Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight (TS&W) Study, Phase 1-Synthesis. Environment and Truck Size and Weight Regulations. Working Paper 11.

摘要

In general, very little work has been done relating the impact of changing truck size and weight (TS&W) regulations to impacts on the environment. Some work was done by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Other work by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several European sources has focused a great deal on characterizing the heavy duty engine. This includes emission requirements and standards, noise levels, performance standards, noise abatement, and fuel economy. While this is all useful information and a great deal of it was used for the development of this paper, most of the work related directly to truck size and weight issues has focused on the physical and structural impacts to bridges, pavements, etc. The majority of sources for this paper regarding environmental impacts focus on heavy duty engine emissions, noise levels, and other topical areas, not specifically the environmental impact associated with changes in truck size and weight regulations.