Bridge Rating Practices and Policies for Overweight Vehicles

This synthesis focuses on overweight vehicle bridge permit processes. Information on state and provincial bridge rating systems, bridge evaluation practices, and permit policies as they relate to overweight and oversize vehicles is highlighted and discussed. This report is intended to assist in the understanding of the reasons for nonuniform permitting practices. The report reviews specifications, software types, treatment of nonstandard configurations, and allowance for in-place dead loads; processes of permit review; and personnel assigned to permit review. A survey was distributed to transportation agencies at the state level in the United States and to Canadian provinces. The report will be of interest to state department of transportation personnel, as well as to other professionals in both the public and private sectors, dealing with the issue of leadership training and succession management in the 21st century.