Using small trucks to circumbent large truck restrictions: Impacts on truck emissions and performance measures

Large truck restrictions have been proposed to improve urban air quality and reduce traffic congestion. Some firms have indicated that they would switch from large to small trucks to circumvent large truck restrictions and maintain a higher level of service. Large truck restirctions may be counterproductive if they induce responses that increase emissions or otherwise degrade performance. This paper analyzes the impact on truck emissions and performance measures of a switch from large to small trucks. This paper also describes the recent efforts in Los Angeles to implement peak period large truck restrictions.