87 Known as High Speed Weigh-in-Motion (HS-WIM), the system is gaining traction on Brazilian highways as a modern and more efficient alternative for monitoring cargo transport. As the name suggests, the technology measures the weight of cargo vehicles without requiring them to stop at traditional weighbridges. Used by agencies such as the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) and the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), the technology consists of sensors installed in the pavement to automatically capture the truck’s gross weight, axle loads, number of axles, and speed as it passes over the equipment. In practice, sensors are embedded in the roadway surface, enabling real-time data collection as the truck passes over the monitored section. Cameras mounted on gantries capture the license plate, vehicle image, and time of passage, allowing the control system to accurately identify and track each vehicle. Planning the maintenance of road infrastructure The data is processed by software that compares the results against the legal weight limits for each vehicle type. If a potential overload is detected, the truck may be directed to a traditional static scale, or the infraction may be recorded electronically for subsequent inspection. Among the main benefits of this technology are reduced lines at weigh stations, expanded inspection capacity–since all trucks on the highway can be monitored–and decreased pavement wear caused by overloading. The data collected also supports more effective maintenance planning and provides authorities with deeper insights into freight traffic flows on highways. “The conventional weighing model has limited operational capacity, as it depends on the construction of weighing stations and, among other factors, on vehicle screening,” says Matheus Fernandes, Managing Director of Ecovias Cerrado. “Furthermore, monitoring is conducted at low speeds, typically using up to two scales to detect overloading. The HS-WIM technology, by contrast, performs the entire process instantaneously–the driver simply passes over sensors embedded in the pavement, without needing to slow down.” Project gradually expanding through partnerships with concessionaires The innovation, the executive emphasizes, not only ensures compliance with load limits but also enhances road safety and enforcement efficiency. It further contributes to environmental preservation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating congestion caused by slow-moving lines. In Brazil, the first HS-WIM system began operating in 2023 on BR-365 in Uberlândia (MG). It was later implemented on BR-364 in São Simão (GO), both stretches managed by Ecovias do Cerrado. The technology is also already in use on the Via Dutra and on BR-277 in Paraná. The installation of the equipment is part of a regulatory initiative coordinated by ANTT. The federal government and concessionaires expect to gradually expand the use of HS-WIM in new highway concession contracts, consolidating the technology as a key tool to enhance cargo inspection efficiency and mitigate the impacts of overloading on Brazilian roads. Enough with the lines As it expands nationwide, the weigh-in-motion system for trucks enhances enforcement efficiency while helping preserve road infrastructure.
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