March 2009 March 2009

Permitting Over Sized Loads In

Texas

Ray HutchinsonMotor Carrier Division, TxDOT

MCD Update onMCD Update on

AgendaAgenda TxDOT Mission & GoalsTxDOT Mission & Goals

MCD OverviewMCD Overview

The Situation - OS/OW ChallengesThe Situation - OS/OW Challenges

TxPROS as a solutionTxPROS as a solution

Q & AQ & A

The TxDOT MissionThe TxDOT Mission

To work cooperatively to provide To work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient safe, effective and efficient movement of people and movement of people and

goodsgoods

The TxDOT GoalsThe TxDOT Goals

Reducing CongestionReducing Congestion Improving Air QualityImproving Air Quality Enhancing SafetyEnhancing Safety Expanding Economic OpportunityExpanding Economic Opportunity Increase the Value of Increase the Value of

Transportation AssetsTransportation Assets

MCD OverviewMCD Overview MCD Responsibilities – FY08 Activity MCD Responsibilities – FY08 Activity

Motor Carrier Operating AuthorityMotor Carrier Operating Authority• 46,000+ Active Carriers46,000+ Active Carriers• 320,000+ Vehicles320,000+ Vehicles• 100,000 Insurance Filings100,000 Insurance Filings

Consumer Protection/MediationConsumer Protection/Mediation• 140,000 Public Assistance Calls140,000 Public Assistance Calls

Investigations and EnforcementInvestigations and Enforcement• 1,700+ Motor Carrier Investigations1,700+ Motor Carrier Investigations

Oversize/Overweight PermitsOversize/Overweight Permits• 580,415 Permits Issued580,415 Permits Issued

OS/OW MissionOS/OW Mission

Permitting and routing of Oversize and Permitting and routing of Oversize and Overweight loads on Texas State Overweight loads on Texas State Highways in a manner that:Highways in a manner that:

Protects the traveling publicProtects the traveling public Protects the infrastructureProtects the infrastructure Protects the loadProtects the load

The SituationThe SituationSimply put – Texas is just plain BigSimply put – Texas is just plain Big

#2 in population – 24 million and growing by #2 in population – 24 million and growing by 500,000 a year (6 cities in the top 25)500,000 a year (6 cities in the top 25)

#2 in size - 268,680 sq. miles#2 in size - 268,680 sq. miles Largest highway system in the nationLargest highway system in the nation

300,000+ centerline miles (80k on-system)300,000+ centerline miles (80k on-system) 50,000 bridges (over 8,000 not over water)50,000 bridges (over 8,000 not over water)

20 million registered vehicles with over 140 20 million registered vehicles with over 140 million vehicle miles driven dailymillion vehicle miles driven daily

OS/OW ChallengesOS/OW Challenges Volume Growth TrendVolume Growth Trend

417,010

444,246

478,617

522,638

554,273580,415

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

550,000

600,000

FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008

OS/OW ChallengesOS/OW Challenges Volume Growth TrendVolume Growth Trend

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

10,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,00016,00017,00018,00019,00020,00021,000

FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08

Mid Heavies (200-254k) Route Inspected Loads(> 20' W, 18'11" H, or 125' L)

OS/OW ChallengesOS/OW Challenges Volume Growth TrendVolume Growth Trend

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08

Super Heavy PermitsSuper Heavy Permits

OS/OW ChallengesOS/OW Challenges Industry Needs/Impact:Industry Needs/Impact:

Growth and maintenance of industry Growth and maintenance of industry infrastructure dependent upon timely, reliable infrastructure dependent upon timely, reliable OS/OW transportOS/OW transport

Permitting delays costly $$$ to industry – Permitting delays costly $$$ to industry – potentially $1 million+ per daypotentially $1 million+ per day

Service Level Capability:Service Level Capability: Unable to meet industry demands (volume vs. Unable to meet industry demands (volume vs.

resources)resources) Turnaround time (90/90 Goal vs. 90/300 or Turnaround time (90/90 Goal vs. 90/300 or

more reality)more reality) Staffing Challenge (turnover and training)Staffing Challenge (turnover and training)

OS/OW ChallengesOS/OW Challenges Restrictions:Restrictions:

Impact (currently 1,500+ active)Impact (currently 1,500+ active)• Isolated KnowledgeIsolated Knowledge• Compounded impactsCompounded impacts• ValidityValidity

Risks:Risks:• Communications – Interpretation in a multi-Communications – Interpretation in a multi-

link relaylink relay• Delays in effect on routing (time lag of up to Delays in effect on routing (time lag of up to

12 days )12 days )• Manual Mapping Process (92 page map) = Manual Mapping Process (92 page map) =

Potential ErrorsPotential Errors• Emergency Situations – No way to identify Emergency Situations – No way to identify

active permits affectedactive permits affected

OS/OW ChallengesOS/OW Challenges Limited Information / Reporting CapabilityLimited Information / Reporting Capability

OS/OW Traffic PatternsOS/OW Traffic Patterns Impact Analysis of RestrictionsImpact Analysis of Restrictions

• On Industry (extended routes)On Industry (extended routes)

• On TxDOT InfrastructureOn TxDOT Infrastructure

Meeting the Meeting the Challenges Challenges Strategic Focus on Strategic Focus on

PrioritiesPriorities Streamline ProcessesStreamline Processes Improve Hiring, Improve Hiring,

Training, & RetentionTraining, & Retention Internal/External Internal/External

Outreach & EducationOutreach & Education Increased Admin. Increased Admin.

