Optimizing Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Investments and Activities to Improve Safety and Increase Revenue Collections

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) owns and maintains 14 fixed weigh stations for commercial vehicle enforcement. The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is responsible for staffing these facilities to conduct enforcement, while KYTC is responsible for constructing and maintaining these facilities. Like many states, Kentucky has experienced a decline of enforcement personnel to operate weigh stations limiting its ability to conduct inspections for safety enforcement and revenue collection. This study analyzes three CMV facilities for their impact on safety enforcement and revenue collection and determines their viability for potential replacement. All three existing weigh stations in Hardin, Fulton, and Henderson counties will be bypassed or removed due to future interstate and interchange construction plans. These weigh stations were assessed for the amount of revenue collected against operating expenses, the ratio of citations issued per violations, and the impact each weigh station had on overall safety. Researchers developed guidelines decision makers and stakeholders can use to determine the outcome for each of the three weigh stations: permanently close, replace with a new facility, or convert to remote monitoring. This guidance can be applied beyond the three facilities in the study, to help make future decisions on weigh stations across Kentucky