Manual Notice: 2012-1
From: James L. Randall, P.E., Director, TPP Division
Manual: Traffic Recorder Instruction Manual
Effective Date: February 01, 2012
Purpose
This update improves criteria and visual representations which are used when traffic counters categorize vehicles into specific classifications. Additionally, this update documents recommendations of the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) with hyperlinks to the FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide and 13-Category Scheme of vehicle classifications.
Contents
Revisions to Chapter 4
- Section 1, FHWA 13-Category Scheme, 1st Paragraph
- A new hyperlink documents that the FHWA recommends that highway agencies use the FHWA 13-Category Scheme when classifying vehicles.
- Section 1, FHWA 13-Category Scheme, 2nd Paragraph
- A new hyperlink documents that the FHWA-13 Category Scheme separates vehicles into categories that carry passengers or commodities.
- Section 1, Figure 4-1, FHWA 13-Category Scheme (delete
former graphic; replace with new graphic)
- Classes 1-13. A new graphic developed by TxDOT provides a clear, visual representation of the appropriate vehicle in each class of the FHWA 13-Category Scheme.
- Section 1, Classification Table, FHWA 13-Category
Scheme
- Class 2, Passenger Cars, Additional Identifiers. Deleted the wording, import pickup;
- Class 3, Pickups, Panels, Vans, Additional Identifiers. Added the wording, and long-bed pickups;
- Class 5, Single-unit Trucks, Additional Identifiers. Deleted the wording, long-bed pickup with extended cab.
- Section 2, Vehicle Classification Descriptions
- Class 2, Passenger Cars, bulleted items. Deleted the wording, import pickups;
- Class 3, Pickups, Panels, Vans, bulleted items. Added the wording, and long-bed;
- Class 5, Single-Unit Trucks, bulleted items. Deleted the wording, Chevy, Ford, and Dodge long-bed (eight-foot) pickups with extended cabs.
Revision to Appendix A
- FHWA 13-Category Scheme (delete former graphic;
replace with new graphic
- A new graphic developed by TxDOT provides a clear, visual representation of the appropriate vehicle in each class of the FHWA 13-Category Scheme.
- This is the same new graphic developed for Chapter 4, Figure 4-1.
Contact
Readers may direct questions or suggestions for this manual to the Traffic Analysis Section of the Transportation Planning and Programming Division, (512) 486-5101.
Archives
Past manual notices are available in a PDF archive.