Improving Overweight and Over-Dimensional Logistics and Truck Routing

In 2012, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Division of Motor Carriers (DMC) issued 98,196 overweight or over-dimensional (OW/OD) permits. To determine whether a route can accommodate an OW/OD vehicle, analysts must have current and accurate data on construction schedules, road conditions, and detour routes, among other factors. This study documents processes used by DMC for permitting and routing OW/OD vehicles. It includes detailed flowcharts that capture each aspect analysts follow during the decision-making process. As part of this project, state transportation agency representatives from states bordering Kentucky (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri) were interviewed to identify potential best practices for permitting and routing OW/OD trucks. They collected information on how these states currently use Bentley SUPERLOAD software. Insights drawn from these interviews informed DMC’s implementation of Bentley SUPERLOAD Version 4. Following the adoption of Bentley SUPERLOAD Version 4, a number of issues were identified by DMC staff. Key problems included software bugs which require staff to intervene and then restart the permitting process, staff being unable to view the status of permits sent to KYTC’s Bridge Preservation section for review, and the distribution of automated notifications to carriers when restrictions are changed on their active permits, but which offer no details on how to amend the permit. A survey of transportation agency officials in states which have adopted Bentley SUPERLOAD Version 5 was developed and administered to determine if those problems have been resolved