Fleet transport for roadway maintenance equipment: Perspectives nationally and from Texas

Policy, practice, and procedure are addressed relative to the transport of heavy-duty roadway construction and maintenance equipment by department of transportation maintenance personnel Findings are from a 2-year study sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which focused on a review of TxDOT's existing and future off-road equipment and transport requirements and un assessment of the agency's current knowledge base and practices in transporting off-road equipment. Statewide focus is made in the context of nationwide perspectives on equipment transport. Procedures and practices vary between states, with certain challenges common to all. Relative to equipment, the need exists for newer, better trailers; more lowboy-type trailers; and better trucks. Equipment transport policy is minimal to nonexistent in many states, and transport practices and procedures are sometimes unworkable. Inadequate trailer preventive maintenance, less-than-effective purchasing practices, and poor-quality training programs in regard to equipment load and tie-down are common themes. For Texas, research indicates that overall knowledge of equipment transport is high, especially for practices and procedures, trailer hitches and hitching systems, load securement, chains and tie-downs, and safety. However, equipment transport knowledge about load distribution concepts and practices, training, and compliance with laws and regulations is not as strong. The one thing that field personnel stated would most improve equipment transport at TxDOT would be training. They want more training, better training, and refresher training. Efforts to address these challenges amount to continuous quality improvement to a functional, working system.