Evaluation of the TowPlow for Caltrans Operations

Caltrans is responsible for the safe operation of many mountainous highways and must ensure that they remain open and passable throughout the winter. Certain critical highways carry heavy seasonal recreational traffic as well as high volumes of truck traffic. Caltrans spends approximately $25 million annually on snow-fighting operations, which involve a fleet of over 800 snowplows, an array of additional equipment, and approximately 2,600 employees. Caltrans has been actively searching for safer and more efficient methods for winter snow-fighting operations. As such, Caltrans requested that the Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center configure, procure, and deploy two Viking-Cives TowPlow systems and conduct an extensive evaluation to determine the most beneficial configuration and application of TowPlow technology for Caltrans. This report covers procurement of an initial TowPlow trailer system, development and testing through two winter seasons, the procurement and development of a second TowPlow trailer system, and discussion of particular modifications needed to allow for safe and legal operation on California highway. Due to three consecutive exceptionally light snow seasons in California that coincided with the project's testing period, an evaluation of TowPlow performance in conventional Caltrans snowplowing operations has not been possible. As an alternative, a detailed structure of data collecting capabilities and analysis tools has been developed to evaluate plowing performance for future snow seasons. This document covers research through June 30, 2015.

• Record URL:
  https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/final-reports/ca15-2336-finalreport-a11y.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://merritt.cdlib.org/api/presign-file/ark%253A%252F13030%252Fm5jb11vs/2/producer%252FCA15-2336.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32448
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/992937833
• Corporate Authors:

  Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center

  ,    

  California Department of Transportation

  Division of Rail and Mass Transportation
  ,    
• Authors:
  • Bennett, Duane
  • Burkett, George
  • Kang, Jaeyoung
  • Velinsky, Steven A
• Publication Date: 2015-9-30

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 182p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Snow and ice control; Snow removal; Snowplows; Surface treating; Traction control; Trailers; Two lane highways; Vehicle dynamics
• Identifier Terms: California Department of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Sierra Nevada Mountains
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01641914
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Report/Paper Numbers: CA15-2336, UCD-ARR-15-09-30-01
• Contract Numbers: EA 65-680198, Task ID: 2336
• Files: CALTRANS, BTRIS, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 26 2017 1:34PM