Can One Truck Damage Roads Like 1,000 Cars?

“Hi, my name is Greg Batista here to answer another question from the internet.

RoadRageRay asks: Is it true one big truck does more road damage than a thousand cars?

Yes, and the math proves it. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials found pavement damage increases by the fourth power of axle weight. That means a fully loaded 80,000-pound truck can cause as much damage as about 9,600 passenger cars. That’s why truck weight is strictly regulated, and weigh stations monitor loads. In Florida, overloaded trucks are a major contributor to potholes and road wear, especially on highways leading to ports. So yes — one truck can literally equal thousands of cars in terms of road damage.

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Authoritative references: AASHTO Pavement Design Guide; Federal Highway Administration axle load studies.

The author, Greg Batista, PE, CGC, SI is owner of G. Batista Engineering & Construction and is a nationally-recognized engineer and contractor with more than 35 years of experience and offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Topics: Structural Inspections