Posted on 01/23/2012 7:00:59 AM PST by HamiltonJay
I am working on an App, and want to add the bridge calculation to allow truckers to ensure their load is legal, and have a few questions.. I have the documentation, and "think" I understand it for the most part, but obviously, not being a trucker myself want to make sure I understand it correctly, and would like feedback of how you guys actually do this.. IE User Interface questions.
Anyone willing to help, please contact me, I'd appreciate it.
A useful App would be for dodging Scale Houses or where the roving Weight Men are.
Not all state bridge limits are the same. CA for example, has both a total weight cap and axle weight limits. Adding more axles won’t allow more gross weight. Many variations through out the states.
Guys,
I believe the bridge calculations he’s referring to are the formulas used to calculate legal loads between axles. They use the distance between axles, (the “bridged” distance)to figure out whether the load is legal or not. It’s just anoher way to fine the truckers.
Definitely need to take state regulation variations into account along with different axle configurations allowed in different states. It would also be good to include overall length, some truck trailer combinations and lengths are limited by states, and special circumstances for permit loads including time of day. At least one state allows permitted loads to move at night. For some loads that’s actually favored.
Your best source would be to contact one of the national permitting companies. They should be able to provide some of that.Check OOIDA too.
“It’s just anoher way to fine the truckers.”
Exactly. Because they certainly shouldn’t have to pay anything for all the freeways they’ve destroyed here in California.
Truckers are known for scrupulously obeying load limits and our freeways, particularly the far right lanes, are in spectacularly great shape as a result.
looks pretty straightforward. Just plug in the numbers
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/brdgcalc/calc_page.htm
Well I don’t have the roving guys, but I do have the weight stations in the app already.. its a public app already available for android, but I am adding functionality to it.
Exactly, This isn’t at least initially planned to be a full fledged app with all options, but to add additional functionality to an existing app, basically the federal bridge law formula (yes I know states have other rules and regs, but I am not worrying about those currently)
Basically I am attempting to fully understand the federal bridge gross weight formula, and practical application, and how people who actually do this find it the easiest to use.
IE, should the interface be as broad as possible, IE number of axels,
Distance between axle 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, etc etc.. tedious but would allow the most flexibility in terms of grouping, and the 96” and 40” appart parts of the rules.. Or is TANDEM, TRIPLE, SINGLE more practicle and useful..
This obviously could evolve into a full fledged app with every possibility covered, but for now, I am trying to just put an additional tool in the app that will be generally useful and not complete fluff. Obviously if it doesn’ve cover EVERY SINGLE possibility, its okay for now, but if it can cover 80-90% of them I’d be happy.
Good to see a realist answer. In Alabama bridge laws are or were enforced on interstate highways only.
Around 1980 I bought two tri-axle dumps to go with a couple of short dump trailers and a straight transfer dump with
65,000 lb axles. most of my previous work had been around town or on job sites. Had a job that entailed hauling undercut material out and replacing with crushed stone from
a quarry that interstate hauling was by far the shortest
route. Had another trucking outfit hauling until I got the tri-axle dumps. This was a bond issue job, meaning no sales tax if the material is charged to to owner.
Previous hauler got his highway patrol buddy on me, stopped one of my trucks driven by an equipment operator unhappy driving, kept him there nearly 5 hrs with other trucks going
by and wrote him nearly $5,400.00 worth of tickets for bridge law violations, no state hauling rights and a few other violations. Second lawyer got all thrown out except
a little under $200.00. 3 or 4 months later got a $400.00
bill from first lawyer and $250.00 bill from 2nd lawyer.
Paid both lawyers & state. Learned a good lesson.
The forumla must be applied to all axels and distances between, and different weights are allowed for different distances.
The entire truck may be 80k, but if axles 5 and 4 are under 40" appart, it has 1 limit, if its between 40 and 96 its another limite,and if its over 96 its a different limit. The forumula must be applied to all axels and distances, and its a user interface issue more than a misunderstanding of the forumula.
IE, would truckers find it more useful to do the absolute most input (this gives the most flexibility for the app, but requires the most time inputing information) IE, # of axels, distance between 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4 4 and 5 etc etc etc..
or would it be more practicle and user friendly to simply have it, have an input of Single, Tandem, Triple, and assume each group is < 40" or 96" apart... IE
Single is always 96" away from another axle, tandem >40 Tandem <40, tandem < 96 Triple >40 ... blah blah blah... etc.
The formula isnt the issue, the ease and quickness of use is. Its an app, on a small phone, the more difficult and user input required, the less useful it is etc.
That the independent businessman is a cow to be legally milked by whichever government entity happens to be thirsty?
Forget what is practical. You have to write the app to follow the regulation. The code will need reiterative applications of the equation and logic to rank the results. I wouldn’t bother trying to figure out what the user will do with the app. If they want to cut corners in the number of axles they input, then so be it. Your app will just calculate whatever the driver puts in. You can’t control how the user inputs data. If the user input is accurate, the app result will accurately reflect that information with correct weight restrictions. If the user input is inaccurate, that is not your problem. As the app author, you have to assume that the user will be accurate and your app has to reflect that accuracy and express the result according to the regulation. You can probably give the user the option to have default settings if for example the tractor or trailer axle grouping isn’t changed from the previous input.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.