koehler, Illinois Department of Transportation, Springfield, IL
Jonathan Nicastro, New York State Department of Transportation, Albany, NY
Diana Gineth Ramirez-Rios, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY
Thomas Mark Schriber, California Department of Transportation, Sacramento, CA
John H. Berg, FHWA Liaison
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
During this project, we sought information and feedback by conducting multiple interviews and virtual workshops. This outreach effort focused on fact finding, literature review, assistance with the state of the practice, understanding the processes for special permits during emergencies, and the development of a comprehensive guide and other deliverables.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to these individuals who volunteered their time and participated in the stakeholder outreach effort for NCHRP Project 23-13 (05). The individuals include but are not limited to: Brad Marten, Carla Phelps, Chester Osborne, Craig Hurst, Dave Huft, Douglas Briggs, DuWayne Murdock, Geno Koehler, Jacqueline Darr, Jake Elovirta, Katrina Williams, Laura McNeil, Michael Spurlock, Scott Greene, Thomas Schriber, Tina Sanders, Tonya Barnes, Veronica Martin, Veronica Thomas, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official’s Subcommittee on Freight Operations, and various other virtual workshop participants.
Contents
Primer on Laws and Regulations on the Federal and State Level
Defining Emergency and Disaster
Overweight and Oversize Regulations
Federal Jurisdiction and Authority
Federal Weight and Size Limitation Regulations
State Jurisdiction and Authority
Territory Jurisdiction and Authority
Tribal Jurisdiction and Authority
State Truck Size and Weight Limit Regulations and Permitting
State Weight Limit Compliance with Federal Limits
State Permitting Processes and Weight/Size Limits
Best Practices and Harmonization of Regulations
Chapter 3. State of the Practice
Interview with the Department of Defense
Department of Defense Related Solutions
Task 4—Describe Roadmap for Success
Identify Promising Practices for Emergency CMV Weight Exemptions
Identify Successful Ways for Coordination and Harmonization with Neighboring Jurisdictions
Task 5—Develop a Decision Framework and Guidance Materials
Identify Training Opportunities
Development and Dissemination of Training Material
Appendix B. Survey Transmittal Letter, Survey Questions, and Interview Questions
Follow-Up Phone Interview Questions
NCHR Web-Only Document 397 contains the conduct of research report for NCHRP Project 23-13(05) and accompanies NCHRP Research Report 1115: Transporting Freight in Emergencies: A Guide on Special Permits and Weight Requirements. Readers can read or purchase NCHRP Research Report 1115 on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org).
List of Figures
Figure 1. Brief Explanation and Flow of Laws, Codes, and Regulations
Figure 3. Screenshot from MOU Signed by MAASTO States for Harmonizing Their EDLs
Figure 4. Emergency or Disaster Type in CVSA Emergency Declaration Portal
Figure 5. First Page of Online Survey
Figure 6. Map of Survey Respondents
Figure 9. Summary of Responses to Q2.1 on Recent State-Level Emergencies and Special Permits
Figure 10. Summary of Responses to Q2.2 on Coordination with Other States
Figure 14. Screenshot of Virtual Workshop
Figure 16. Roadmap for Success
Figure 17. Special Automated Permit Issued during Emergency in Illinois
Acronyms
3PL | Third-Party Logistics |
AASHTO | American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials |
BIA | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
BIA-DOT | Bureau of Indian Affairs—Division of Transportation |
CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
CMV | Commercial Motor Vehicle |
CVSA | Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance |
DMC | Defense Movement Coordinator |
DMV | Department of Motor Vehicles |
DoD | Department of Defense |
DOT | Department of Transportation |
DPS | Department of Public Safety |
EDL | Emergency Divisible Load |
ERWG | Emergency Route Working Group |
FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency |
FHWA | Federal Highway Administration |
FMCSA | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |
FMCSR | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations |
GAO | United States Government Accountability Office |
GVW | Gross Vehicle Weight |
HHS | Health and Human Services |
HP | Highway Patrol |
MAASTO | Mid-America Association of State Transportation Officials |
MHADOT | Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Department of Transportation |
MOU | Memorandum of Understanding |
NASTO | Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials |
NCHRP | National Cooperative Highway Research Program |
NEA | National Emergencies Act |
NFPA | National Fire Protection Association |
NHTSA | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
NIMS | National Incident Management System |
NTSB | National Transportation Safety Board |
OS/OW | Oversize/Overweight |
PL | Public Law |
SASHTO | Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials |
SCOHT | AASHTO’s Subcommittee on Highway Transportation |
TTI | Texas A&M Transportation Institute |
TTP | Tribal Transportation Program |
TRB | Transportation Research Board |
USC | United States Code |
USDOT | United States Department of Transportation |
WASHTO | Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials |