Development and Verification of Test Procedures for Detecting Overloading and Improper Loading in Commercial Vehicles Using a High-Speed Weigh-in-Motion System: A Case Study in Republic of Korea

Despite continued efforts by the Korean government to improve road safety, truck-related accidents remain disproportionately fatal, with a rate approximately 2.6 times higher than that of passenger vehicles. Although legal regulations prohibit overloading and improper loading, existing enforcement practices—primarily dependent on low-speed weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems—are limited in coverage and responsiveness. This study develops and validates standardized test procedures for detecting overloading and improper loading in commercial freight vehicles using a high-speed weigh-in-motion (HS-WIM) system. The HS-WIM system offers advanced sensing capabilities, including vehicle speed, length, axle configuration, and weight measurement at highway speeds. However, Korean HS-WIM performance standards currently lack detailed guidance, especially concerning group axle load testing and asymmetric cargo detection. To address these regulatory and technical gaps, a comprehensive set of test scenarios was designed based on domestic and international standards. A dedicated testbed was constructed, and 12 commercial vehicle types were tested under varied speeds and loading conditions. The proposed procedures reliably detect violations, and the study introduces evaluation criteria that improve HS-WIM system accuracy and support future enforcement and policy development in Korea.