|
| ||
 |
||
| Pilot Car Requirement for Division 78 Combinations with Excessive Rear Overhang | ||
| 11/24/2008 | ||
Long combinations operating under a Division 78 annual over-dimension permit that allows rear overhang in excess of one-third the wheelbase must be accompanied by a rear pilot vehicle on multilane highways, other than interstates, whenever the truck will be turning off the highway. Trucks using a multilane highway as a through route will not be required to have a pilot car, nor will the portions of two-lane highways which include passing lanes. This requirement took effect in November 2008. Rear Overhang will be measured from the last direct load bearing portion of the trailer to the rear of the load. A total of 25 feet of rear overhang will be allowed before triggering the rear pilot car requirement. A booster axle, jeep axle, or other device shall not be considered in the measurement of rear overhang. The rear pilot car operator is to straddle lanes as necessary whenever the loaded vehicle effects a turning maneuver off of the state highway so as to ensure that traffic approaching from the rear in adjacent lanes does not run into any part of the rear overhang of the load that may momentarily protrude into their lane of travel during the turning movement. Questions? Please contact Motor Carrier Transportation Division staff in the Over-Dimension Permit Unit at 503-373-0000. _____________ Background Three crashes in 2008 at the intersection of US30 and Bennett Road involved passenger vehicles struck by overhanging logs as a truck made a right turn and its long overhanging load swept out into the adjacent lane. The crashes, which resulted in two injuries and one fatality, prompted the Motor Carrier Transportation Division (MCTD) to require that all truckers with a permit to haul long logs, poles, and piling on state highways must have a rear pilot car when the rear overhang is more than one-third of the truck combination’s wheelbase. The pilot car will straddle lanes as needed to ensure that approaching traffic doesn’t run into the overhanging load when it may momentarily protrude into an adjacent lane during a turn. MCTD imposed the new requirement out of concern for the safety of the traveling public. The trucking industry, sharing the concern for safety, accepted the requirement. But because of its broad impact and the fact that it results in new costs on hundreds of haulers, MCTD and industry formed work groups to address three questions: (1) Should a rear pilot car be required on all state highways when overhang is in excess of one-third wheelbase? (2) How should overhang be measured? Should a booster axle, jeep axle, or other device attached to the rear trailer be considered in measuring overhang? How much should be allowed before requiring a pilot car? (3) Should Oregon develop a pilot car certification program? November 20, 2008, Meeting - Purpose This meeting addressed the first two questions. MCTD described its initial approach and solicited industry input. The group then examined how other states, particularly CA, ID, NV, and WA, handle rear overhang. The group discussed the adequacy and inadequacy of a report listing rear-end crashes involving log trucks in Oregon in the past 11 years. Attendees also reviewed highway engineering data from an AutoTURN analysis conducted November 6 to model the extent of the sweep an overhanging load makes into adjacent lanes when turning. Question #1 – Should a rear pilot car be required on all state highways when rear overhang is in excess of one-third wheelbase? The movement of long logs, poles, and piling is not peculiar to a certain part of Oregon or certain highways. The commodity moves from forest to a holding/processing facility and then to all points on the continent on all manner of highways. The sweep of an overhanging load poses the greatest danger on multi-lane roads, other than Interstates, where a log truck could make a relatively sharp turn and a car following behind could think it’s safe to pass in the adjacent lane. Traffic speed adds to the danger on a road like US30 because fast-moving cars have less time to react to hazards. It’s not such a problem on two-lane roads where a log truck making a turn can account for oncoming traffic while any car following behind is not as likely to try to pass. It’s also not such a problem on freeway off ramps, intersections, and roads where traffic moves at lower speeds. Consensus – Require a rear pilot car for trucks with overhanging loads on multi-lane highways, other than Interstates, whenever the truck will be turning off the highway. Do not require a pilot car for trucks using a multi-lane highway as a through route or if a predominantly two-lane highway has occasional passing lanes and there is no opportunity for the truck to turn. Do not require a rear pilot car for trucks with overhanging loads on two-lane highways. Question #2 – How should overhang be measured? Should a booster axle, jeep axle, or other device attached to the rear trailer be considered in measuring overhang? How much should be allowed before requiring a pilot car? Consensus – Measure rear overhang from the last direct load-bearing portion of the trailer to the rear of the load. Allow 25 feet of overhang before triggering the rear pilot car requirement. Engineering AutoTURN analysis supports this overhang allowance and it is consistent with how CA regulates the haulers. A booster axle, jeep axle, or other device should not be considered in the measurement. _____________ Should Oregon develop a pilot car certification program? To answer the last question before the work groups, the Motor Carrier Transportation Division took a look around the country to see what other states were doing in terms of pilot car training and certification. Ten states have some type of pilot car certification requirements -- AZ, CO, FL, KS, NC, NY, OK, UT, VA, and WA -- and other states are considering pilot car certification -- AL, AK, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, NV, MN, TX, WI. In 2004, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association joined with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration to create Pilot Car Escort Best Practices Guidelines. View the Pilot Car Escort Best Practices Guidelines. View an Oregon DOT slideshow with information about Pilot Car Escort Driver Certification. |
||