Enforcement AuthorityEnforcement Authority Technology & Online Technology & Online

ServicesServices MCCS, CPS, CMS, MCCS, CPS, CMS,

eWFM, & eWFM, & TxPROSTxPROS

TxPROS as a SolutionTxPROS as a Solution

TxPROSTxPROS

Texas Permit Routing Optimization SystemTexas Permit Routing Optimization System

Using integrated GIS mapping and real-time Using integrated GIS mapping and real-time restriction management, TxPROS will provide restriction management, TxPROS will provide automated routing and route validation automated routing and route validation assistance along with extensive data capture assistance along with extensive data capture to enable GIS, detail and statistical reportingto enable GIS, detail and statistical reporting

Major FeaturesMajor Features MappingMapping

Utilizing Tele-Atlas’ state wide, Utilizing Tele-Atlas’ state wide, geo-coded data supplemented geo-coded data supplemented with conflated TxDOT data from with conflated TxDOT data from Bridge, Construction (PAV), and Bridge, Construction (PAV), and TPP Divisions, TxPROS creates TPP Divisions, TxPROS creates an integrated GIS map suitable an integrated GIS map suitable for routing decisions.for routing decisions.

Major FeaturesMajor Features Restrictions ManagementRestrictions Management

Utilizing the GIS mapping system, allows for Utilizing the GIS mapping system, allows for real-time, web-based updates to permanent, real-time, web-based updates to permanent, temporary and directive restrictions affecting temporary and directive restrictions affecting OS/OW routingOS/OW routing

Provides for immediate impact on new Provides for immediate impact on new Permit applicationsPermit applications

Reviews new and changed restrictions Reviews new and changed restrictions against active permits and alerts carriers if re-against active permits and alerts carriers if re-routing is neededrouting is needed

Variable input capabilitiesVariable input capabilities Completed testing prototype software in a Completed testing prototype software in a

“Pilot Area” of 5 Districts“Pilot Area” of 5 Districts

Add Start

Major FeaturesMajor Features RoutingRouting

TxPROS provides “true” automated TxPROS provides “true” automated routing capabilityrouting capability• Origin to destination pointsOrigin to destination points

• Via point(s) requestsVia point(s) requests

• Specific route request validation WITH Specific route request validation WITH alternative routing where neededalternative routing where needed

Prototype software evaluation in Pilot Prototype software evaluation in Pilot Area Completed, next is state-wideArea Completed, next is state-wide

Major FeaturesMajor Features ReportingReporting - With all routes being captured - With all routes being captured

in detail, TxPROS reporting tools facilitate:in detail, TxPROS reporting tools facilitate: Fixed reporting (periodic/AR)Fixed reporting (periodic/AR) Ad hoc or query style that can be by:Ad hoc or query style that can be by:

• Load type,Load type,

• Size (H/W/L), and/orSize (H/W/L), and/or

• Weight for:Weight for:

• Selected road segmentsSelected road segments

• BridgesBridges Analysis of restrictions impactAnalysis of restrictions impact Currently testing prototypeCurrently testing prototype

Service LevelsService Levels Self Issue CapabilitySelf Issue Capability

Within Set “envelope” sizeWithin Set “envelope” size 7 by 24 service (matching industry needs)7 by 24 service (matching industry needs) Reduction in Permit Office Work loadReduction in Permit Office Work load

• Allows re-assignment of Permit Officers to Allows re-assignment of Permit Officers to larger, more complex loads and specialty permitslarger, more complex loads and specialty permits

Automated Routing assistance to POAutomated Routing assistance to PO Assistance in routing difficult, large, long routesAssistance in routing difficult, large, long routes

Ultimate result: Significant improvement in Ultimate result: Significant improvement in “turn-around” time for the industry and better “turn-around” time for the industry and better service to TxDOT internal customersservice to TxDOT internal customers

Service LevelsService Levels Better understanding, by Districts, of the Better understanding, by Districts, of the

compound effect of restrictions:compound effect of restrictions: Better restrictions management = better route Better restrictions management = better route

optionsoptions

Safety Impacts - Improvements Safety Impacts - Improvements Immediate impact of restrictions on new permitsImmediate impact of restrictions on new permits Assessment of impact on existing permitsAssessment of impact on existing permits Alerts to both MCD & Carrier of potential dangersAlerts to both MCD & Carrier of potential dangers

• Provides level of awareness of risks previously Provides level of awareness of risks previously impossible to achieve impossible to achieve

Ultimate result: Enhanced mission capability – Ultimate result: Enhanced mission capability – protect, protect, protectprotect, protect, protect

Next StepsNext Steps Compilation of prototype evaluations from Compilation of prototype evaluations from

the pilot areathe pilot area Evaluation of recommended modifications Evaluation of recommended modifications

and enhancementsand enhancements Programming of approved changesProgramming of approved changes Expansion of map features and current Expansion of map features and current

restrictions to state widerestrictions to state wide Performance and acceptance testingPerformance and acceptance testing Training/marketingTraining/marketing Roll out (current contract 12/09)Roll out (current contract 12/09)

TxPROSTxPROS TxPROS will bring a new era to TxPROS will bring a new era to

Oversize Overweight routing in Texas Oversize Overweight routing in Texas providing more timely and safely providing more timely and safely routed permits to the industry while routed permits to the industry while better serving our mission and better serving our mission and supporting TxDOT’s goals.supporting TxDOT’s goals.

Q & AQ & A

Routing Texas into the futureRouting Texas into the future