Why WIM-VID?

Enforcement procedures have proven that 15% to 20% of all trucks are overloaded. Overloading is one of the main causes of hindrance of the traffic flow, which results in traffic jams. This is because overloading requires an increase in road maintenance work due to road-surface damage. Moreover, an overloaded truck is a threat to road safety and also constitutes unfair competition between haulage companies. WIM-VID helps to ensure a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation of goods by road.

How does WIM-VID work?

It is practically impossible to determine whether or not a vehicle is overloaded on visible characteristics only. The WIM-VID system, fitted in the road surface, makes it possible to measure the loads per axle and at the same time the total weight of the truck, whilst in motion. The moment the sensors detect an overloaded vehicle, a video camera fixed by the side of the road will be activated to take a video-picture of the number plate and vehicle characteristics.
Since the video camera is linked to a computer it is also possible to identify the owner of the overloaded vehicle straight away.
After identification the vehicle will be intercepted and redirected to a static weighing area, where the vehicle will be re-weighed using special weighing equipment. If the vehicle proves to be overloaded, an official report will be registered. In the case of the vehicle being heavily overloaded, other measures may be taken.

These measures may vary from reloading or transhipment to seizure of the vehicle. The Dutch National Police Agency is responsible for carrying out these enforcement procedures.

WIM-VID as a preventative measure

The State Traffic Inspectorate, a division of the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate, uses the information from the WIM-VID system to raise the issue of overloading with the representatives of haulage companies. The State Traffic Inspectorate compiles all data on overloaded vehicles. These data are matched with the files on ownership and vehicle characteristics, kept by the RDW Vehicle Technology and Information Centre.

This makes it possible to link company names to number plates. With this information companies that tend to overload will be known and identified. An inspector of The State Traffic Inspectorate will visit these specific companies to address the issue of avoiding overloading with a representative of the company. lf these visits to the company do not have the desired results in diminishing the number of offences, necessary action will be taken.

How to prevent overloading?

Practice has shown that overloading frequently occurs.
Both haulers and shippers are able to take measures to prevent overloading.
There are a number of possibilities:

• when loading the vehicle, not only the maximum gross combination weight, but also the maximum axle load(s) should be taken into account;
• the vehicle should be loaded in such a way that partial unloading does not result in overloading of axles;
• investing in on-board equipment inside the truck which monitors the axle load and/or gross weight;
• installation of axle weighing machines on the business premises in addition to, or instead of weighing bridges, and using them before the vehicle starts its route.

WIM-VID now and in the future

Currently, 7 WIM-VID weighing sites have been installed at locations on the motorway network, in the south-western region of the Netherlands, called the “Randstad”. This number will be expanded in future to ensure a national WIM-VID covered network. Research is being currently developed to ascertain whether it is possible to install a fully computerised processing system which would make static re-weighing unnecessary.