Scales in Motion

A project is underway in Norway to install sensors in road surfaces for the purpose of weighing freight-hauling vehicles while they are moving. Known as NonStop, the goal is to make enforcement of load limits more efficient by stopping only those vehicles that are overweight. The measure will also save fuel for haulers by eliminating unnecessary stops and starts.

Piezoelectric sensors are placed in the roadway that generate an electrical voltage when subjected to pressure from the vehicles above, and automatic number place recognition (ANPR) is used to record the vehicle’s registration information. The data is sent to an expert system where it’s compared to statutory regulations, vehicle-specific load specifications and the programmed expertise of highway inspectors to determine which trucks should be checked for potential violations. On newer models, the system can also be linked to data transmitters within the vehicle which measure how far it has travelled and the duration of stops along the way, providing additional information that could greatly improve driver safety. The system is currently being tested with plans for a full release by the summer of 2014.