Publications

Linking FHWA and NHTSA Vehicle Types and Deciphering Various Truck Weight Data

One of the challenges in conducting freight transportation planning and policy analysis is that the public sector has varying standards by which trucks are distinguished from other vehicle types and are further classified as a distinct vehicle class. Some classification schemes focus on body frame and the number and spacing of axles, while others may focus on gross vehicle weight. Furthermore, vehicle registration data is a common data source for conducting transportation and policy analyses, but often lacks all the information needed to determine vehicle class. This presents a challenge to conducting transportation policy and technical analyses. This report develops methodologies for classifying vehicle registration data according to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) classification systems.

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